Reconstruction:Proto-Tungusic/wā-

This Proto-Tungusic 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-Tungusic

Etymology

An interesting stem. The only native Tungusic word which allows initial-w.

EDAL reconstructs an earlier *ebā-. Of onomatopeic origin is also possible.

Verb

*wā-

1. (transitive) to kill

   *Wāʒarasu.

   You will kill.

   *Wāʒaŋāsun.

   You will kill (pl.).

   *Wānbi.

   I kill.

   *Wānsi.

   You kill.

   *Wārani.

   [He/She] kills.

Descendants

• Jurchenic:
  • Jurchen: [script needed] (*wā-)
    • Manchu: ᠸᠠᠮᠪᡳ (wambi)
• Tungusic:
  • Northern Tungusic:
    • Even: ма̄дай (mādaj)
    • Evenki: ва̄мӣ (wāmī)
    • Negidal: ва̄- (wā-)
    • Oroqen: wa꞉-
    • Solon: wā-
  • Southern Tungusic:
    • Central:
      • Oroch: ва̄- (wā-)
      • Udihe: ва- (wa-)
    • South-Eastern:
      • Nanai: ва̄ори (wāori)
      • Orok: ва̄вури (wāwuri)
      • Ulch: ва̄ву̇ (wāwụ)

References

• Benzing, Johannes (1955), Die tungusischen Sprachen. Versuch einer vergleichenden Grammatik (Abhandlungen der Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaftlichen Klasse; 11) (in German), Wiesbaden: Verlag der Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur in Mainz in Kommission bei Franz Steiner Verlag, page 26
• Cincius, V. I. (1975), Сравнительный словарь тунгусо-маньчжурских языков [Comparative Dictionary of Tungus-Manchu Languages] (in Russian), volume 1, Leningrad: Nauka, pages 127-129