Pidiginization in nawatl ?
r. joe campbell
campbel at indiana.edu
Sat Feb 17 19:58:55 UTC 2001
David,
I wish I knew more about 1) pidgins and creoles and 2) the Uto-Aztecan
language and its history because I think that a discussion of your point
(i.e., that a restricted morpheme set, together with the necessary heavy
use of compounding, is evidence that a language probably underwent
pidginization sometime in its history) [pardon the long interpolation]
would require input from people knowledgable in both of the above areas.
Having declared my ignorance, I can give you my unenlightened reaction
to the inference that you make. Your inference makes the assumption that
the "natural" organization of a language involves a large lexicon of
morphemes -- that it isn't "natural" for a language to be organized with a
relatively small set of morphemes and to make use of compounding in order
to cover its needs of semantic distinction. Although I *do* believe that
there are some interesting observations about language universals, I also
believe that human languages differ in unexpected ways, so I have a hard
time thinking that "heavy compounding" languages are necessarily changed
from a more "basic" language shape.
German, English, and Eskimo are known to lean heavily on compounding to
fill their needs for making semantic distinctions. With regard to German
and English, should we infer that Proto-Indo-European had a larger
morpheme lexicon and that German and English probably underwent
pidginization?
My personal inclination is that Nahuatl's compounding strategy is a
natural development possible in any language. I'd be interested in
hearing some evidence for its being strongly likely that it involved
pidginization.
I include below a list of some noun compounds from Molina's 16th
century vocabulary efforts.
Best regards,
Joe
p.s. Although Swadesh wrote about "los mil elementos...", I know of about
1300, so the number apparently exceeds that.
On Sat, 17 Feb 2001, David Sanchez wrote:
<<snip>>
>
> In fact I've heard the number of radicals used is only around 1000!!!
>
> This is a prototypical situation in PIDGINS and CREOLES, and we think
> that it is possible nawatl undergoed(?) a period of pidginization when a
> considerable number of yuto-aztecan radicals becomed lost and therefore
> they were replaced by compounds like (1), (2) and (3).
>
> What do you think? Do you consider reasonable this hypothesis about
> diachronic history of nawatl?
>
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 1
a:tl
a:calli canoe
a:calyacatl prow of a ship
a:coatl water snake
a:comitl large earthen water jar
a:huictli oar
a:milli irrigated land
a:octli liquor made with honey and water
a:ohtli water conduit
a:poctli water vapor
a:tecomatl gourd for drinking water
a:tentli bank of a river
a:tlacatl sailor
a:tocatl water spider
a:xictli whirlpool
a:xixcalli latrine
a:xixcomitl chamberpot
a:xixtecomatl bladder
a:caxitl water basin
ahuictli oar
altepe:milli community land
altepetlalli community lands
atezcatl pool of water, or a water gauge
atlalli irrigated land
axixcalli latrine
axixcomitl chamberpot
chila:tl chile pepper water
michacaxitl fishtank
necua:tl mixture of water and honey
nexa:tl lye
tepe:a:tl mountain water
tlalatl bog
xocha:tl rose water
zoquia:tl mud
acatl
acamahpilli rod
acapetlatl reed mat
totolacatl quill
totolacatecomatl inkwell
totolacatl quill or feather for writing
ahcolli
