ɔ̀-

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Lahu

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Etymology

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From Proto-Loloish *ʔaŋ ~ *ʔak, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ʔa(ŋ/k)- (noun prefix). Compare Burmese အ- (a.-) and possibly Old Chinese (OC *qaːl).

Pronunciation

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Prefix

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ɔ̀-

  1. nominalizing prefix that forms nouns from bounded verbal or nominal root morphemes, e.g.
    ɔ̀-chɨ̂lung
    ɔ̀-khɨfoot
    ɔ̀-fɨ́-qōstomach
    ɔ̀-haspirit, image
  2. general prefix that can be substituted for specific prefixes according to context, e.g.
    ɔ̀-šīsmall round object
    as in
    à-mī-šīhand-grenade
    í-šīfruit
    nâʔ-šībullet
    nī-šītesticle
  3. meaningless element used as prefix in loanwords, e.g.
    ɔ̀-asaddle (loan from Tai, cf. Thai อาน (aan), itself from Chinese (ān))

References

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  • James A. Matisoff (1988) The Dictionary of Lahu, University of California Press.
  • James A. Matisoff (1973) The Grammar of Lahu, University of California Press, page 66.