Re: Language based on interjections

Peter Bleackley wrote:

> According to Tolkien, ðe first word ðe elves uttered upon ðeir awakening
> was ðe interjection "Ele!" "Behold!", at ðe stars hissight. From ðis came
> boþ ðeir word for star, and ðeir kindred hisname, "Eldar", or "star-folk".
> Ðus meþinks it interesting topostulate a language hwose basic roots were
> all interjections. Nouns could be derived from ðese by many genders, each
> of hwich had its own declension. Verbs likewise could be derived from
nouns
> by a number of verbal classes, each wið its own conjugation. Hwat þink ye,
> good folk?
Not quite the same, but we in the Malayo-Polynesian field have long been
fascinated by the presence of "word families" that seem to consist of
various prefixes + root syllable.  Some are onomatopoetic-- like -tuk which
often has to do with pounding, tapping, pecking. "Vowel variant" -tik,
lighter versions thereof, also 'spotted' (as in "batik"). Then there are
ones like -bur (reconstructed with a final velar fric.) all having to do
with water, in some way-- bubble up/spring, sound of emptying liquid from a
container; "vowel variant" -bir 'sandbar; beach', 'water' in Tagalog.
Possibly related -mur 'hold s.t./swish s.t. around in the mouth'.  -kang
having to do with the legs (I think this is Chinese-- anyone recognize
it??; -dung in words meaning 'shelter, protect'.

There seems to be one _initial_ syllable that crops up a lot:  pu- roughly
'central point, axis' as in Malay pusat 'navel', pukang 'crotch; thigh',
putar 'turn around, revolve' and several others.  Perhaps cf. final syl. -pu
'ancestor, grand parent/child, generation; lord, master, owner'???

Robert Blust published the most systematitized list in a monograph some
years back; but even he had to conclude that while it was interesting and
suggestive, it wasn't widespread enough to say much with certainty.