ahcolchimalli shoulder bone
ahcoltzontli hair on the shoulder
amatl
ama:calli bookstore
ama:calli cone-shaped paper cap
amatzoncalli paper helmet (cone)
cuicaamatl songbook
tepozamatl metal foil
tocaamatl registry of names
tonalamatl calendar
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 2
amoxtli
amoxcalli bookstore
amoxtentli margin of a book
amoxtocaitl title of a book
apaztli
cuauhapaztli wooden vessel
teapaztli stone basin
tepozapaztli copper caldron or basin
atolli
yacaatolli mucous
yacatolli mucous
cactli
cachuapalli sole or form of a shoe
cactlilli shoemaker's dye
cuauhcactli wooden sandal
ehuacactli rawhide shoe
tilmahcactli cloth slipper
calli
a:calli canoe
a:calyacatl prow of a ship
a:xixcalli latrine
ama:calli bookstore
ama:calli cone-shaped paper cap
amatzoncalli paper helmet (cone)
amoxcalli bookstore
axixcalli latrine
calcuaitl roof of a house
calcuichtli soot
callalli ground that is next to a house
calmilli land that is next to the house
calnacaztli corner of a house
calocuilin silk cocoon
calohtli road that goes to a house
cuauhcalli large wooden cage
cuitlacalli latrine
huapalcalli house or hut made of boards
huilocalli pigeonhouse
mazacalli stable
moyocalli mosquito net
ocopetlacalli pine box
omicalli ossuary or place to put bones
pahcalli drugstore
petlacalli reed chest
petlacalmecahuehuetl spinet, stringed instrument with keys
pitzocalli pigsty
tecalli stone house
tenexcalli lime oven
teocalli church
teocaltototl sparrow
teotlatquicalli sacristy
tepozpetlacalli iron or copper box
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 3
tlacualcalli pantry
tlecalli chimney
tochcalli rabbit burrow
totolcalli henhouse
tzoncalli wig
yaocalli fortress
capolin
capuloctli cherry wine
caxitl
a:caxitl water basin
chilmolcaxitl dish for chile pepper stew
michacaxitl fishtank
omicaxitl bone dish
tecaxitli stone basin
tepozcaxitl copper pan
tepoztlecaxitl metal incense burner
tlecaxitl clay incense burner
tototecaxtli birds' nest
chimalli
tepochimalli shield
chiquihuitl
cuauhchiquihuitl wooden basket
elchiquihuitl ribcage
totochiquihuitl birds' nest
zoyachiquihuitl basket made of palm leaves
cihuatl
cihuacahuallo mare
cihuamontli daughter-in-law
cihuatlacamichin sea siren, mermaid
cihuatlacohtli woman slave
cihuatotolin hen
tlacatecolocihuatl diabolical woman
tlahtocacihuapilli princess or great lady
coatl
a:coatl water snake
coahuitzmecatl brambleberry
coamichin eel
coatetl snake egg
coatlancapulin blackberry fruit
coatlantli blackberry bush or eyetooth
coatlanxocotl blackberry fruit
tlilcoatl black snake
comitl
a:comitl large earthen water jar
a:xixcomitl chamberpot
axixcomitl chamberpot
contlilli soot from pots
micomitl quiver for arrows
tlecomitl crucible for melting gold
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 4
xocouinocomitl vinegar pot
conetl
axnoconetl young donkey
canauhconetl small duck
huiloconetl young pigeon
ichcaconetl lamb
mazaconetl fawn
tochconetl young rabbit
totoconetl young bird
totolconetl chick
coyotl
tlalcoyotl jackal which hides underground and digs
cozcatl
xochicozcatl garland of flowers
cuahuitl
capulcuahuitl cherry tree
cuacuahuitl animal's horn
cuauhapaztli wooden vessel
cuauhcactli wooden sandal
cuauhcalli large wooden cage
cuauhchiquihuitl wooden basket
cuauhhuitztli kind of thorn bush
cuauhocuilin worm which gnaws wood
cuauhtexolotl pestle of a mortar
cuauhxicalli wooden vessel
huitzcuahuitl thorny tree
