Reconstruction:Proto-Yoruboid/á-ji

This Proto-Yoruboid 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-Yoruboid

Etymology

Possibly derived from another root for water (or possibly referring to "flow"), compare with another root in *ó-mĩ. Probably originally referred to any water and a general class of water-related nouns, in which more narrow definitions were adopted by descendant languages. The difference between these two roots may be that this refers to the active movement of water, in rivers and in rain. Compare with cognates Arigidi edʒĩ (“water”), Arigidi ùdʒi, Adja eji, Fon jĭ (“rain”), Igbo uji (“river”). The root "ji" may be cognate with Nupe jè (“to flow, to run (as water)”), compare with Nupe èjè (“current, tide of water”). Blench suggests this may be a Doublet of *ò-jò. The root of that term may be *jò (“to leak, to flow (from a source)”), suggesting that this root may be referring to flowing water. Blench also proposes in an Ega dictionary of a common Proto-Volta-Congo, see Proto-Gurunsi *du, where the /d/ consonant seems to be common, see Proto-Lower Cross River *é-dìm.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /á.d͡ʒī/

Noun

*á-ji

water, river, any general body of water
Synonym: *ó-mĩ
rain
Synonym: *ò-jò

Descendants

Igala: aji (“river”)
Yoruba: eji (“rain”)
Ao Yoruba: ezi