User:Kwékwlos/Wiktionary:About Proto-Nuristani

Proto-Nuristani is the reconstructed ancestor of all the Nuristani languages, a subgroup of the Indo-Iranian branch of Indo-European. Due to the paucity of available linguistic data concerning the modern-day Nuristani languages and their dialects, extensive influence from neighboring Indo-Aryan languages, and the relatively recent period of attestation, starting from the 19th century, there are a lot of uncertainties about the reconstruction of Proto-Nuristani. Its descendants include the Ashkun, Kamkata-vari, Prasuni, Tregami, Waigali, and Zemiaki languages, spoken mainly in Afghanistan and small parts of Chitral District, Pakistan.

Nevertheless, within the Nuristani family, it is possible to identify some sound correspondences that enable us to preliminarily reconstruct Proto-Nuristani and uncover its relationship to other Indo-Iranian branches, namely Indo-Aryan and Iranian. However, the individual subgroupings of Nuristani are quite complicated. The following sections below demonstrate the sound correspondences between Proto-Nuristani and its descendant languages.

Sources are extracted from Richard Strand's Nuristani Etymological Lexicon, Ralph Lilley Turner's A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, and Harry Burnett Lumsden's The Mission to Kandahar with Appendices.

Phylogeny
The descendants of Proto-Nuristani include:

Pitch accent
Proto-Nuristani is believed to have a distinctive pitch accent inherited from Proto-Indo-Iranian. In all Nuristani languages, except for Prasuni, an accent shift to the penultimate syllable occurred, eliminating most traces of the old accent. Subsequently, vowel apocope occurred, resulting in a fixed stress at the final syllable. Nevertheless, pitch accent can be speculatively determined based on these criteria:

1. The reflex of *ā in Ashkun is either ā or a. It is likely that the long vowel reflex comes from an accented *ā, while the short vowel reflex comes from an unaccented *ā, as in <  and  < *brātá <. The change of unaccented *ā > *a must have occurred before the shift to penultimate accent in Proto-Southern Nuristani. Word-finally however, *ā was shortened to *a in common Nuristani regardless of accent, as evidenced by its syncope.

2. Preservation of a v reflex deriving from intervocalic *k. Normally, *k is lenited to zero, including the diminutive suffix *-ka/*-kā which were usually accented. However, certain words preserve a labiovelar reflex (with occasional reduction to vowel length in Kamviri), in one case including the diminutive suffix, which was probably fossilized by the time of Proto-Nuristani.

Based on these, it is possible to reconstruct two accent categories for monosyllabic nouns (H, L), at least two accent categories for disyllabic nouns (HL, LH) and three accent categories for trisyllabic nouns (HLL, LHL, LLH). The existence of tone categories LF and LLF, deriving from some cases of Proto-Indo-Iranian LH and LLH, are highly speculative, but the Pronz dialect of Prasuni reflects the putative categories as HL and LHL (tone class B), as in <  (LL) <. Spontaneous nasalization in some Nuristani reflexes may also hint to the existence of the LL and LLL tone categories, as in 🇨🇬 <, as well as accentless words in Prasuni (an alternative explanation may be that the Prasuni words are accented, but are not marked in transcription).

Furthermore, in the Pronz dialect of Prasuni, there are three accent classes for disyllabic nouns: type A (LL) as in, type B (HL) as in , and type C (LH) as in.

Common vowel changes from Proto-Nuristani
The vowel developments in modern Nuristani languages generally follow a pattern, though some divergences exist. Final vowels are generally lost, but most exceptions exist in Prasuni.
 * Proto-Nuristani *a is retained as a when it began a word. Syllable-initially following a consonant, it becomes o (Southern Nuristani) or u (Kamkata-vari) when stressed (following the penultimate stress rule). Otherwise, it becomes ë except in Waigali, where it is retained as a. Due to metaphony, some instances of *a end up as ä (in Waigali) or e (in Kamkata-vari) before an old *i.


 * Proto-Nuristani *ã, reflecting the Proto-Indo-Iranian syllabic nasal, merges with *a, though the following consonant is not subject to lenition.


 * Proto-Nuristani *ā becomes a when it begins a word. Otherwise, it becomes o or u when stressed (following the penultimate stress rule) in Kamkata-vari. In Ashkun, it becomes ā or a, likely conditioned by the old pitch accent (and not the penultimate stress rule). In Waigali, it becomes ā, but in some cases the reflex is a instead.


 * Proto-Nuristani *e (probably a long vowel much like Sanskrit e) is generally retained except for Ashkun, where it becomes a (word-initially) or ë (in other positions).


 * Proto-Nuristani *i is generally retained. It probably lowers to *e before nasals.


 * Proto-Nuristani *ī probably merged with *i.


 * Proto-Nuristani *o (probably a long vowel much like Sanskrit o) is retained in Ashkun as o, and raises to *u in Kamkata-vari and Waigali.


