The infinitive in Baltic and Balto-Slavic

Abstract

This article presents a new approach to the Baltic and Balto-Slavic infinitive system. It is argued that the traditional view (which, in essence, derives the Slavic infinitive -ti from PIE loc. sg. *-tēi̯ and projects all Baltic infinitive endings back into Balto-Slavic) is for several reasons problematic. Balto-Slavic possessed just one infinitive (OCS -ti, Lith. -ti < Bl.-Sl. *-tī < PIE dat. sg. *-tei̯-ei̯, as per Hill 2016) and a supine (OCS -tъ, Lith. -tų < Bl.-Sl. *-tun < PIE acc. sg. *-tum). All other infinitive endings of Baltic (OPr. -twei, Lith. dial. -tie, Latv. refl. -tiê-s) were an exclusive creation of this branch. The reasons for the expansion of the infinitive in Baltic are also discussed.

The Indo-European Language Family

“…Other proposed shared innovations, such as the change of *-ii̯ ā to *-ē (Petit 2010: 6;Villanueva Svensson 2014: 165;cf. also Hill 2016) and the shortening of unstressed *-ī < *-eie- (Hill 2016: 214-22;Villanueva Svensson 2019), remain the subject of debate. and Slk.…”

Balto-Slavic

“…Other proposed shared innovations, such as the change of *-ii̯ ā to *-ē(Petit 2010: 6; Villanueva Svensson 2014: 165; cf. also Hill 2016) and the shortening of unstressed *-ī < *-eie-(Hill 2016: 214-22;Villanueva Svensson 2019), remain the subject of debate.…”