Reconstruction:Proto-Naish/ŋi

This Proto-Naish entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Naish

Etymology 1

Proto-Naish numbers (edit)
20
 ←  1 2 3  → 
    Cardinal: *ŋi

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *kV-ni-s.

Numeral

*ŋi

  1. two
Derived terms
Descendants
  • Naxi: ni (/⁠ȵi³³⁠/), niq (/⁠ȵi²¹⁠/)
  • Narua: ni (/⁠ɲi˩˥⁠/)
  • Laze: [Term?] (/⁠ŋi˥gv̩˥⁠/)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ku-ni(k).

Noun

*ŋi

  1. day
Derived terms
Descendants
  • Naxi: ni (/⁠ȵi³³⁠/)
  • Narua: ni (/⁠ɲi˥⁠/, classifier for days)

Etymology 3

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-na ~ s-naːr (nose).

Noun

*ŋi

  1. nose
Descendants
  • Naxi: nilmerq (nose)
  • Narua: nigge (nose)
  • Laze: [Term?] (/⁠njɤ˧ gɤ˥⁠/, nose)

Etymology 4

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-ŋja (fish).

Noun

*ŋi

  1. fish
Descendants
  • Naxi: ni (fish)
  • Narua: nisso
  • Laze: [Term?] (/⁠ɲi˩ ze˥⁠/)

Further reading

  • Li, Zihe (2022) A Naish Historical Phonology: The Rhyme System[1], page 10
  • Li, Zihe (2025) “Probing the Evolution History of Naish Languages with Reference to Tibetan, Burmese and Rgyalrong: The Open-Syllable Rhymes”, in Journal of Chinese Linguistics, →DOI, →ISSN, page 74