 * Proto-Nuristani *r̥, reflecting the Proto-Indo-Iranian syllabic rhotic, was likely retained in Proto-Southern Nuristani (🇨🇬 versus 🇨🇬) on account of the differing vowel reflexes. However, in all languages, it vocalizes into a high vowel, but it causes a following dental consonant to become retroflex.


 * Proto-Nuristani *u is retained in Ashkun and Tregami. Elsewhere, it is fronted to ü.


 * Proto-Nuristani *ū probably merged with *u.

Single consonant changes

 * Proto-Nuristani *p
 * Ashkun p (initial), v (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Kamviri p (initial), v (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Kata-vari p (initial), v (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Prasuni v ( < )
 * Tregami p (initial), v (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Waigali p (initial), v (intervocalic) ( <, < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *t
 * Ashkun t (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Kamviri t (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Kata-vari t (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Prasuni y (initial), y/∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Tregami t (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( < )
 * Waigali t (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *k
 * Ashkun k (initial), ć/č (before i), v (intervocalic under accent), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < ,  < ,  < )
 * Kamviri k (initial), v/ː (intervocalic under accent), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < ,  < ,  < )
 * Kata-vari k (initial), v (intervocalic under accent), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < ,  < )
 * Prasuni y (initial), y/∅ (intervocalic) ( < )
 * Tregami k (initial), v (intervocalic under accent), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Waigali k (initial), v (intervocalic under accent), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < ,  < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *b
 * Ashkun b (initial), v (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Kamviri b (initial), v (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Kata-vari b (initial), v (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Prasuni v ( < )
 * Tregami b (initial), v (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Waigali b (initial), v (intervocalic) ( <, < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *d
 * Ashkun d (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Kamviri d (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Kata-vari d (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Prasuni l ( < )
 * Tregami d (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Waigali d (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *g
 * Ashkun g (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Kamviri g (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Kata-vari g (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Prasuni y (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Tregami g (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Waigali g (initial), ∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *s
 * Ashkun s, š (before i) ( < )
 * Kamviri s ( < )
 * Kata-vari s ( < )
 * Prasuni s ( < )
 * Tregami s ( < )
 * Waigali s ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *š
 * Ashkun s, š (before i) ( < )
 * Kamviri š ( < )
 * Kata-vari š ( < )
 * Prasuni š ( < )
 * Tregami š ( < )
 * Waigali š ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *c
 * Ashkun s, š (before i) ( <, < )
 * Kamviri ć ( < )
 * Kata-vari ć ( < )
 * Prasuni z, ž (before i) ( <, < )
 * Tregami ć ( < )
 * Waigali ć ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *j
 * Ashkun z, ž (before i) ( <, < )
 * Kamviri ź ( < )
 * Kata-vari z ( < )
 * Prasuni z ( < )
 * Tregami ź ( < )
 * Waigali z ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *č
 * Ashkun ć, č (before i) ( <, < )
 * Kamviri č ( < )
 * Kata-vari č ( < )
 * Prasuni ž/j ( <, < )
 * Tregami č ( < )
 * Waigali č ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *ǰ
 * Ashkun z, ž (before i) ( <, < )
 * Kamviri j ( < )
 * Kata-vari j ( < )
 * Prasuni ž ( < )
 * Tregami j ( < )
 * Waigali j ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *m
 * Ashkun m ( < )
 * Kamviri m ( < )
 * Kata-vari m ( < )
 * Prasuni m ( < )
 * Tregami m ( < )
 * Waigali m ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *n
 * Ashkun n (initial), ň/∅ with nasalization (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Kamviri n (initial), ň/∅ with nasalization (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Kata-vari n (initial), ř/∅ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Prasuni n ( < )
 * Tregami n (initial), ň/∅ with nasalization (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Waigali n (initial), ň/∅ with nasalization (intervocalic) ( <, < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *r
 * Ashkun r, ∅ (sometimes after a long vowel) ( <, < )
 * Kamviri r, ∅ (sometimes after a long vowel) ( <, < )
 * Kata-vari r, ∅ (sometimes after a long vowel) ( <, < )
 * Prasuni r ( < )
 * Tregami r, ∅ (sometimes after a long vowel) ( <, < )
 * Waigali r, ∅ (sometimes after a long vowel) ( <, < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *ř
 * Ashkun ẓ (initial), ṛ (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Kamviri ř ( < )
 * Kata-vari ř ( < )
 * Prasuni ẓ, ž ( <, < )
 * Tregami ḍẓ ( < )
 * Waigali vř ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *l
 * Ashkun l ( < )
 * Kamviri l ( < )
 * Kata-vari l ( < )
 * Prasuni l ( < )
 * Tregami l ( < )
 * Waigali l ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *y
 * Ashkun y ( < )
 * Kamviri y ( < )
 * Kata-vari y ( < )
 * Prasuni y ( < )
 * Tregami ž ( < )
 * Waigali y ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *w
 * Ashkun v ( < )
 * Kamviri v ( < )
 * Kata-vari v ( < )
 * Prasuni v ( < )
 * Tregami v ( < )
 * Waigali v ( < )

