The mnemonic Centum (from Latin centum) stands for those Indo-Germanic languages in which there is coincidence between the palatal series k̑, g̑, g̑h and the unaccented k, g, gh series of the Old Indo-Germanic tectals ( Gutturals) and the unaccented series: Old Indo-Germanic *kreuh2- ‘bloody flesh’ > Latin cruor, Greek kréas, *k̑ṛd- ‘heart’ > Latin cor, Greek kardía. Otherwise (in so-called Satem languages) the palatals preserved as independent phonemes become sibilants. In Centum the labio-velars kw , gw , gwh (initially) remain preserved as phonemes, e.g…
Centum languages(221 words)
Cite this page
Steinbauer, Dieter (Regensburg), “Centum languages”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 02 July 2022 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e612340>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510
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