Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/-ta

This Proto-Finnic 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-Finnic

Alternative forms

  • *-da (with even-syllable vowel stems)
  • *-tä, *-dä (front vowel harmony)

Etymology 1

    From Proto-Uralic *-ta (ablative ending).

    Suffix

    *-ta / *-tä

    1. Partitive ending.
    Usage notes

    As per usual rules (of 'suffixal gradation'), the consonant *-t- undergoes lenition to *-d- when preceded by an unstressed syllable, but this is prevented if preceded by a consonant (e.g. *-ct- instead of **-cd- in partitive forms of nominals with *-inën, stem *-ic(c)e-).

    Descendants
    • Estonian: -d, -a
    • Finnish: -ta, -a
    • Ingrian: -ta, -a
    • Karelian:
    • Livonian: -tā, -dā, -ța, -ta, -da, -tõ, -dõ,
    • Livvi: -du, -tu, -u
    • Ludian: -d, -t
    • Veps: -d, -t
    • Võro: -d, -t
    • Votic: -ta, -a

    Etymology 2

      From Proto-Uralic *-ta(t).

      Suffix

      *-ta / *-tä

      1. The second-person plural personal ending for verbs.
      Usage notes
      • Attached after a tense or mood marker. In the present indicative, this was *-k-; this led to gemination in practically all descendants (*-ktV > *-ttV), which was then widely extended by analogy to other tenses and moods as well.[1]
        • As per usual rules (of 'suffixal gradation'), the consonant *-t- undergoes lenition to *-d- when preceded by an unstressed syllable, but any consonant immediately preceding it - e.g. the indicative present marker - will prevent this (*-kt- instead of **-kd-).
      • The final vowel was probably originally *-a/*, and influenced in many descendants by the second-person plural personal pronoun *tek/*töö.[1]
      Descendants
      • Estonian: -te
      • Finnish: -tte (vowel influenced by te), (dialectal) -tta (Ostrobothnia, Lapland, Karelia), -ja (South Ostrobothnia, past; < *-i-da)
      • Ingrian: -tta
      • Karelian:
        • North Karelian: -tta (present/past), -(i)ja (past; < *-i-da)
        • South Karelian: -tta
      • Livonian: -tõ, -t
      • Livvi: -tto
      • Ludian: -tte
      • Veps: -t
      • Votic: -tta/-ttõ
      • Võro: -t, -q

      References

      1. 1.0 1.1 Petri Kallio (2021), “Kaksikko aina kaunihimpi? Itämerensuomalaisten possessiivisuffiksien taustaa”, in Taina Saarikivi, Janne Saarikivi, editors, Turhan tiedon kirja: Tutkimuksista pois jätettyjä sivuja (Kirjokansi; 291) (in Finnish), pages 157-173