Oriental Studies (Dec 2023)
More on the Glottochronological Classification of the Samoyedic Languages: New Field and Archival Data
Abstract
Introduction. Classification of the Samoyedic languages ranks among most popular topics of Uralistics in recent years, with at least six different perspectives — often in contradiction with one another — expressed by leading experts. In fact, there is no single subgroup of the Samoyedic languages on which all the authors would unanimously agree. Goals. The article attempts an analysis of word lists of the Samoyedic languages available on the LingvoDoc platform (lingvodoc.ispras.ru) — recorded from the last native speakers and collected from archives. Materials and methods. The LingvoDoc platform stores a total of 16 Samoyedic-language dictionaries (and text concordances) containing some basic vocabularies. Ten dictionaries were compiled from native speakers (Nenets, Enets, Nganasan, and Selkup dialects), while six others were derived from archival and published sources. They are processed using the glottochronology formula developed by S. Starostin. The LingvoDoc-based analysis yields 3D proximity degree graphs calculated depending on divergence time points of the Samoyedic language unity. Results. It has been determined that, from a glottochronological perspective, there was a certain proximity between Nenets, Enets, and Nganasan traditionally grouped into the North Samoyedic cluster, while Selkup, Mator, and Kamassian are regarded as South Samoyedic. However, these communities were short-lived enough, a longer period of unity be observed between Mator and Kamassian, and between Nenets and Enets. The highest number of words with no etymology in other basic vocabulary lists was found in Selkup dialects (up to 18 lexemes) and in the Nganasan language (13 words), which attests to their prolonged isolated existence. Conclusions. The current analysis supports the validity of the traditional classification of the Samoyedic languages. The involvement of materials from early Selkup texts provides more reliable evidence for delineating a South Samoyedic group.
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