Swadesh list: Difference between revisions

Swadesh list (view source)

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 == Usage ==
 Lexicostatistical test lists are used in lexicostatistics to define subgroupings of languages, and in glottochronology to "provide dates for branching points in the tree". The task of defining (and counting the number) of cognate words in the list is far from trivial, and often is subject to dispute, because cognates do not necessarily look similar, and recognition of cognates presupposes knowledge of the sound laws of the respective languages. For example, English "wheel" and Sanskrit chakra are cognates, although they are not recognizable as such without knowledge of the history of both languages.
+== Swadesh 100 original list ==
+Swadesh's final list, published in 1971, contains 100 terms. Explanations of the terms can be found in Swadesh 1952 or, where noted by a dagger (†), in Swadesh 1955. Note that only this original sequence clarifies the correct meaning which is lost in an alphabetical order, e.g., in the case "27. bark" (originally without the specification here added).
+{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
+# I (Pers.Pron.1.Sg.)
+# you (2.sg! 1952 thou & ye)
+# we (1955: inclusive)
+# this
+# that
+# who? (“?” not 1971)
+# what? (“?” not 1971)
+# not
+# all (of a number)
+# many
+# one
+# two
+# big
+# long (not wide)
+# small
+# woman
+# man (adult male human)
+# person (individual human)
+# fish (noun)
+# bird
+# dog
+# louse
+# tree (not log)
+# seed (noun)
+# leaf (botanics)
+# root (botanics)
+# bark (of tree)
+# skin (1952: person’s)
+# flesh (1952 meat, flesh)
+# blood
+# bone
+# grease (1952: fat, organic substance)
+# egg
+# horn (of bull etc., not 1952)†
+# tail
+# feather (large, not down)
+# hair (on head of humans)
+# head (anatomic)
+# ear
+# eye
+# nose
+# mouth
+# tooth (front, rather than molar)
+# tongue (anatomical)
+# claw (not in 1952)†{{ref|1|1}}
+# foot (not leg)
+# knee (not 1952)†
+# hand
+# belly (lower part of body, abdomen)
+# neck (not nape)
+# breasts (female; 1955 still breast)†
+# heart
+# liver
+# drink (verb)
+# eat (verb)
+# bite (verb)
+# see (verb)
+# hear (verb)
+# know (facts)
+# sleep (verb)
+# die (verb)
+# kill (verb)
+# swim (verb)
+# fly (verb)
+# walk (verb)
+# come (verb)
+# lie (on side, recline)
+# sit (verb)
+# stand (verb)
+# give (verb)
+# say (verb)†
+# sun
+# moon (not 1952)†
+# star
+# water (noun)
+# rain (noun, 1952 verb)
+# stone
+# sand
+# earth (soil)
+# cloud (not fog)
+# smoke (noun, of fire)
+# fire
+# ash(es)
+# burn (verb intr.!)
+# path (1952 road, trail; not street)
+# mountain (not hill)
+# red (color)
+# green (color)
+# yellow (color)
+# white (color)
+# black (color)
+# night
+# hot (adjective; 1952 warm, of weather)
+# cold (of weather)
+# full†
+# new
+# good
+# round (not 1952)†
+# dry (substance)
+# name
+}}
+{{note|1|}} "Claw" was only added in 1955, but again replaced by many well-known specialists with [[Nail (anatomy)|(finger)nail]], because expressions for "claw" are not available in many old, extinct, or lesser known languages.
+The 110-item Global Lexicostatistical Database list uses the original 100-item Swadesh list, in addition to 10 other words from the Swadesh–Yakhontov list.