You’ve mentioned in both PIE episodes that Hittite’s simplicity is closer to the original PIE rather than being an innovation. How do we know the bells and whistles developed after Hittite broke off? Wouldn’t it be just as likely that the bells and whistles were already there and later Hittite simplified after the people migrated to Anatolia (perhaps it was learned by many adults living there)? Like how do we know Hittite didn’t shed off old PIE’s subjunctive and operative moods for example?
You’ve mentioned in both PIE episodes that Hittite’s simplicity is closer to the original PIE rather than being an innovation. How do we know the bells and whistles developed after Hittite broke off? Wouldn’t it be just as likely that the bells and whistles were already there and later Hittite simplified after the people migrated to Anatolia (perhaps it was learned by many adults living there)? Like how do we know Hittite didn’t shed off old PIE’s subjunctive and operative moods for example?
*optative