Possible loanwords in Dhegiha.

Robert L. Rankin rankin at lark.cc.ukans.edu
Sun Sep 12 20:12:32 UTC 1999


VOORHIS at BrandonU.CA wrote:
> Other Algonquian languages don't don't do as Cree does, but t~c correspondences in cognates suggest they may have done something similar formerly: Kickapoo and Mesquakie cahkw-, Ojibwe takkw- 'short'.

Cf. Dhegiha languages (except Quapaw?)

OP  dappa/jappa	'short'
OS  tahpa/cahpa 'short'
KS  dappa/jappa 'short'

OJ  takkw-
FX        cahkw-  both 'short'

I'm a little hesitant about proclaiming these unambiguous
loanwords from Algonquian to Siouan, but they do fit.  The kw > p
isn't common in Siouan (which had no kw sequence as far as we
know) but it is common throughout the world.  The rest fits
pretty well phonologically and semantically, and the root isn't
known outside of Dhegiha as far as I know (tho' I could easily be
corrected on that).  Thus it only stands to reason we might look
for a source for Dhegiha 'short' outside of Siouan. (Quapaw may
also have the word, but I don't recall it and would have to
search.)  Chiwere should be checked.

Bob



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