Proto-Algonquian Phonological and Morphophonological Rules

Last updated: April 25, 2024

This post will collect and exemplify the most important phonological and morphophonological processes of Proto-Algonquian; it represents a substantial revision and expansion of a section that was originally found in my post on Proto-Algonquian. (For an overall introduction to Proto-Algonquian itself, you can find that post here, and for an introduction to verb inflection specifically, including some of the technical terms used here, see this one. I have not finished revising these to reflect my current beliefs and knowledge or for consistency with this post, though . . . )

While I make no pretense to total comprehensive coverage—which would be nearly impossible—I hope this can prove of use as, at least, the most comprehensive such list available, consolidated in one place and carefully ordered. Virtually none of the given rules are “new,” but to my knowledge they have never been assembled together like this before, exactly—only smaller subsets, often scattered throughout a work, and usually without statements on ordering.

Squib #1: “Winter” in Algic

I’m going to try to post more short little squibs on minor points, with more frequency, rather than having every post here be a monograph. So let’s start today by looking at the word for “winter” in Algic languages.

Comparative Algic Progress Report

Last updated: October 11, 2023

For several years now I’ve been reexamining the older work done on comparative Algic and the reconstruction of Proto-Algic (PAc), and have gradually developed my own reconstruction of the protolanguage, which builds on this older work but departs from it in some important ways. I hope over the coming months to post some shorter studies that have resulted from this project. In this post I will just outline where things stand at the moment; also (for completeness and my own sake—I don’t expect anyone else to care) what the next steps are.

A Few Modest Terminological and Notational Proposals

Last updated: September 27, 2023

An actual relatively restrained post today (!!).

In this blog I’ve used some terminology and notational practices that are either rare or idiosyncratic, and usually fairly new (with one exception). But I haven’t discussed them all in one place, or always fully explained them. So I figured I’d just cover them all here, along with my justifications, and why I humbly think at least some of them would be beneficial for Algonquianists to adopt (or agree on, in the first case).

Two New Proto‑Algic Etymologies

Last updated: September 27, 2023

In working to produce a new reconstruction of Proto-Algic, I’ve so far relied almost entirely on cognate sets identified by previous researchers, even when drawing different conclusions from them about how to reconstruct a protoform. Having largely exhausted these, it’s time to move on to looking for new cognates. These will naturally, but unfortunately, mostly consist of more precarious sets, as most of the low-hanging fruit has already been identified.

Recently I’ve found two cognate sets—one convincing, the other attractive but not entirely secure—that have not, to my knowledge, been fully endorsed in print before. (One was mentioned as a possibility in an aside when discussing a different comparison.) In a sense, they illustrate the sort of sets that are probably left to find: rather doubtful at first glance, but increasingly plausible the more one digs; one also, in the process, happily solves a question of the proper reconstruction of a Proto-Algonquian term.

[Fair warning: the post reconstructs and discusses the semantics of a few “taboo” body parts and bodily functions, though academically]

Proto-Algonquian Verbs

Last updated: April 13, 2024

In this post, an expansion of the summary section on verbs in my post on Proto-Algonquian (PA), I outline the inflection of PA verbs, with a particular focus being on the complex argument-marking system. (Be aware that a number of things will, unavoidably, need to be oversimplified or passed over.)

Importantly, I hope in the process to help clear up some persistent and common misconceptions about how this system actually works. Ideally that section, at least, will be of interest to some people who otherwise don’t want to wade through another of my interminable posts!