Chukotko-Kamchatkan–Amuric languages

Chukotko-Kamchatko-Amuric
(hypothetical)
Geographic distribution	Northeast Asia
Linguistic classification	Proposed language family
Subdivisions	Nivkh Chukotko-Kamchatkan
Language codes
Glottolog	None

The Chukotko-Kamchatko-Amuric or Chukotko-Kamchatkan-Amuric languages form a hypothetical language family including Nivkh and Chukotko-Kamchatkan. A relationship between these two language groups was proposed by Michael Fortescue in a 2011 paper. ^{[note 1]} He theorized that their common ancestor might have been spoken around 4000 years ago. ^[1] However Glottolog says that the evidence is insufficient to conclude a genealogical relationship between Nivkh and Chukotko-Kamchatkan. ^[2]

Evidence

Phonological

Proposed sound correspondences ^[1]

CKA	CK	Nivkh
p, t, t’, k, q	p, t, c, k, q	p’, t’, c’, k’, q’
b, d, d’, g, ɢ	p, t, c, k, q	p, t, c, k, q
v, ð, γ, ʀ	v, ð, γ, ʀ	v, r/z, γ, ʀ
m, n, n’, ŋ	m, n, n, ŋ	m, n, n’, ŋ
w, j	w, j	w, j
l, r	l, r	l, r/z
h	Ø	h
i, u, e, o	i, u, e, o	i, u, e, o
a, ə	a, ə	ə
ʌ	æ	a/ə

Some cognates which include a sound change of Nivkh /ə/ and CK /æ/ are: t’əkə ‘edge of sleeping platform’ and CK tæγən 'near the edge of'' and Nivkh ərŋ 'mouth of a river' and CK ær 'flow out'.

Lexical

Proposed Nivkh-Chukotko-Kamchatkan cognates ^[3]

Nivkh	CK
aui 'mouth'	æw 'get a hole'
kama 'run'	kame 'move around'
juty 'pour'	jit 'drip'
poju 'smoke' (verb)	pujæ 'cook on hot stones in pit'
t'am 'stay calm'	təmɣə 'stay still, calm'
uige 'no'	ujŋæ 'no'

Morphological

Chukotko-Kamchatkan and Nivkh have dual/plural distinction, however it has been lost in Chukchi.

Chukotko-Kamchatkan also has a "singulative" ending, and traces of a singulative ending in Nivkh might be seen.

See also

• Algonquian–Wakashan languages
• Paleosiberian languages
• Uralo-Siberian languages

Notes

1. Fortescue's text consistently gives the family name in its shorter version. The longer version appears once, in the abstract.

References

1. Fortescue, Michael (2011). "The relationship of Nivkh to Chukotko-Kamchatkan revisited". Lingua. 121 (8): 1359–1376. doi:10.1016/j.lingua.2011.03.001.
2. "Glottolog 4.3 - Amur Nivkh". glottolog.org.
3. Fortescue, Michael (1998). Language Relations across Bering Strait. London: Cassell & Co.