Erro monosilabikoaren teoria eta aitzineuskararen berreraiketa: zenbait alderdi eta ondorio [Monosyllabic root theory and reconstruction of Proto-Basque: Some aspects and consequences]

Abstract

In Lakarra (1995) and later works, I have provided some evidence to prove that the model of Proto-Basque that Mitxelena proposed in the 1950s in his excellent works, a model that is still considered as standard, can be expanded and studied in more depth, and that it is possible to trace an older linguistic situation working on more recent theories about root monosyllabic structure in Proto-Basque. The core of the reflections in this and other works of mine is based on the claim of the important function that the root theory and, more specifically, the canonical form of the root and its development performs in any reconstruction and comparison or in the evolution of language – of certain important characteristics of the core of its system. Moreover, the threads that remained loose in the previous reconstruction paradigm, together with others added from outside, form a thick rope, so that the study of the evolution of the root allows and legitimizes going further than ever. This is the summary of the present work:
§1. On the standard reconstruction of Proto-Basque; §2. Reasons and ways to change the reconstruction model; §3. A new theory for the reconstruction of Proto-Basque: the monosyllabic root; §4. Root theory and the formal etymology of the Basque lexis; §5. From canonical form to diachronic holistic typology; §6. Canonical form and typology: reconstruction of the Basque verb; §7. Canonical form, word families and reconstruction of Old ProtoBasque; §8. On the change of canonical form; §9. Conclusions and tasks; §10. Bibliography; §11. Annexes (I. The study of CVC and 48 bisyllabic root models in tables; II. Some new etymologies).
It could be said that the monosyllabic theory of Old Proto-Basque has allowed us to answer some old questions or to come closer to some other enigmas, and first and foremost to raise some new questions, which were until now unimportant or even unthinkable. The monosyllabic theory has had and will still have the capacity to become an object of study for the future, as is to be expected from any new paradigm that is being developed.