ɔ̀-

Lahu

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ˧˩/

Prefix

ɔ̀-

1. nominalizing prefix that forms nouns from bounded verbal or nominal root morphemes, e.g.

   ɔ̀-chɨ̂ ― lung

   ɔ̀-khɨ ― foot

   ɔ̀-fɨ́-qō ― stomach

   ɔ̀-ha ― spirit, image

2. general prefix that can be substituted for specific prefixes according to context, e.g.

   ɔ̀-šī ― small round object

   as in

   à-mī-šī ― hand-grenade

   í-šī ― fruit

   nâʔ-šī ― bullet

   nī-šī ― testicle

3. meaningless element used as prefix in loanwords, e.g.

   ɔ̀-a ― saddle (loan from Tai, cf. Thai อาน (aan), itself from Chinese 鞍 (ān))

References

• 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.