10xii53

_-_-_-_ looks very like _-_-_-_-_ dual, I agree. The 
numbers _-_-_ on Sc787 are further confirmation of
the PAIR / SINGLE hypothesis, but it's interesting that
_-_, which should mean "2 PAIRS of" still takes the
dual of the noun. The scribes confusion of ours?
_-_-_-_-_  means "solidly built", I suppose. _-_-_-_ beats
me: the phonetic outline recurs in the _-_-_ word with the 
FRUIT-TREES. Can _  have a different value here? I
must make a list of the possible -_-_ adjectives beginning
with _-. Something  like Hom _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ "suitable"
would be a good antithesis to +_-_-_-_-_-_-_ .
_-_ on dn794 seems to clinch _-_-_, as you say; &
goes well with Knossos _-_-_-_. 
The word _-_-_ has been variously derived from *_-_-_-_-
"that which is suspended", and from *_-_-_-_, neither of
which fit _-_: but one can't take all the etymologies
as gospel. What What worries me more is the fact that the
word is dual, i.e. _-_-_-_ in Greek.

	Must close now, as its well after
midnight; but I wanted to write & thank you by 
return.

		Yours,

			Michael V.


- Look forward to reading your comments
on the tripods. Yes, our guess for _-_-_-_ is
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ : But Blegen's drawing gave
_-_ for the isolated venel-name, & that stumped
us. - the nearest I could get was the Norwegian
huerna 'jug" (*kw-). _-_-_-_-_ is traditionally
derived from *_-_-_-_-_- without labio-velar; but if
this is the time of the break-up of these sounds odd
confusions may happen in the spelling (as here &
there seem already to have appeared).
Your suggestion of _-_-_-_ fem _-_-_-_ masculine
might indicate -_-_-_-_, -_-_-_-_ : is this what 
you had in mind?

	I will keep the new tablets between Chadwick,
Palmer & myself.

	London university's insititute of classical
studies, to be inauguraetd next week, has suggested
setting up a professional study-group to look at
Linear B, in which Gordon Childe, Webster, Ehrenberg,
Gadd and others may meet. If you think it is
proper I will let them see a copy of your letter: but
if not, they can do their worst on the old stuff. In
any case, it may be a few months before their idea
takes shape.