Re: Vėl tas Rusijos klausimas

lorad474@xxxxxx wrote:
Yeah, 'stunde' means hour in Latvian too. I assume it's a loan from the
german colonial period.
But again I think that the meanings for 'hour' and 'lesson' in german
have two different sources...
Probably from some old german words; one germanic one for 'marker' and
another re Latin 'study'. (my guess, at least)

Sorry, don't think so. Latin "studium" does not have an -n- in it.

Interesting that we both share an interest in an old common Baltic
vocabulary...
It would be necessary for both Lithuanians and Latvians to cooperate in
order for the work to be comprehensive and synergistic. Someone should
do it.

I think a lot has been done. This weekend I may browse some websites
and post links.

This one (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/6623/proto.htm) says:

PROTO-BALTIC

The Sūdovians (Yatvingians) and Prussians both formed a closely
related Baltic language group known as the Western Balts, to which one
should also include the ancient Curonians. The Languages (dialects) of
both the Western and Eastern Balts (Lithuanian and Latvian) evolved
from the Proto-Baltic language. The Proto-Baltic language area of which
(the lower reaches of the Vistula, Daugava, the Nemunas basin, the
upper reaches of the Dnieper, etc.) - is known to have developed into
the (1) Proto-Baltic Area of Central dialects, or the Central
Proto-Baltic area and (2) Proto-Baltic Area of Peripheral dialects or
Peripheral Proto-Baltic Area. The Sūdovians can be regarded as a link
in a chain of this latter group, while the Lithuanians and Latvians are
considered to be the remnants of the Cental Proto-Baltic Area.

The 10th century B.C. marks the beginning of a split (distinct by the
5th century B.C.) in the Proto-Baltic languages, which was just an
increase in the differentiation of the dialects of the Peripheral area,
i.e. a further shift of these latter dialects from the dialects of the
Central Proto-Baltic Area. It is of interest to note that such a
differentiation of dialects took place in the Central dialects much
later, around the 5-7th century A.D., evolving
Proto-Lithuanian-Latvian.

The Western Baltic dialect that later gave rise to the Sūdovian and
Prussian languages is one of the dialects of the Proto-Baltic
Peripheral Area. The 5th c. B.C. also coincided with the split of yet
another dialect (Curonian language) of the Peripheral Proto-Baltic Area
from the tree of the dialects of the Central Proto-Baltic Area. Thus,
the Western Balts should include the Sūdovians and Prussians, and also
the Curonians, the former comprising the Southern group, and the
latter- the Northern group. This explains the similiarity between
Sūdovian ( Jatvingian ) and Prussian.

Certain innovations (i.e.,declension) that occurred in the Central
dialects are not reflected in the Peripheral dialects. The Peripheral
dialects retain an archaic declension which gives one a clearer window
into both Proto-Baltic, and Proto-Indo-European, and their evolution.

"The traditional academic construct of a seven case declensional system
for Proto Indo-European is as synthetic as it is theoretically
convenient." ( Jeannette DeBusk Cox )

Some very archaic lexical differences existed between the Western
dialects and the Central dialects. The word for "FIRE" is just such an
example. The Western Balts used the word "PANU", whereas the Central
Balts used the word (Lith.) "UGNIS". Both words have cognates in other
ancient Indo-European languages. That such archaic diversity existed
within Proto-Baltic presents some interesting issues.

Reading from the archaeological record, one can associate dates of
3,000 - 2,300 B.C. with various material artifacts and non-native
(wheat and hemp) plant pollens that appear to indicate the arrival of
"Indo-European" speaking peoples in the region around present day
Lithuania. After 2,300 B.C., the agricultural record intensifies. All
this would seem to indicate that the migration to the Baltic region
(via the Dnieper Rapids) from the "Proto Indo-European" epoch homeland
occured early, using oxen pulled carts, and horses.

.

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