bird.

[R. Rankin]

I agree that some element of sound symbolism may be involved, especially with
the Iroquoian/Algonquian similarity with this term.  But it doesn't preclude
borrowing, and, in fact, probably renders diffusion more likely.  I'm not so
sure about the words with /t/ rather than /c/ and I'm not convinced by the
specific Alabama "explanation".  If it were accurate, why isn't the Ala. form
/*ciskomma/??

And I always thought Cardinals said "Gwitsi, gwitsi, gwitsi" . . . .        :-)

bob

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan H. Hartley" <ahartley at d.umn.edu>
To: <siouan at lists.colorado.edu>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2004 4:51 PM
Subject: Re: bird.


> > The next thing to check is how far the /tiskahomma/ 'redbird' term extends.
I
> > only have it in Koasati, but it would be worth looking for in Alabama and
other
> > languages.
>
> Alabama tiskomma 'cardinal' (prob. onomatopoeic from the noise
> 'tististis' made by the bird, + homma 'red.' And cf. tiskila 'blue
> jay.') Sylvestine et al. s.v.
>
> Creek tasi [both vowels at normal pitch] 'blue jay' (Martin & Mauldin
> s.v.) No obvious cognate to tiskahomma.
>
> These all look (sound) onomatopoeic to me.
>
> Alan
>
>