Consonant cluster changes
Sequences of double consonants are preserved in the Nuristani languages as single consonants.
 * Proto-Nuristani *pr
 * Ashkun př ( < )
 * Kamviri př ( < )
 * Kata-vari př ( < )
 * Prasuni p ( < )
 * Tregami pr ( < )
 * Waigali pr ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *tr
 * Ashkun tr ( < )
 * Kamviri tr ( < )
 * Kata-vari tr ( < )
 * Prasuni ṭ, č/ćš (before i) ( <, < )
 * Tregami tr ( < )
 * Waigali tr ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *kr
 * Ashkun kř ( < )
 * Kamviri kř ( < )
 * Kata-vari kř ( < )
 * Prasuni k ( < )
 * Tregami kr
 * Waigali kr ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *br
 * Ashkun bř ( < )
 * Kamviri bř ( < )
 * Kata-vari bř ( < )
 * Prasuni v ( < )
 * Tregami br ( < )
 * Waigali br ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *dr
 * Ashkun dr ( < )
 * Kamviri dr ( < )
 * Kata-vari dr ( < )
 * Prasuni r ( < )
 * Tregami dr ( < )
 * Waigali dr ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *gr
 * Ashkun gř ( < )
 * Kamviri gř ( < )
 * Kata-vari gř ( < )
 * Prasuni g ( < )
 * Tregami gr
 * Waigali gr ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *sc
 * Ashkun ć ( < )
 * Kamviri ć ( < )
 * Kata-vari ć ( < )
 * Prasuni ć (initial), z/ź (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Tregami ć ( < )
 * Waigali ć ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *sr, šr
 * Ashkun š ( < )
 * Kamviri ṣ ( < )
 * Kata-vari ṣ ( < )
 * Prasuni ṣ ( < )
 * Tregami ṣ ( < )
 * Waigali ṣ ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *st
 * Ashkun st ( < )
 * Kamviri št ( < )
 * Kata-vari št ( < )
 * Prasuni st/št ( < )
 * Tregami št ( < )
 * Waigali št (initial), st (intervocalic) ( <, < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *cr
 * Ashkun str ( < )
 * Kamviri c̣ ( < )
 * Kata-vari c̣ ( < )
 * Prasuni j (initial), č (intervocalic) ( <, < )
 * Tregami c̣ ( < )
 * Waigali c̣ ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *mb
 * Ashkun mb ( < )
 * Kamviri m ( < )
 * Kata-vari m ( < )
 * Prasuni b ( < )
 * Tregami m
 * Waigali m ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *nd
 * Ashkun nd ( < )
 * Kamviri n ( < )
 * Kata-vari n ( < )
 * Prasuni d ( < )
 * Tregami n
 * Waigali n ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *ng
 * Ashkun ṅ ( < )
 * Kamviri ṅ ( < )
 * Kata-vari ṅ ( < )
 * Prasuni g ( < )
 * Tregami ṅ ( < )
 * Waigali ṅ ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *nč
 * Ashkun ć (with nasalization of preceding vowel) ( < )
 * Kamviri č ( < )
 * Kata-vari č ( < )
 * Prasuni č ( < )
 * Tregami č (with nasalization of preceding vowel) ( < )
 * Waigali č (with nasalization of preceding vowel) ( < )


 * Proto-Nuristani *nk
 * Ashkun k (with nasalization of preceding vowel) ( < )
 * Kamviri k ( < )
 * Kata-vari k ( < )
 * Prasuni k
 * Tregami k (with nasalization of preceding vowel)
 * Waigali k (with nasalization of preceding vowel)


 * Proto-Nuristani *nt
 * Ashkun t (with nasalization of preceding vowel) ( < )
 * Kamviri t ( < )
 * Kata-vari t ( < )
 * Prasuni t ( < )
 * Tregami t (with nasalization of preceding vowel) ( < )
 * Waigali t (with nasalization of preceding vowel) ( < )

Grammar, morphology, and syntax
Proto-Nuristani was an SOV (subject-object-verb) language, typical of almost all Indo-Iranian languages. All Nuristani languages except for Prasuni, which has nominative-accusative alignment, show split ergativity. Grammatical gender, contrasting only masculine and feminine genders, was present in Proto-Nuristani and is retained only in Kamkata-vari. Relative clauses employed the participial gap strategy as attested in Kamkata-vari and Waigali, an innovation found nowhere else in Indo-Iranian due to the loss of relative pronouns.

The Indo-Iranian case system was already reduced in Proto-Nuristani due to final consonant loss, alongside the loss of the dual number. Proto-Nuristani thematized all athematic verbs by adding a vowel (usually *a) after the root. The past tense suffix in Proto-Nuristani is derived from the old Indo-Iranian past participle in *-ta-, though some archaic past participles in *-na- have survived alongside their meaning.