ococuahuitl pine tree
tlalcuahuitl rod for measuring fields
tlecuahuitl wooden instrument for making fire
xococuahuitl fruit tree
cuaitl
calcuaitl roof of a house
cuacuahuitl animal's horn
cuamatlatl hairnet
cuametlapil man with a large head
cuanacatl cock's comb
cuateyollotl crown of the head
cuatzontli hair of the head
cuaxicalli skull of the head
cuayollohtli crown of the head
ixcuaitl forehead
ixcuatzontli hair on the forehead
tlancuaxicalli knee bone
cuitlatl
cuitlacalli latrine
cuitlaxcolli intestines
nacazcuitlatl ear wax
teocuitlatl gold
teocuitlatlalli gold dust
teocuitlaxiquipilli money bag
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 5
tilmahcuitlapilli tail of a piece of clothing
totolcuitlatl chicken dung
tozcacuitlatl phlegm
tozcayacacuitlatl phlegm
tzocuitlatl sweat of the body
xicohcuitlaocotl wax candle
xicohcuitlatl wax
yacacuitlatl mucous
ehuatl
ehuacactli rawhide shoe
ehuahuehuetl tambourine
ehuatilmahtli leather garment
ehuaxiquipilli leather bag
nochehuatl prickly pear peeling
totolteehuatl membrane of an egg
huapalli
cachuapalli sole or form of a shoe
huapalcalli house or hut made of boards
tehuapalli large wide tombstone or slab
huictli
a:huictli oar
ahuictli oar
tepozhuictli iron hoe
huilotl
huiloconetl young pigeon
oquichhuilotl male dove
huipilli
ichcahuipilli padded armor for battle
tepozhuipilli coat of mail
tepozmatlahuipilli coat of mail
tlachuipilli jacket
huitztli
coahuitzmecatl brambleberry
cuauhhuitztli kind of thorn bush
huitzcuahuitl thorny tree
huitzomitl needle for sewing
huitzquilitl cardoon, an edible plant
huitzquiltzontecomatl artichoke
tototenhuitztli beak of a bird
ichcatl
ichcaconetl lamb
ichcahuipilli padded armor for battle
ichpochtli
ichpochtotolin pullet which is beginning to lay eggs
icnotl
icnotlacatl orphan or needy person
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 6
icpatl
icpatetl ball of thread
icxitl
icxiohtli footpath
xocoicxitl stem of a piece of fruit
ixtli
ixcuaitl forehead
ixcuatzontli hair on the forehead
ixtezcatl spectacles
iztatl
iztatetl cake of salt
iztatlacatl salt maker
iztaxalli grain of salt
maitl
acamahpilli rod
mahpilli finger
matemecatl bracelet
matzotzopaztli forearm
tepoztlemaitl fire shovel
tlalmaitl laborer or worker
tlemaitl clay scoop for carrying fire
xocomecamaitl vineshoot or tendril
matlatl
cuamatlatl hairnet
matlaxiquipilli bag made of net
tepozmatlahuipilli coat of mail
totomatlatl net for hunting birds
mazatl
mazacalli stable
mazaconetl fawn
tlacamazatl bestial man
mecatl
cahuallomecatl halter
cahuallotemmecatl horse's halter
coahuitzmecatl brambleberry
matemecatl bracelet
mecahuehuetl guitar
petlacalmecahuehuetl spinet, stringed instrument with keys
tlalhuamecatl guitar string
tlalmecatl cord for measuring fields
xocomecamaitl vineshoot or tendril
xocomecatl grapevine
xocomecayacatzontli tendril of a vineshoot
xocomecayollotl grape
zacamecatl rope made of grass
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 7
metl
meneuctli raw maguey cactus nectar
meyollohtli heart of the century cactus
michin
cihuatlacamichin sea siren, mermaid
coamichin eel
michacaxitl fishtank
michomitl fish bone
michtetl fish egg
tlacamichin big fish, catfish
milli
a:milli irrigated land
altepe:milli community land
calmilli land that is next to the house
milchilli chile pepper that grows in the fields
millacatl worker or peasant
mitl
micomitl quiver for arrows
mixiquipilli quiver for arrows
