Michael D. Fortescue Libros

Comparative Nivkh Dictionary Michael Fortescue This dictionary undertakes to reconstruct the lexis and morphology of the Nivkh proto-language by marshaling and organizing all the data available in published form on the contemporary dialects. It builds upon a considerable body of descriptive and comparative work carried out by scholars who have worked with this typologically unique “Paleosiberian” isolate in the past. Although the time depth between the four “dialects” of Nivkh is relatively shallow, the complex morphophonemics of the language allows for quite deep internal reconstruction. Moreover, the differences between the dialects is considerable. Mutual understanding between speakers of the Amur dialect and the East Sakhalin one is low, and still lower between the Amur and the South Sakhalin dialects, all three of which may in fact be regarded as separate languages. The relationship of Nivkh to anything else either in Asia or the New World is a subject of continuing interest to both linguists and anthropologists. The dictionary does not address this question directly. Reconstructing the proto-language is an essential step, however, to any further comparative work – in particular to sorting out the relationship between Nivkh and the other “Paleosiberian” languages. ISBN 9783862886876 (Hardbound). Languages of the World/Dictionaries 62. 199pp. 2016.

This volume is the first comprehensive comparative dictionary covering the Chukotko-Kamchatkan family, which has long been debated regarding its genealogical status. Its coherence as a family is now established, positioned geographically between Siberia and northernmost America, making it vital for relating the languages and peoples of these regions. The dictionary organizes cognate sets alphabetically by reconstructed proto-forms and includes all published lexical sources, along with significant unpublished material. Proto-Chukotian sets are based on clear cognates in at least two of the four languages: Chukchi, Koryak, Alutor, and the extinct Kerek. For Proto-Chukotko-Kamchatkan sets, cognates must appear in at least one of these languages plus Itelmen. Internal loans, particularly from Koryak to modern western Itelmen, are noted. Proto-Itelmen sets lacking clear cognates in Chukotian are listed separately without reconstructions. The data is presented in an accessible format, with each set displayed in separate lines for individual languages and a unified orthography for reliable modern forms. The introduction provides details on language distribution, sound correspondences, and a glimpse into their historical background. Inflections and derivational affixes are addressed in separate sections, and proto-form indexes for Chukchi and English facilitate data access. A comprehensive reference list is included.