Reconstructing Polynesian

Comparative reconstruction

• Method of determining a possible mother language of two or more related languages

• Cognates – words in sister languages which have similar forms and meanings – relationship across tree

• Reflexes - words in the daughter languages that have descended from words in the mother language – relationship up and down tree

• Proto language the mother of a language group• No existing evidence for proto languages only linguists’

hypotheses so we mark forms in proto languages with a * to show that this is a reconstructed form: *tapu PPN for ‘forbidden, sacred’

Proto Polynesian Consonants

• *p *t *k *?• *m *n *ŋ• *f *s *h• *l• *r• *w• All the Polynesian triangle languages have developed

their consonant systems from this set. No triangle language has more consonants than this, usually less.

Phonology and phonotactics of Poly L

• In the triangle …

• Look at the data set for the 4 langs

• No CC consonant clusters

• No closed syllables = all words end in vowels.

• There are no voiced stops only voiceless

• Only labial, alveolar, velar and glottal places

• Comparing cognates to predict forms in proto language.

• 4 languages Tongan, Samoan, Hawaiian and Rarotongan

• Begin with /t/ in the Tongan forms compare with other langs

Tg Sa Ra Ha

1. forbidden

tapu tapu tapu kapu

2. navel pito pute pito piko

3. blow puhi feula pu?i puhi

Correspondences in item 1 and 2

Tg Sa Ra Ha Data no Proto form

t t t k 1,2 *t

p p p p 1,2 *p

Can you find other items with either of these correspondences?

K and glottal stop in TonganTg Sa Ra Ha No,

kalo ?alo karo ?alo 9

?ufi ufi u?i uhi 13

Tg Sa Ra Ha No. Proto form

k ? k ? 9 *k

? Ø Ø Ø 13 *?

Ø means there is no corresponding consonant in this position