a³¹-

Pela

Etymology 1

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ʔa(ŋ/k)- (“noun prefix”) (STEDT). Compare Burmese အ- (a.-), Chinese 阿 (ā) and Tibetan ཨ- (a-).

Prefix

a³¹-

1. noun prefix for some kinship terms and derivations from verbs

Derived terms

• a³¹ mauŋ⁵⁵ (“younger brother (of a female)”)
• a³¹ mɔ̃⁵¹ (“elder brother”)
• a³¹ na̠uŋ³¹ (“younger brother(of a male)/sister”)
• a³¹ nuŋ⁵⁵ (“mother”)
• a³¹ pai⁵¹ (“elder sister”)
• a³¹ va⁵⁵ (“father”)

Pela terms prefixed with a³¹-

a³¹ faʔ⁵⁵

a³¹ jaʔ³¹

a³¹ kɔ̠n⁵⁵

a³¹ pʰau³⁵

Etymology 2

Compare Old Burmese အ (a), Zaiwa a and Lashi a. Possibly also related with Nuosu ꀋ (ap). STEDT considers forms with zero-initial being derivations from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ma (“not”).

Prefix

a³¹-

1. not (negative prefix for non-imperative verbs)

See also

• tʰə̆³¹ (for prohibitive verbs)

References

• Dai, Qingxia, Jiang, Ying, Kong, Zhien (2007) 波拉语研究 [A Study of Pela Language] (in Chinese), Beijing: Publishing House of Minority Nationalities.
• Mangshi Jinghpo ethnicity Association of Development and Progress Studies (芒市景颇族发展进步研究学会), editor (2018), 汉文载瓦文波拉语对译词典 [Han-Zaiwa-Pela Dictionary] (in Chinese), Mangshi: Dehong Nationalities Publishing House.