Color terms and consonant symbolism

[A.W. Tüting]

Alfred wrote:
 >> My guess is that this 'southern Chinese' u(k)na(ke) has nothing to do
with the American term 'unaker' (in the the sense that coincidentally
both terms are just - moreorless - similar in sound).<<<<

Rory wrote:
 > Alfred, before we write these words off as coincidence, can we 
confirm that
the southern Chinese u(k)na(ke) word existed prior to the Ming naval
expeditions?  (Just to make sure that the borrowing was not in the other
direction.) <<

Rory, that's what my friend replied to this:

" Dear Alfred,

  I cannot confirm to you down to the timing. In southern dialect, we 
seldom use "tu". We always use "na(ke)", particularly if it is mixed 
with water. U(k)na(ke) is still used in Taiwan. You can do a google 
search on the term. When it is colloquial, it is hard to determine the 
exact period. Because once it is written, it might be different.

  I just found another piece of information. The Catawba valley potters 
let their clay age, just like what the Chinese have been doing it since 
ancient time. This gives more plasticity of the clay. I don't know if 
other cultures does the same, or when the Catawba potters learned it. 
These Catawba potters are not necessarily Catawba Indians. I think 
there are no pure Catawba Indians any more because of their custom to 
marry outside and their small population. "

As already mentioned here, u(k) + na(ke) would be e4 + ni2 in Putonghua 
(UTF-8) 堊 (chalk) + 泥 (mud, clay). tu3 土 (soil, land, earth) or nitu 泥土 
(soil) is the modern expression.

It appears that the aging process of clay mixtures seems to be a pretty 
common way of processing worldwide (with regard to pottery in general 
and not restricted to the production of porcelain).

Alfred

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