Reconstruction:Proto-Algonquian/penkwi

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

Etymology

From Proto-Algic *penekwe, whence also Yurok penkw (“acorn flour”).^[1] (Compare Yurok pontet (“ashes”) and Wiyot p̣aⁿ-ṭút.)

Some scholars have suggested links to other language families, such as Proto-Salish *pəqʼʷ (“dust”).^[2]^[3]

Noun

*penkwi

dust, ash(es)

Descendants

Plains Algonquian:
- Cheyenne: páa'e (“ashes, powder”)
Central Algonquian:
- Plains Cree: pihko, ᐱᐦᑯ (“ashes, dust”)
- Ojibwe: bingwi (“sand, ashes”)
- Miami: pinkwi (“ashes”)
Eastern Algonquian:
- Abenaki: pegw- (“dust, ash”)
- Penobscot: pəkʷ (“dust, ashes, dirt, powder”)
- Powhatan: pungwe (“ashes”)
- probably t'pgwan (“gravel, soil, ash”)
- Mohegan-Pequot: puqi (“dust, ashes”)
- Quiripi: puckwe (“dirt”)
- Massachusett: pukquee (“ashes, dust”)
- Munsee: pónkw (“dust”)
- Unami: punkw (“ash, dust, powder”)
  - →? English: punk (“powdered rotten wood”)

References

Siebert (1967)

^ Garrett (2001)
^ Proto-Salishan form and gloss per Kuipers (2002).
^ A paper published in 1989 in Explorations in language macrofamilies: materials from the first International interdisciplinary symposium on language and prehistory; edited by Vitaly Shevoroshkin even posits a link to Proto-Chukotko-Kamchatkan *piŋpiŋ "ashes", but this is controversial. Even Sergei L. Nikolaev, who attempts to link Wakashan, Nivkh and Algic (Almosan), and who notes the similarity of the Algonquian and Salishan words, says he "seriously doubt[s] whether Proto-Chukchi-Kamchatkan shares an immediate common ancestor with Nivkh, Wakashan and Algic; a more natural conclusion is that PChK merely shares" a number of contact words.

[1] Garrett (2001)

[2] Proto-Salishan form and gloss per Kuipers (2002).

[3] A paper published in 1989 in Explorations in language macrofamilies: materials from the first International interdisciplinary symposium on language and prehistory; edited by Vitaly Shevoroshkin even posits a link to Proto-Chukotko-Kamchatkan *piŋpiŋ "ashes", but this is controversial. Even Sergei L. Nikolaev, who attempts to link Wakashan, Nivkh and Algic (Almosan), and who notes the similarity of the Algonquian and Salishan words, says he "seriously doubt[s] whether Proto-Chukchi-Kamchatkan shares an immediate common ancestor with Nivkh, Wakashan and Algic; a more natural conclusion is that PChK merely shares" a number of contact words.

[1]

[2]

[3]