Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/-ici-

This Proto-Finnic 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-Finnic

Alternative forms

• *-isi-

Etymology

From Proto-Finno-Ugric *-ńće-j, *-nśe-j; derived from the same ending as in *-it'ak (stem *-iccë-), and probably also the diminutive ending *-ic(c)ë-. Cognate with Proto-Samic *-ńćë- (potential mood marker).

Infix

*-ici-

1. Conditional mood marker.

   Synonym: *-kci-

Usage notes

Some, such as Kallio (2014, following Itkonen (1983)), theorize that *-ici- was originally a "subjunctive mood" marker which replaced the original conditional marker *-kci-, exclusively or primarily in Northern Finnic.

Descendants

• Finnish: -isi-
• Ingrian: -isi-; -isi-, -is
• Karelian:
  • North Karelian: -isi-, -is
  • South Karelian: -zi-, -z
• Livvi: -izi-, -is
• Ludian: -iži-, -iž
• Veps: -iži-
• Votic: -izi-, -iz', ⇒ (dialectal) -issi- (< *-ikci-, *-iksi-, combining the two conditional suffixes)