Reconstruction:Proto-Yoruboid/kú

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

Alternative forms

• *kpú

Etymology

From Proto-Volta-Niger *kpú or Proto-Volta-Niger *kú, ultimately from Proto-Atlantic-Congo. Within Volta-Niger languages, see Fon kú, Ewe *kuku, (Proto-Gbe *kú), Proto-Igboid *-gbú (“to kill”), Akpes hu, Ayere ku (probably also cognate with Ayere *kpu (“to kill”)), Arigidi kṹ (see Proto-Akokoid *kú), Ukaan *hwó (see Proto-Ukaan *ɣʷó). Outside of Volta-Niger, compare with Tiv *kpe, Ibibio *kpa, Proto-Jukunoid *kwu-, Awing *kfu (from Proto-Grassfields *kÚ(a)), Proto-Bantu *-kúa, Ahwai kwε (Proto-Plateau *kwu)

• Other Volta-Niger languages have a different cognate term also meaning to die. It is very unclear if these are from the same root term as kú. Many resources reconstruct them as originating from two different yet synonymous forms. See Proto-Edoid *ghu, Nupe wu (“to kill”), Igbo nwụ, Ukaan yú. Similar cognates that are similar to this exist in Benue-Congo languages, such as Khana u, Tee u, Ibibio woot (“to kill”), Akan wu (“to die”). The possibility of their common origin with "ku" is suggested by the Proto-Potou-Akanic term, Proto-Kwa *-kʷu, thereby linking it to the Atlantic-Congo proto-term, and a loss of the consonant "k". Both terms usually exist as "to kill," and "to die," with descendant languages either inheriting both terms from Proto-Atlantic-Congo (in which they would serve as doublets) or only one term in its current usage.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kú/

Verb

*kú

1. to die
2. to kill

   Synonym: *kpa

Descendants

• Yoruba: kú (all dialects)
• Igala: kwú
• Itsekiri: ku (kú)
• Ifè: ku (kú)
• Ede Idaca: ku (kú)
• Olukumi: ku

References

• On Reconstructing Tone in Proto-Niger-Congo by Larry M. Hyman University of California, Berkeley
• Appendix:Akpes word lists
• Appendix:Proto-Ukaan reconstructions
• THE UKAAN LANGUAGE:BANTU IN SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA? - Revised Version of Paper given at the Hamburg Conference‘Trends in the Historical Study of African Languages’ - Hamburg 3-7th September, 1994
• Appendix:Proto-Edoid reconstructions
• Appendix:Proto-Igboid reconstructions
• Appendix:Proto-Gbe reconstructions
• Tèè-English Dictionary ̣Tabtàb Tèè Turé Bu Bekéè by Wilson Kpàkpàn Nwí-Bàrì
• ABUILD Language Documentation Curriculum Materials #1 COURSE: LEXICOGRAPHY Uyo Ibibio Dictionary