Reconstruction:Proto-Siouan/wa-rį́·

This Proto-Siouan 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-Siouan

Etymology

The prefix could be either be *wi- (animate absolutive prefix) or more likely *wa- (absolutive prefix). The variation in initial-syllable vowels across descendant languages could reflect either vowel harmony (compare *wi-hų́te (“deer”)) or different prefixes.

Noun

*wa-rį́·

water, liquid

Reconstruction notes

Vowel length is inconsistently attested across descendant languages and may not be reconstructible for the proto-form. The Proto-Mississippi-Valley form *mnį́ shows significant restructuring.

Descendants

Proto-Crow-Hidatsa: *wirí
- Crow: bilí
- Hidatsa: wirí, wíri
Pre-Mandan: *wrį
- Mandan: wįrį́ʔ
Proto-Mississippi-Valley: *mnį́
- Proto-Dakota: *mnį́
  - Lakota: mní
  - Assiniboine: mní
  - Stoney: mní
- Proto-Hoocąk-Chiwere: *nį́·
  - Chiwere: ñį, ñį·
  - Winnebago: nį́į, nįį
- Proto-Dhegiha: *nį́
  - Omaha-Ponca: ni
  - Kansa: nį
  - Osage: 𐓩𐓣̋
  - Quapaw: nį
Proto-Southeastern: *mąnį́·
- Proto-Ofo-Biloxi:
  - Biloxi: ani, ni
  - Ofo: ā́ni, aní
- Proto-Tutelo-Saponi:
  - Tutelo: manī, mąnį́·, mĭnĭ́, mąnį́·
  - Saponi: money, moni

References

Robert L. Rankin, Richard T. Carter, A. Wesley Jones, John E. Koontz, David S. Rood, Iren Hartmann, editors (2015), “Entry #55”, in Comparative Siouan Dictionary‎^[1], Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology