"Proto-Archipelagic"

I here present a revised, annotated version of 'Khaerakh' (Week 4):

LANGUAGE No. 1: Qalak

Proto-Archipelagic    -     /Ga.eraG/

Ancient Qalak       -       /G&:raX/

Old Qalak      kharakh     /Xa:rX/

Middle Qalak   khârak     /xa:rax/

Modern Qalak   hârak      /harax/ (1)


1. P.A. * [G]/_#  >  An. Q. [X] > Mid. Q. [x]
2. P.A. * [G]/#_ >  O. Q.   [X] > Mid. Q. [x] > Mo. Q [h]
3. P.A. * [a]/_e > An.Q.  [&:] > O. Q. [a:] > Mo. Q [a]
4. Mid. Q. [r] (trilled) > Mod. Q. [r] (not trilled)

LANGUAGE No. 2: Feamordh

Proto-Archipelagic        -     /Ga.eraG/

Early Insular Qalak       -     /G&:raX/

Late Insular Qalak        -     /g&:rah/ (2)

Early Feamordh          khaera  /gaIra/

Middle Feamordh         khaera  /gaIr@/

Post-Occupational F.    gaer    /gaIr/

Modern Feamordh         cêar    /ke:r/


1. P.A. * [G]/_# > E.I.Q. [X] > L.I.Q.  (E.F.) [Ø]
2. P.A. * [G]/#_ >  L.I.Q. [g] > Mod. F. [k]
3. P.A. * [a]/_e > E.I.Q. [&:] > E.F. [aI] >  M.F. [e:] (3)
4. E.F. [a]/_# > Mid.F. [@] > P.O.F. [Ø]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) The Mod.Q. form /harx/ was a typo in the original version. The correct
derivation is /harax/.

(3) E.I.Q. [X]/_# > L.I.Q. [h] > E.F. [Ø] instead of E.I.Q. [X]/_# >
L.I.Q. [x] > E.F. [Ø] (Kindly suggested by Rodger Mills)

(3) Rodger also hinted at a problem with [&:] > [aI]. Why?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

In response to more general questions,

(1) A.Q. does indeed = E.I.Q., as Feamordh is thought to have developed
from a very early dialect of Qalak, rather than Proto-Archipelagic. Thus
A.Q. and E.I.Q. may be collectively termed "Northen Archipelargic".

(2) Stress in P.A. fell on the longest vowel of the word, which in the
case of "khaerakh" we assume to be the first 'a' (latter attested in
Q. 'â' and F. 'ê'.

(3) Furthermore, P.A. was a language of 'particles', meaning that it is
more than likely that "khaerakh" was composed on two distinct morphemes
[Ga] and [eraG] (hence the sylable break [a.e]). This aspect of P.A. will
become clearer as I begin to assign meaning to some 'proto-particles'. For
those who are interested, this leads on to my earlier discussion about the
shift of prepositons to postprepositions (which in P.A. would have been
particles), and their subsequent affixation to the word, provoking the
evolution of cases.