Palaihnihan languages

Last updated
Palaihnihan
Palaihnih, Laikni
Geographic
distribution
California
Linguistic classification Hokan  ?
  • Shasta–Palaihnihan ?
    • Palaihnihan
Proto-language Proto-Palaihnihan
Subdivisions
Glottolog pala1350

Palaihnihan (also Palaihnih) is a language family of northeastern California. It consists of two closely related languages, both now extinct:

Contents

Reconstruction

The original reconstruction of proto-Palaihnihan suffered from poor quality data. David Olmsted's dictionary depends almost entirely upon de Angulo, who did not record the phonological distinctions consistently or well, [1] and carelessly includes Pomo vocabulary from a manuscript in which he (de Angulo) set out to demonstrate that Achumawi and Pomo are not related. [2] William Bright has also pointed out problems with Olmsted's methods of reconstruction. [3] The reconstruction is being refined with newer data. [4]

Good, McFarland, & Paster (2003) conclude there were at least three vowels, *a *i *u, and possibly marginal *e, along with vowel length and ablaut. Consonants were as follows: [4]

Bilabial Alveolar Palatal Velar Uvular (Epi)glottal
Plosive plain p t k q ʔ
aspirated tʃʰ
ejective tʃʼ
Fricative s ʜ h
Nasal plain m n
glottalized
Trill plain r
glottalized
Approximant plain w l j
glottalized

Genetic relations

The Palaihnihan family is often connected with the hypothetical Hokan stock. Proposed special relationships within Hokan include Palaihnihan with Shastan (known as Shasta-Achomawi) and within a Kahi sub-group (also known as Northern Hokan) with Shastan, Chimariko, and Karuk.

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. Nevin 1991, 1998.
  2. Gursky, Karl-Heinz (1987). "Achumawi und Pomo, eine besondere Beziehung?". Abhandlungen der völkerkundlichen Arbsgemeinschaft. Nortorf. 57.
  3. Bright, William; Olmsted, D. L. (1965). "Review of A history of Palaihnihan phonology by D. L. Olmsted". Language. Baltimore: Linguistic Society of America. 41 (1): 175–178. doi:10.2307/411871. JSTOR   411871.
  4. 1 2 Good, McFarland, & Paster (2003) "Reconstructing Achumawi and Atsugewi: Proto-Palaihnihan revisited"

Bibliography