tencualacmitl poisoned arrow
moyotl
moyocalli mosquito net
tlemoyonextli dead spark
tlemoyotl spark
nacatl
cuanacatl cock's comb
tlacanacatl human flesh
nacaztli
calnacaztli corner of a house
nacazcuitlatl ear wax
tenacaztli stone carved for the corner of a wall
neuctli
meneuctli raw maguey cactus nectar
necua:tl mixture of water and honey
xochinecuhtli honey that grows inside the flower
nextli
nexa:tl lye
nextlexochtli embers
tenexcalli lime oven
tenextli lime
tenezoquitl mortar of lime and sand
tlemoyonextli dead spark
ocotl
ococentli pine cone
ococenyollohtli pine seed
ococuahuitl pine tree
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 8
ocopetlacalli pine box
ocopilli pine faggot
ocotlilli black stain from pine smoke
ocotochtilmahtli cape made from martens' hides
ocotochtli mountain cat or marten
ocotzotetl pitch or tar
ocotzotl pine resin
xicohcuitlaocotl wax candle
octli
a:octli liquor made with honey and water
capuloctli cherry wine
nochoctli prickly pear wine
xocooctli wine made from fruit
ocuilin
calocuilin silk cocoon
cuauhocuilin worm which gnaws wood
meocuilin maguey cactus worm
tilmahocuilin clothes moth
tlanocuilin caries or a worm that ruins teeth
zacaocuilin grass worm
ohtli
a:ohtli water conduit
calohtli road that goes to a house
icxiohtli footpath
omitl
huitzomitl needle for sewing
michomitl fish bone
omicalli ossuary or place to put bones
omicaxitl bone dish
omixochitl lily
tlanomitl ivory
oquichtli
oquichhuilotl male dove
pahtli
pahcalli drugstore
petlatl
acapetlatl reed mat
ocopetlacalli pine box
petlacalli reed chest
petlacalmecahuehuetl spinet, stringed instrument with keys
tepetlatl kind of porous rock
tepozpetlacalli iron or copper box
pilli
acamahpilli rod
cuametlapil man with a large head
mahpilli finger
metlapilli grinder for the metate
ocopilli pine faggot
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 9
tilmahcuitlapilli tail of a piece of clothing
tlahtocacihuapilli princess or great lady
tlahtocapilli noble and generous gentleman
xopilli toe
quechtli
cahualloquetzontli horse's mane
quechtlalhuatl nerves of the neck
quetzontli long hair on the back of the head
quilitl
huitzquilitl cardoon, an edible plant
tecomatl
a:tecomatl gourd for drinking water
a:xixtecomatl bladder
axixtecomatl bladder
huitzquiltzontecomatl artichoke
tliltecomatl inkwell
totolacatecomatl inkwell
tototlacualtecomatl gizzard of a bird
tzontecomatl head
xicaltecomatl vessel made of a gourd
zoquitecomatl clay cup
tentli
a:tentli bank of a river
amoxtentli margin of a book
tencualacmitl poisoned arrow
tentetl lip ornament
tentzontli beard
tilmahtentli edge of a piece of clothing
tototenhuitztli beak of a bird
tototentli beak of a bird
tepetl
altepe:milli community land
altepetlalli community lands
tepoztli
tepochimalli shield
tepozamatl metal foil
tepozapaztli copper caldron or basin
tepozcacalotl nippers, tongs
tepozcaxitl copper pan
tepozhuictli iron hoe
tepozhuipilli coat of mail
tepozmatlahuipilli coat of mail
tepozpetlacalli iron or copper box
tepoztlalli iron filings
tepoztlecaxitl metal incense burner
tepoztlemaitl fire shovel
tzintepoztli hilt of a lance or staff
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 10
tetl
amilotetl eggs of the white fish
atetl testicle
atexicolli sack of the testicles
canauhtetl duck egg
coatetl snake egg
cuateyollotl crown of the head
cuauhtexolotl pestle of a mortar
eltepitztli shoulder blade
