The origin of the Baltic inchoative in -sta-

Abstract

According to the majority view, the Baltic class of inchoative verbs in -sta- continues, mutatis mutandis, PIE sḱe/o-presents. However, important details remain unclear, which makes the connection a mere hypothesis. The present paper derives all formal and functional properties of the Baltic sta-category from the PIE sḱe/o-(desiderative-)inchoative, formulates a sound law responsible for the phonological shape of the suffix -sta-, and seeks to substantiate the proposed law with independent evidence. A Balto-Slavic change sḱ > st has been surmised before, but it has never been properly demonstrated for Baltic and is falsifiable when it comes to Slavic.