two, three, seven, eight

Tue Nov 9 05:27:53 UTC 2004

Hi all,

In looking through my Biloxi dictionary, I've noticed the same words seem to be used for 'two' and 'seven', and for 'three' and 'eight'!  For the first pair it's noNpa; for the second it's dani.  Dorsey makes an allusion in the dictionary that seven is "two bones on the other hand" and eight is "three bones on the other hand."  I'm compiling a comparative wordlist of the Siouan languages I currently have info on (e.g., Hiraca, Dakota, Hocak, Biloxi, Ofo) and this doesn't seem to occur in these other languages.  Is Biloxi a rarity in this, or are there examples from other Siouan languages that I don't have info on, or even from Muskogean?

Another question relates to another possible case of borrowing between Cherokee, Biloxi, and Ofo (or southeastern in general, as in the case of 'buffalo'): I'm not sure what "big" is in the other Siouan languages (except I believe it's ixtia in Hiraca), but in Biloxi it's taN and Ofo ithoN.  This looks suspiciously similar to Cherokee utana.  I'm wondering if any of the Muskogeanists could enlighten me on "big" in Muskogean languages.   Anyone have any ideas about this?

Dave

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