Latin 1st class -ā- verbs as thematic formations: On the deficiency of IE roots

This study deals with the status of the morphological element -ā which marks 1st conjugation verbs in Latin. Adopting a Distributed Morphology framework, I focus on de-nominal/de-adjectival verbs and more generally on derivative ones, beside that on 'primary' -ā verbs which are the direct outcome of a PIE root. I demonstrate that -ā arises from the nominal domain, and that it is basically associated to agentive Voice. It covers the function of a thematic vowel in order to repair a marked matrix of features, due to the roots which lack an overt verbal character.