Proto-Seiquian: Difference between revisions

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All consonants except the labials can also be ''labialized''; such consonants are marked with '''°'''; e.g. '''*t°''' or '''*g°h'''. The frequency of these labializations increases from the alveolars to the uvulars; however, '''*h°''' is rare.
All consonants except the labials can also be ''labialized''; such consonants are marked with '''°'''; e.g. '''*t°''' or '''*gh°'''. The frequency of these labializations increases from the alveolars to the uvulars; however, '''*h°''' is rare.


The aspirated stops are not preserved in any Seiquian language as such; they merged with the unaspirated stops in the [[Curbatan]] branch and became fricatives in [[Hihi]].
The aspirated stops are not preserved in any Seiquian language as such; they merged with the unaspirated stops in the [[Curbatan]] branch and became fricatives in [[Hihi]].

Revision as of 09:24, 8 November 2019

Proto-Seiquian is the reconstructed ancestor of the Seiquian languages, estimated to have been spoken around 4000 BC. It has been conjectured that this was the language of the Sredny Stog culture before these people merged with the Khvalynsk culture forming the Yamnaya culture and shifted to the latter's language, Proto-Indo-European. This, however, remains speculative.

Phonology

Consonants

Proto-Seiquian has a rich consonant inventory.

  Labial Coronal Palatal Velar Uvular Glottal
Stops Unaspirated Voiceless *p *t *c *k    
Voiced *b *d *j *g    
Aspirated Voiceless *ph *th *ch *kh    
Voiced *bh *dh *jh *gh    
Fricatives Voiceless   *s     *x *h
Nasals *m *n        
Liquids   *l *r        
Semivowels *w   *y      

All consonants except the labials can also be labialized; such consonants are marked with °; e.g. *t° or *gh°. The frequency of these labializations increases from the alveolars to the uvulars; however, *h° is rare.

The aspirated stops are not preserved in any Seiquian language as such; they merged with the unaspirated stops in the Curbatan branch and became fricatives in Hihi.

Vowels

Proto-Seiquian is reconstructed with five vowels.

  Front Central Back
Close *i   *u
Mid *e   *o
Open   *a  

In addition, nasals and liquids can form syllable nuclei.

Morphology

Proto-Seiquian is reconstructed as an agglutinating, head-final accusative language.

Nouns

Nouns in Proto-Seiquian are classified in two genders: masculine and feminine. They are inflected for three numbers (singular, dual and plural) and six cases (nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, instrumental, locative).



Adjectives

(to be done)

Pronouns

(to be done)

Verbs

(to be done)

Syntax

(to be done)