Proto-Songhay language
Proto-Songhay or Proto-Songhai is the proposed reconstructed ancestor of the Songhay languages.[1]
Reconstruction of Proto-Songhay
[edit]| Proto-Songhay | |
|---|---|
| Proto-Songhai | |
| Reconstruction of | Songhay languages |
Below are some Proto-Songhay reconstructions:[2]
| Gloss | Proto-Songhay |
|---|---|
| person | *bòro |
| bird | *kídòw |
| scorpion, mosquito | *(n)děŋ |
| ashes | *bó:sú |
| stone, mountain | *tóndì |
| year | *gí:rí; *mán(n)à |
| yesterday | *bǐ: |
| ask | *hᘠ|
| bring | *kàte |
| thorn | *kárgí |
| skin | *kú:rú |
| blood | *kúdí |
| year | *gí:rí |
Some Proto-Eastern Songhay reconstructions are:[2]
| Gloss | Proto-Eastern Songhay |
|---|---|
| thatch hut | *bùgù |
| armpit, wing | *fátá |
| thirst | *gèw |
| flank | *kéráw |
| mason wasp | *bímbín(í) |
| sweat | *súŋgáy |
See also
[edit]- Songhay languages – Group of languages of West Africa
- Nilo-Saharan languages – Proposed family of Native African languages
- Saharan languages – Small language family in the East Sahara desert
- Songhai Empire – Empire in West Africa from c. 1464 to 1591
References
[edit]- ↑ Souag, Lameen (2020-05-07), "Songhay Languages", The Oxford Handbook of African Languages, Oxford University Press, pp. 644–653, doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199609895.013.77, ISBN 978-0-19-960989-5, retrieved 2026-06-11
- 1 2 Blench, Roger & Lameen Souag. m.s. Saharan and Songhay form a branch of Nilo-Saharan.