The feminine endings *-ay and *-āy in Semitic and Berber

Author(s):
Putten, M. van (0000-0003-4670-0937)
Published
2018
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

Abstract

This paper examines the evidence for the marginal feminine endings *-ay- and *-āy- in Proto-Semitic, and the feminine endings *-e and *-a in Proto-Berber. Their similar formation (*CV̆CC-ay/āy), semantics (verbal abstracts, underived concrete feminine nouns) and plural morphology (replacement of the feminine suffix by a plural suffix with -w-) suggest that this feminine formation should be reconstructed to a shared ancestor which may be called Proto-Berbero-Semitic.

Date issued
2018
Language
English
Is part of
hdl
1887/3198887
doi
10.1017/S0041977X18000447

Funding

Sponsorship
NWO