Macro-Somali languages

Last updated
Macro-Somali
Somaloid
Geographic
distribution
Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya
Linguistic classification Afro-Asiatic
Subdivisions
Glottolog east2653

The Macro-Somali or Somaloid languages, or (in the conception of Bernd Heine, who does not include Baiso [1] ), Sam languages, are a branch of the Lowland East Cushitic languages. They are spoken in Somalia, Djibouti, eastern Ethiopia, and northern Kenya. The most widely-spoken member is Somali. [2]

Contents

Languages

The primary division is between Baiso and Rendille versus the remaining languages, for which Heine proposes the terms "Eastern Sam" or "Dad". [3]

Sound correspondences

The following sound correspondences hold between Rendille, Aweer and Somali:

Proto-SamRendilleAweerSomalinotes
*bbbb
*dddd
*ggk, -g-g
ʃjBefore the vowel *i (palatalization).
*ttt, -d-t, -d-
*cʃ, -y-ʃ sh, -j- y
*kkk, -g-k, -g-
ʃBefore the vowel *i.
ɖɗ, -r-ɖ dhContinues Proto-East Cushitic implosive *ɗ.
*qxʔqContinues Proto-East Cushitic ejective *kʼ.
*ffff
*ssss
ħħ, -h-ħ x
*hh, -ħ-hh
*zjdd
ħʔʕ c
ħʔlost
*mmm, -nm, -n
*nnnn
*llll
*rrrr
*wwww, -b-
*jjjj y

The Eastern Sam or Dad group is characterized by the following four changes: [4]

In Boni, several consonant clusters simplify: [5]

Notes

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References