Reconstruction:Proto-Chukotko-Kamchatkan/ðəlɣə

This Proto-Chukotko-Kamchatkan 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-Chukotko-Kamchatkan

Etymology

Likely related with the verbal root Proto-Chukotko-Kamchatkan *ðəlŋə- (“to count”), whence Chukchi рылгы (rəlɣə) and Itelmen ԓнес (ɬnes). This root also appears as the first element of the compound Proto-Chukotko-Kamchatkan *ðəlɣəlelŋən (“glove”).

In Chukchi, the stem рылгы- (rəlɣə-) alternates with рычгы- (rəčɣə-) especially in compounds. The Itelmen form is perhaps reduplicated (Fortescue, 2005: 68).

Noun

*ðəlɣə

1. (anatomy) finger

Descendants

• Chukotkan
  • Chukchi: рылгылгын (rəlɣəlɣən, “finger, toe”)
  • Koryak: йәлгәлӈән (jəlɣəlŋən)
  • Alutor: тылгылӈын (təlɣəlŋən)
  • Kerek: илыгыӽал (iləɣəχal)
• Kamchatkan
  • Itelmen: луфԓич (luɸɬič)

References

• Fortescue, Michael (2005) Comparative Chukotko-Kamchatkan dictionary (Trends in Linguistic Documentation; 23), Berlin – New York: de Gruyter, →ISBN.