Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/përgat'ak

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

Etymology

Unknown. Appears to contain the suffix +‎ *-t'ak.

Borrowing from Proto-Germanic *berganą (to take care of) is rejected by LÄGLOS on semantic grounds.[1] However, the Finnic word can also be compared to Proto-Germanic *brekaną (to break) with a metathesis *breka- > *përka-; however, it has also been proposed that *brekaną was borrowed as *rikko-, and the differences between the two cannot easily be explained through chronology, which makes the two theories mutually exclusive.

Verb

*përgat'ak (stem *përkada-)

  1. to clear, to clean

Inflection

Descendants

  • Estonian: (dialectal) põrgama/põrata
  • Finnish: perata
  • Ingrian: perata
  • Karelian:

From *përkadak:

  • Karelian:
    • North Karelian: perkua
    • South Karelian: pergua
  • Livvi: pergua
  • Ludian: pergada

References

  1. ^ Kylstra, A.D.; Hahmo, Sirkka-Liisa; Hofstra, Tette; Nikkilä, Otto. 1991–2012. Lexikon der älteren germanischen Lehnwörter in den ostseefinnischen Sprachen. Amsterdam: Rodopi.

Further reading

  • Erkki Itkonen, Ulla-Maija Kulonen, editors (1992–2000), “perata”, in Suomen sanojen alkuperä [The Origin of Finnish Words]‎[1] (in Finnish) (online version; note: also includes other etymological sources; this source is labeled "SSA 1992–2000"), Helsinki: Institute for the Languages of Finland/Finnish Literature Society, →ISBN