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Yassi: Difference between revisions
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|date=2004 | |date=2004 | ||
|ref=e18 | |ref=e18 | ||
|familycolor=Uralic | |familycolor=Uralic (?) | ||
|fam2= (Para-?)Samoyedic | |fam2= (Para-?)Samoyedic | ||
|fam3= | |fam3= | ||
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'''Yassi''' is a | '''Yassi''' is a language spoken in the Yas River Valley in north-eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, China and Tajikistan. | ||
== Classification == | == Classification == | ||
For a long time, Yassi was seen as one of the languages that belong to the areal Pamir language group. Nowadays it's classified as a Uralic language, though its exact relationship to the Uralic languages is a matter of debate. | For a long time, Yassi was seen as one of the languages that belong to the areal Pamir language group. Nowadays it's usually classified as a [[w:Uralic language|Uralic language]], though its exact relationship to the Uralic languages is a matter of debate. | ||
There are certain words of the basic vocabulary which show a closer relation to the Samoyedic than to the Finno-Ugric subgroup, like nǝk (PS *näk- instead of FU *kolme 'three') and swam (PS *time instead of FU *piŋe 'tooth'). However, research has shown that it's often not possible to derive these words from mainstream Proto-Samoyed: Rather, both Yassi swam 'tooth' and Proto-Samoyed *time 'tooth' seem to go back to PU *sewimä 'tooth'. Furthermore, Yassi pǝn 'comb' is assumed to be a cognate to FU *piŋe 'tooth'. Therefore, and as the subgrouping of the Uralic languages is still controversial, Yassi must remain classified an independent branch of Proto-Uralic. | There are certain words of the basic vocabulary which show a closer relation to the [[w:Samoyedic languages|Samoyedic]] than to the [[w:Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric]] subgroup, like nǝk (PS *näk- instead of FU *kolme 'three'), mǝkt (PS *mǝktut instead of FU *kutte 'six') and swam (PS *time instead of FU *piŋe 'tooth'). However, research has shown that it's often not possible to derive these words from mainstream Proto-Samoyed: Rather, both Yassi swam 'tooth' and Proto-Samoyed *time 'tooth' seem to go back to PU *sewimä 'tooth'. Furthermore, Yassi pǝn 'comb' is assumed to be a cognate to FU *piŋe 'tooth'. Therefore, and as the subgrouping of the Uralic languages is still controversial, Yassi must remain classified an independent branch of Proto-Uralic. | ||
Many toponyms in the Yassi speaking area are of unknown origin. They are neither Uralic nor Indo-European. Connections to Burushaski have not been verified. | Many toponyms in the Yassi speaking area are of unknown origin. They are neither Uralic nor Indo-European. Connections to [[w:Burushaski|Burushaski]] have not been verified. According to Vladimir Ivanovich, Yassi exhibits several layers of different idioms, denying Yassi being a genuine Uralic language. Instead, it's more probable that Yassi is a language isolate with a Uralic (Para-Proto-Samoyed?) and a Proto-Iranian layer. | ||
== Phonology == | == Phonology == | ||
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Slight differences in pronunciation and vocabulary show that Yassi can be divided in to mutually intelligible dialects. One surrounding the headwaters of River Yas, the other in the lower valley. | Slight differences in pronunciation and vocabulary show that Yassi can be divided in to mutually intelligible dialects. One surrounding the headwaters of River Yas, the other in the lower valley. | ||
The former dialect has preserved various conservative peculiarities, whereas the latter has been influenced more deeply by neighboring Iranian languages. However, as far as the dichotomy in the vocabulary is concerned, it seems to have existed for a long time. | The former dialect has preserved various conservative peculiarities, whereas the latter has been influenced more deeply by neighboring Iranian languages. However, as far as the dichotomy in the vocabulary is concerned, it seems to have existed for a long time, because Iranian loanwords have undergone sound changes specific to Yassi. | ||
== Grammar == | == Grammar == | ||
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=== Numerals === | === Numerals === | ||
The Iranian numerals from 6 to 10 aren't widely used except for 'las' which is common in the whole Yassi area. Foreign numerals tend to be used more often in the Lower Yas valley. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| five || wit || | | five || wit || | ||
|- | |- | ||
| six || | | six || mǝkt || špağ | ||
|- | |- | ||
| seven || || ow | | seven || nkorǝ, nkor || ow | ||
|- | |- | ||
| eight || ksorǝy || at | | eight || ksorǝy || at | ||