Kesktähtsad

Kesktähtsad is a term that appears in some historical and linguistic contexts, particularly relating to Proto-Indo-European (PIE) phonology. It refers to a hypothetical series of consonants in the reconstructed PIE language that were characterized by their intermediate articulation. These sounds are thought to have occupied a phonetic space between stops and fricatives, or possibly between voiced and voiceless consonants. The exact nature and number of these kesktähtsad sounds are debated among linguists.

The concept of kesktähtsad is crucial for understanding certain sound changes that occurred as PIE evolved into its daughter languages. For instance, their proposed existence helps explain irregularities in the consonant systems of Indo-European branches, such as the Germanic and Balto-Slavic languages. Theories suggest that these intermediate sounds may have developed into more distinct stops or fricatives in different descendant languages.

Different scholars have proposed various reconstructions for these sounds, sometimes referring to them with terms like "mediophones" or "glides." The evidence for kesktähtsad is largely derived from comparative linguistics, where patterns in sound correspondences across various Indo-European languages suggest the existence of these intermediate phonemes in the parent language. While the precise phonetic realization of kesktähtsad remains a subject of ongoing research and discussion, their theoretical role in PIE phonology continues to be an important area of study for Indo-Europeanists.