Reconstruction:Proto-Algonquian/nya·θanwi

This Proto-Algonquian 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-Algonquian

**Proto-Algonquian cardinal numbers**
< 4	5	6 >
Cardinal : *nya·θanwi

Alternative forms

*nya·ɬanwi (alternative orthography)

Etymology

It has been observed that "the numbers from ‘one’ to ‘five’ all contain a semantically empty initial (root) *ny-, realized as *ne- before a consonant".^[1]

Numeral

*nya·θanwi

five (5)

Descendants

Abenaki: nôlan (“five (in counting)”)
Arapaho: yooθón (“five”)
Cheyenne: noho (“five”)
Fox: nyânanwi (“five”)
Mahican: nunon (“five”), nonun (“five”), nanan (“five”)
Malecite-Passamaquoddy: nan (“five (in counting)”)
Menominee: nianan (“five”)
Miami: yaalanenwi (“five times”)
Mi'kmaq: na'n (“five (in counting)”)
Plains Cree: niyânan, ᓂᔮᓇᐣ (“five”)
Munsee: náalan (“five”)
Mohegan-Pequot: nupáw (“five”)
Ojibwe: naanan (“five”)

References

Costa, David J. (2003) The Miami-Illinois Language (Studies in the Native Languages of the Americas), Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, →ISBN

^ Essays in Algonquian, Catawban, And Siouan Linguistics →ISBN, 2003), page 98: "the numbers from ‘one’ to ‘five’ all contain a semantically empty initial (root) *ny-, realized as *ne- before a consonant (PA *nye- and *ni- do not occur), and *-w-i is descriptively segmentable."

[1] Essays in Algonquian, Catawban, And Siouan Linguistics →ISBN, 2003), page 98: "the numbers from ‘one’ to ‘five’ all contain a semantically empty initial (root) *ny-, realized as *ne- before a consonant (PA *nye- and *ni- do not occur), and *-w-i is descriptively segmentable."

[1]