Reconstruction:Proto-Turkic/almïla

This Proto-Turkic 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-Turkic

Alternative reconstructions

*alïmla, *ālimla

Etymology

From *āl (“red”) +‎ *mïla (“apple?”). Literally meaning (red apple), possibly cognating with Ancient Greek μῆλον (mêlon, “apple”), from an unknown source. It is highly probable that the name of the fruit, which spread to the world from Central Asia in the Bronze Age, was taken from a common source in various languages.

Noun

*almïla (Common Turkic)

apple

Declension

Declension of *almïla (Common Turkic)

	singular	plural²⁾
nominative	*almïla	*almïlalar
accusative
genitive	*almïlanïŋ	*almïlalarnïŋ
dative	*almïlaka	*almïlalarka
locative	*almïlada	*almïlalarda
ablative	*almïladan	*almïlalardan
instrumental¹⁾		*almïlalarïn
equative¹⁾	*almïlača	*almïlalarča

¹⁾The original instrumental and equative cases have fallen into disuse in many Common Turkic languages.
²⁾This plural suffix is used only on Common Turkic, and not in Oghur. See also the notes on the Proto-Turkic/Locative-ablative case and plurality page on Wikibooks.

Descendants

Oghur:
- Chuvash: омла (omla) (dialectal) ^{[note 1]}
Common Turkic: *alma (see there for further descendants)
- Arghu:
  - Khalaj: alımla
- Karluk:
  - Karakhanid: اَلُمِلا (almïla) ^{[note 2]} (as part of the compound اَلُمِلا قِمِزْ (qïmïz almïla))^[1]
- → Proto-Mongolic: *alima
  - Kalmyk: альмн (alʹmn)
  - Middle Mongol: ᠠᠯᠢᠮ᠎ᠠ (alim-a)
    - Classical Mongolian: ᠠᠯᠢᠮ᠎᠎ᠠ (alim--a)
      Mongolian: алим (alim)
      → Salar: *alima

Reconstruction notes

^ This form is either a contraction of *alïmla or a metathesis of улма (ulma); the latter form, in turn, is perhaps a later borrowing form Kipchak. If the Chuvash dialectal forms with -ml- are more archaic, *alïmla could be reconstructed for Proto-Turkic as well.
^ According to Doerfer, the entry in Dīwān should be read as alïmla. It follows from this proposition that the Common Turkic reconstruction should too have the shape of *alïmla rather than *almïla as proposed here. The reconstruction along the lines of Doerfer's *alïmla is also potentially easier to reconcile with the shape of the Mongolic derivative *alima.

References

^ al-Kashgarî, Mahmud (1072–1074) Besim Atalay, transl., Divanü Lûgat-it-Türk Tercümesi [Translation of the “Compendium of the languages of the Turks”] (Türk Dil Kurumu Yayınları; 521) (in Turkish), 1985 edition, Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurmu Basımevi, published 1939–1943, page 315

[1] This form is either a contraction of *alïmla or a metathesis of улма (ulma); the latter form, in turn, is perhaps a later borrowing form Kipchak. If the Chuvash dialectal forms with -ml- are more archaic, *alïmla could be reconstructed for Proto-Turkic as well.

[2] According to Doerfer, the entry in Dīwān should be read as alïmla. It follows from this proposition that the Common Turkic reconstruction should too have the shape of *alïmla rather than *almïla as proposed here. The reconstruction along the lines of Doerfer's *alïmla is also potentially easier to reconcile with the shape of the Mongolic derivative *alima.

[3] -Kashgarî, Mahmud (1072–1074) Besim Atalay, transl., Divanü Lûgat-it-Türk Tercümesi [Translation of the “Compendium of the languages of the Turks”] (Türk Dil Kurumu Yayınları; 521) (in Turkish), 1985 edition, Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurmu Basımevi, published 1939–1943, page 315

[note 1]

[note 2]

[1]

Foods - yẹ̄miĺčler, yẹ̄miĺčsāyïn
Barley	barley: *arpa	Pea	beans, peas: *burčak	Wheat	farro, wheat: *bugday
Jujube	jujube: *yidge	Strawberry	strawberry: *yidgelek	Apple	apple: *almïla
Hazelnuts	hazelnut: *bōńurï	Walnuts	walnut: *yaŋgak	Honey	honey: *bạl
Millet	millet: *tạrïg	Onion	onion: *sōgun	Salt	salt: *tūŕ
Egg	egg: *yumurtka	Butter	butter: *yāg	Mushroom	mushroom: *kömbe
Radish	radish: turp, turma	Carrot	carrot: *turma