Tuscan & Etruscan: The Problem of Linguistic Substratum Influence in Central Italy

It is proposed that students of Italian have been lead to accept the theory on the origin of gorgia fiorentina by using an inadequate descriptive apparatus, incorrect insight into second language learning, & assuming the presence of aspirated stops in the undeciphered Etruscan lang. Gorgia fiorentina regards the realization in Tuscany of intervocalic /-k-/ as [-h-]. Real aspiration of voiceless stops is normal & in free variation with nonaspiration throughout Italy. Theories supporting the Etruscan origin hypothesis are examined & it is argued that the existence of aspirates in Etruscan cannot be taken for granted. The argument depends largely on the date accepted for the Etruscan arrival, not much before 800 BC. The more probable date of arrival is about 1000 BC. The Etruscans had three Semitic signs for sibilants, but it can be established that aspirates correspond in Greek & Etruscan. J. Atkinson