< Reconstruction:Proto-Algic

Reconstruction:Proto-Algic/nekwet-

This Proto-Algic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Algic

Etymology

Jan P. van Ejik[1] noted the similarity of not just Proto-Algic *nekwet- (“one”) and Proto-Salish *nəkʼ-uʼ (“one”), but also Proto-Algonquian *pe·šekwi (“one”) (variant: *pe·yakw) and Proto-Salish *palaʼ (“one”).[2] Ejik speculated that one of the roots may have originally been Salish and borrowed by some varieties of Proto-Algic, while the other may have been originally Algic and borrowed by some varieties of Proto-Salish. (Peter Bakker argues against this.)

In Language in the Americas, Joseph Greenberg proposed a deeper relationship between this word and the Proto-Salish root *nak, *nəkʼ-uʼ,[3] *nəkʼʷ-əʔ,[4] identifying *n(V) as an Amerind numeral prefix. Greenberg's suggestion that Algic, Salish and various other North American language families might descend from a common ancestor has been rejected by many linguists as flawed and unsupported by valid evidence.

Proulx reconstructs this term as nekwet- and notes that several descendants, including Unami, Wiyot, and Yurok, have lost the prefix ne-. Sapir had previously conjectured that the Proto-Algic form lacked ne- and the languages which have it had added it analogically.

Numeral

*nekwet-

  1. one (1)

Descendants
  • Yurok: kohta'r (“one (straight thing)”), kohtoh (“one (round thing)”)
  • Wiyot: go't (“one (person)”)
  • Proto-Algonquian: *nekwetwi (“one”)

References
  • Proulx (1984)
  1. in The inclusive and exclusive in Shuswap, in Clusivity: Typology and Case Studies of Inclusive-exclusive Distinction
  2. reconstruction per Kuipers (1970 and 1998)
  3. reconstruction per Kuipers (1970)
  4. alternative reconstruction, per Swadesh (1949)
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