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Proto-Quechuan language

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Proto-Quechuan
Reconstruction ofQuechuan languages
RegionCentral Peru
Erabefore 500 BC

Proto-Quechuan language is the hypothetical mother tongue or proto-language that would have given rise to the various languages of the Quechuan language family. This proto-language is reconstructed based on evidence from modern Quechuan languages, as well as records of ancient forms.

Development

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Proto-Quechuan was likely spoken in the central region of ancient Peru according to Alfredo Torero. It then expanded southwards to replace Aymara. At the beginning of the fifth century, the proto-Quechua would have crossed the mountain range to settle in the central highlands (Valle del Mantaro), then proto-Aymara-speaking, producing the division between Quechua I (to the east) and Quechua II.[1]

Phonology

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The syllables of the Quechua languages are composed of at least one vowel as nucleus. As a general rule, the syllables allow a consonant in position of onset and coda (beginning and end of syllable, respectively).

Three vowel phonemes are distinguished: a vowel open /a/ and closed rounded vowel /u/ unrounded /i/. The precise pronunciation of these vowel phonemes varies with their phonetic environment. The vicinity of a uvular consonant produces more centralized allophones such as [ɑ], [e], [ɛ], [o], [ɔ] and that of the semiconsonant palatal approximant /j/ also causes an overtaking of /a/ to [æ]. As for the consonants, Proto-Quechua would have had three nasal consonant /m, n, ɲ/ four occlusive /p, t, k, q/, two affricates /t͡ʃ, ʈ͡ʂ/, three fricatives /s, ʂ, h/, two approximants /j, w/ and two or three liquid /ʎ, ɾ, (l)/.

Consonant phonemes of Proto-Quechuan
Bilabial Alveolar Post-alveolar Retroflex Palatal Velar Uvular Glottal
Nasal m n ɲ
stop p t k q
Affricate t͡ʃ ʈ͡ʂ
Fricative s ʂ h
Approximant j w
Lateral (l) ʎ
Tap ɾ

Phonetic correspondences

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The following table shows the numerals in Proto-Quechuan and its evolution in different modern Quechua languages:

GLOSS PROTO-
QUECHUAN
Quechua I Quechua II
Huaylas Huánuco Huanca Pacaraos Cajamarca Imbabura Salasaca Tena Ayacucho Cuzco Bolivian Santiagueño
'1' *suk huk huk huk, suk huk suχ ʃux ʃuh ʃuk huk hux ux suk
'2' *iʂkaj iʃkaj iʃkaj iʃkaj iʃkaj iʃkaj iʃgaj iʃki iʃki iskaj iskaj iskaj iʃkaj
'3' *kimsa kima, kimsa kimsa kimsa kima kimsa kinsa kinsa kinsa kimsa kinsa kinsa kimsa
'4' *ʈʂusku ʧusku ʧusku ʈʂusku ʈʂusku ʈʂusku ʧusku ʧusku ʧusku tawa tawa tawa taa
'5' *piʧqa piʦqa piʧɢa piʧʔa pisχa piʧqa piʧa piʧka piʧka piʧχa pʰisqa pʰiʃqa piʃqa
'6' *suqta huqta suχta suʔta huχta suχta sukta sukta sukta suχta suqta suhta suqta
'7' *qanʈʂis qanʧis ɢanʧis ʔanʈʂis ʁanʈʂis qanʈʂis kanʧis kanʧis kanʤis χanʧis qanʧis qanʧis qanʧis
'8' *pusaq puwaq pusaχ pusaː puwaχ pusaχ pusax pusah pusak pusaχ pusaq pusah pusaq
'9' *isqun isqun isɢun isʕun isʁun isqun iskun iskun iskun isχun isqun hisqʼun isqun
'10' *ʈʂunka ʧuŋka ʧuŋka ʈʂunka ʈʂuŋka ʈʂuŋga ʧuŋga ʧuŋga ʧuŋga ʧuŋka ʧunka ʧuŋka ʧuŋka

References

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  1. ^ Torero Fernández de Córdova, Alfredo (1984). "El comercio lejano y la difusión del quechua. The case of Ecuador". Revista Andina. No. 4. p. 367.