New Words Shared Between Ancient Turkic and Samoyedic Languages

What is it about?

This study explores the ancient linguistic connections between Turkic and Samoyedic languages, identifying new words that were borrowed between them. The paper suggests that these languages had contact in Southwestern Siberia as early as the 3rd or 2nd century BCE. It identifies nine new possible Turkic words borrowed into Proto-Samoyedic, and several new Samoyedic words borrowed into Turkic. Notably, some Turkic words entered Samoyedic indirectly, via Yeniseian languages. This research is important because it helps us better understand the early history and sounds of the Turkic language and the cultural interactions of these ancient peoples.

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Photo by Pavel Machagin on Unsplash

Photo by Pavel Machagin on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study is important because it reveals previously unidentified shared vocabulary between ancient Turkic and Samoyedic languages. These new loanwords are crucial for reconstructing the sounds and early history of the Turkic language, including features like ancient onset consonants and proto-phonemes. The research also sheds light on ancient linguistic and cultural contact between these peoples, dating their earliest interactions to approximately the 3rd or 2nd century BCE in Southwestern Siberia. Notably, it shows that some Turkic words entered Samoyedic through intermediary Yeniseian languages.