Reconstruction:Proto-Algonquian/ne-

This Proto-Algonquian 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-Algonquian

Alternative forms

• *net- (see usage notes)
• *ni·- (in some compounds, see usage notes)

Etymology

From Proto-Algic *neʔ-, whence also Yurok 'ne-, ʔne- (“my”) and Wiyot du-, d- (showing the hardening of the Proto-Algic nasal n to the stop d).

Prefix

*ne-

1. my

   *ni·piči (“my tooth”)

   *ni·yawi (“my body”)

   *nemihsa (“my older sister”)

Usage notes

• When prefixed to vowel-initial nouns, this prefix and the other three personal prefixes were separated from the nouns by *-t-, i.e. the prefixes became *net-, *ket-, etc. This practice, also present in Wiyot (dut-, etc), must have been present in Proto-Algic.
• When prefixed to certain words this prefix became *ni·- (and *ke- became *ki·-, etc).

Descendants

• Plains Algonquian:
  • Blackfoot: no-, ni-, n- (“my”)
  • Arapaho: ne-, no- (“my”)
  • Cheyenne: na- (“my”)
• Central Algonquian:
  • Cree: ni-, ᓂ- (ni-)
  • Menominee: nɛ-
  • Ojibwe: ni-
  • Fox: n-, nî-
  • Miami: ni- (“your”)
• Eastern Algonquian:
  • Abenaki: n-
  • Malecite-Passamaquoddy: n-
  • Massachusett: ne-
  • Mohegan-Pequot: nu-
  • Mahican: n-, ne-, nd-, nt-, nch(e)- (“my”)
  • Unami: n-, ni-

Compare Quiripi née (“I”) (Unquachog).

See also

• *ke-, *we-, *me-

References

• Hockett (1964)
• Goddard (1975)
• Siebert (1975)
• Costa, David J. (2003) The Miami-Illinois Language (Studies in the Native Languages of the Americas), Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, →ISBN