icpatetl ball of thread
iztatetl cake of salt
matemecatl bracelet
michtetl fish egg
ocotzotetl pitch or tar
teapaztli stone basin
tecalli stone house
tecaxitli stone basin
tehuapalli large wide tombstone or slab
temetztli lead (metal)
tenacaztli stone carved for the corner of a wall
tenexcalli lime oven
tenextli lime
tenezoquitl mortar of lime and sand
tentetl lip ornament
teotetl jet (kind of stone)
tepetlatl kind of porous rock
teteotl idol
texalli sandy stone for grinding stones
texocotl apple of the Indies
tlaltetl clod of earth
tliltetl paragraph mark, or a diacritic
totolteehuatl membrane of an egg
totoltemulli porridge made of eggs
totoltetl egg
tototecaxtli birds' nest
tzintetl foundation of a wall
xaltemalacatl stone for sharpening tools
xaltetl pebble
xocotetl very green fruit, and yet to ripen
tezcatl
atezcatl pool of water, or a water gauge
ixtezcatl spectacles
tilmahtli
ehuatilmahtli leather garment
ocotochtilmahtli cape made from martens' hides
tilmahcactli cloth slipper
tilmahcuitlapilli tail of a piece of clothing
tilmahocuilin clothes moth
tilmahtentli edge of a piece of clothing
tlahtocatilmahtli royal or lordly clothing
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 11
tlacatl
a:tlacatl sailor
altepe:tlacatl townsperson
atlacatl sailor
cihuatlacamichin sea siren, mermaid
icnotlacatl orphan or needy person
iztatlacatl salt maker
tlacahuilotl gray pigeon with a white neck
tlacamazatl bestial man
tlacamichin big fish, catfish
tlacanacatl human flesh
tlacatecolocihuatl diabolical woman
tlacatecolotl devil
tlacaxinachtli semen
tlactli
tlachuipilli jacket
tlacualli
tlacualcalli pantry
tototlacualtecomatl gizzard of a bird
tlahtoca
tlahtocacihuapilli princess or great lady
tlahtocaicpalli royal chair
tlahtocapilli noble and generous gentleman
tlahtocatilmahtli royal or lordly clothing
tlahtocatlatquitl property of a king or noble
tlalhuatl
cotztlalhuatl nerves of the calf of the leg
metztlalhuatl nerves of leg
quechtlalhuatl nerves of the neck
tlalhuamecatl guitar string
tlalli
altepetlalli community lands
atlalli irrigated land
teocuitlatlalli gold dust
tepoztlalli iron filings
tlalatl bog
tlalcoyotl jackal which hides underground and digs
tlalcuahuitl rod for measuring fields
tlalmaitl laborer or worker
tlalmecatl cord for measuring fields
tlaloztotl underground or basement
tlaltechalotl small animal like a squirrel
tlaltetl clod of earth
tlantli
tlanocuilin caries or a worm that ruins teeth
tlatquitl
cahuallotlatquitl horse's harness and trappings
chantlatquitl house furniture
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 12
obispotlatquitl bishop's clothing
teotlatquicalli sacristy
tlahtocatlatquitl property of a king or noble
tletl
nextlexochtli embers
tepoztlecaxitl metal incense burner
tepoztlemaitl fire shovel
tlecalli chimney
tlecaxitl clay incense burner
tlecomitl crucible for melting gold
tlecuahuitl wooden instrument for making fire
tlemaitl clay scoop for carrying fire
tlemoyonextli dead spark
tlemoyotl spark
tlexochtli redhot coal
tlilli
cactlilli shoemaker's dye
comaltlilli soot from a griddle
contlilli soot from pots
ocotlilli black stain from pine smoke
tlilazcatl black poisonous ant
tlilcoatl black snake
tlilhuauhtli wild black amaranth
tliltecomatl inkwell
tliltetl paragraph mark, or a diacritic
tlilxochitl vanilla bean plant
tocaitl
amoxtocaitl title of a book
tecuhtocaitl renown of lineage
tocaamatl registry of names
tocatl
