Reconstruction:Proto-Nakh/He

This Proto-Nakh 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.

This Proto-Nakh entry contains original research. The reconstruction in this entry is based on published research, but the specific form presented here is not found in prior works.

Proto-Nakh

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Dutch linguist Peter Schrijver, reconstructs the oblique stem *Hanir- for the Chechen reflex (this is not confirmed by the Bats material). However, Uslar’s work contains a form in the genitive singular ԧeнерің with -e- in the second syllable:

• *Hanariᶰ (assimilation 1) > *Haneriᶰ (assimilation 2) > *Häneriᶰ (reduction) > Chechen ӏаьнаран (ˀänaran);
• *Hanariᶰ (syncope) > *Hanriᶰ > Bats ჺანრიჼ (ʿanrĩ).

And the nominative plural:

• *Hanariš (assimilation 1) > *Haneriš (assimilation 2) > *Häneriš (reduction) > Chechen ӏаьнарш (ˀänarš);
• *Hanariš (apocope 1) > *Hanari (refraction or i-epenthesis) > *Hanaⁱri (apocope 2) > Bats ჺანაჲრ (ʿanayr).

It follows from this that his reconstruction is incorrect.

Noun

*He (stem *Hanar-)

1. steam

Descendants

• Bats: ჺა (ʿa) (< oblique *ʕanar-)
• Vainakh:
  • Chechen: ӏаь (ˀä), ӏа (ˀa) (< oblique *ʕanar-)
  • Ingush: ӏи (ˀi)

Further reading

• Nikolaev, Sergei L., Starostin, Sergei A. (1994) “*ʡe”, in A North Caucasian Etymological Dictionary‎^[2], Moscow: Asterisk Publishers