Reconstruction:Proto-Turkic/almïla

This Proto-Turkic 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-Turkic

Alternative reconstructions

*alïmla, *ālimla

Etymology

From *āl (“red”) +‎ *mïla (“apple?”), literally “red apple”. Possibly cognating with Ancient Greek μῆλον (mêlon, “apple”), from an unknown source. It is highly probable that the name of the fruit, which spread to the world from Central Asia in the Bronze Age, was taken from a common source in various languages.

Noun

*almïla

apple

Declension

Declension of *almïla
	singular ³⁾
nominative	*almïla
accusative	almïlag, almïlanï¹⁾
genitive	*almïlanïŋ
dative	*almïlaka
locative	*almïlada
ablative	*almïladan
allative	*almïlagaru
instrumental ²⁾	*almïlan
equative ²⁾	*almïlača
similative ²⁾	*almïlalayu
comitative ²⁾	*almïlalïgu

¹⁾ Originally used only in pronominal declension.
²⁾ The original instrumental, equative, similative, and comitative cases have fallen into disuse in many modern Turkic languages.
³⁾ Plurality in Proto-Turkic is disputed. See also the notes on the Proto-Turkic/Locative-ablative case and plurality page on Wikibooks.

Descendants

Oghur:
- Chuvash: омла (omla) (dialectal) ^{[note 1]}
Proto-Common Turkic: *alma (see there for further descendants)
- Arghu:
  - Khalaj: alımla
- Karluk:
  - Karakhanid: اَلُمِلا (almïla) ^{[note 2]} (as part of the compound اَلُمِلا قِمِزْ (qïmïz almïla))^[1]
- → Proto-Mongolic: *alima
  - Kalmyk: альмн (alʹmn)
  - Middle Mongol: ᠠᠯᠢᠮ᠎ᠠ (alim-a)
    - Classical Mongolian: ᠠᠯᠢᠮ᠎᠎ᠠ (alim--a)
      Mongolian: алим (alim)
      → Salar: alima

Reconstruction notes

^ This form is either a contraction of *alïmla or a metathesis of улма (ulma); the latter form, in turn, is perhaps a later borrowing form Kipchak. If the Chuvash dialectal forms with -ml- are more archaic, *alïmla could be reconstructed for Proto-Turkic as well.
^ According to Doerfer, the entry in Dīwān should be read as alïmla. It follows from this proposition that the Common Turkic reconstruction should too have the shape of *alïmla rather than *almïla as proposed here. The reconstruction along the lines of Doerfer's *alïmla is also potentially easier to reconcile with the shape of the Mongolic derivative *alima.

References

^ al-Kashgarî, Mahmud (1072–1074) Besim Atalay, transl., Divanü Lûgat-it-Türk Tercümesi [Translation of the “Compendium of the languages of the Turks”] (Türk Dil Kurumu Yayınları; 521) (in Turkish), 1985 edition, Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurmu Basımevi, published 1939–1943, page 315

[1] This form is either a contraction of *alïmla or a metathesis of улма (ulma); the latter form, in turn, is perhaps a later borrowing form Kipchak. If the Chuvash dialectal forms with -ml- are more archaic, *alïmla could be reconstructed for Proto-Turkic as well.

[2] According to Doerfer, the entry in Dīwān should be read as alïmla. It follows from this proposition that the Common Turkic reconstruction should too have the shape of *alïmla rather than *almïla as proposed here. The reconstruction along the lines of Doerfer's *alïmla is also potentially easier to reconcile with the shape of the Mongolic derivative *alima.

[3] -Kashgarî, Mahmud (1072–1074) Besim Atalay, transl., Divanü Lûgat-it-Türk Tercümesi [Translation of the “Compendium of the languages of the Turks”] (Türk Dil Kurumu Yayınları; 521) (in Turkish), 1985 edition, Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurmu Basımevi, published 1939–1943, page 315

[note 1]

[note 2]

[1]


barley: *arpa	beans, peas: *burčak	farro, wheat: *bugday
jujube: *yidge	berry: *yidgelek	strawberry: čige, čigelek
apple: *almïla	walnut: *yaŋgak	honey: *bal
millet: *tarïg	onion: *sōgun	salt: *tūŕ
egg: *yumurtka	butter: *yāg	mushroom: *kömbe
radish: turp, turma	carrot: *turma	hazelnut: *bōńurï