a:tocatl water spider
tochtli
ocotochtilmahtli cape made from martens' hides
ocotochtli mountain cat or marten
tochcalli rabbit burrow
tochconetl young rabbit
totolin
cihuatotolin hen
ichpochtotolin pullet which is beginning to lay eggs
totolacatecomatl inkwell
totolacatl quill or feather for writing
totolcalli henhouse
totolconetl chick
totolcuitlatl chicken dung
totolteehuatl membrane of an egg
totoltemulli porridge made of eggs
totoltetl egg
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 13
tototl
chiltototl red-feathered bird
quetzaltototl bird with rich green feathers
teocaltototl sparrow
totolacatl quill
totochiquihuitl birds' nest
totoconetl young bird
totomatlatl net for hunting birds
tototecaxtli birds' nest
tototenhuitztli beak of a bird
tototentli beak of a bird
tototlacualtecomatl gizzard of a bird
xochitototl kind of yellow bird
tozcatl
tozcacuitlatl phlegm
tozcayacacuitlatl phlegm
tzintli
tzinicpalli small portable chair
tzintamalli buttock
tzintepoztli hilt of a lance or staff
tzintetl foundation of a wall
tzontli
ahcoltzontli hair on the shoulder
amatzoncalli paper helmet (cone)
cahualloquetzontli horse's mane
camatzontli cheek fuzz
cuatzontli hair of the head
huitzquiltzontecomatl artichoke
ixcuatzontli hair on the forehead
metzontli hairs of the leg
quetzontli long hair on the back of the head
tentzontli beard
tzoncalli wig
tzonicpalli pillow or something for the headrest
tzontecomatl head
xocomecayacatzontli tendril of a vineshoot
yacatzontli hair of the nose
xalli
axalli kind of sand used to cut precious stones
azcaxalli anthill
iztaxalli grain of salt
texalli sandy stone for grinding stones
xaltemalacatl stone for sharpening tools
xaltetl pebble
xicalli
cuauhxicalli wooden vessel
cuaxicalli skull of the head
tlancuaxicalli knee bone
xicaltecomatl vessel made of a gourd
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 14
xicolli
atexicolli sack of the testicles
cuitlaxcolli intestines
xictli
a:xictli whirlpool
xinachtli
tlacaxinachtli semen
xiquipilli
ehuaxiquipilli leather bag
matlaxiquipilli bag made of net
mixiquipilli quiver for arrows
teocuitlaxiquipilli money bag
xixtli
a:xixcalli latrine
a:xixcomitl chamberpot
a:xixtecomatl bladder
axixcalli latrine
axixcomitl chamberpot
axixtecomatl bladder
axixtli urine
xochitl
ayohxochitl squash blossom
nextlexochtli embers
omixochitl lily
tlexochtli redhot coal
tlilxochitl vanilla bean plant
xocha:tl rose water
xochicozcatl garland of flowers
xochihuauhtli wild yellow amaranth
xochinecuhtli honey that grows inside the flower
xochitototl kind of yellow bird
yolloxochitl fragrant flower in the form of a heart
xocotl
coatlanxocotl blackberry fruit
texocotl apple of the Indies
xococuahuitl fruit tree
xocoicxitl stem of a piece of fruit
xocomecamaitl vineshoot or tendril
xocomecatl grapevine
xocomecayacatzontli tendril of a vineshoot
xocomecayollotl grape
xocooctli wine made from fruit
xocotetl very green fruit, and yet to ripen
xocouinocomitl vinegar pot
xocoyollohtli fruit pit
xotl
xopilli toe
Cross Index of Nahuatl Noun Compounds PAGE 15
yacatl
a:calyacatl prow of a ship
tozcayacacuitlatl phlegm
xocomecayacatzontli tendril of a vineshoot
yacaatolli mucous
yacacuitlatl mucous
yacatolli mucous
yacatzontli hair of the nose
yollotl
meyollohtli heart of the century cactus
zoquitl
tenezoquitl mortar of lime and sand
zoquia:tl mud
zoquitecomatl clay cup
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