Introduction to linguistics

Spring Term
HOME ASSIGNMENT 3 COMPARATIVE RECONSTRUCTION
Consider the following set of cognates from three different languages:
1

ipo

kivo

kib

proto-form

Using what you have learned about comparative reconstruction, try to recreate the most likely proto-form for this
set of cognates. Refer to the principles which motivated your steps in discovering the proto-form. Use ALL the
available arguments and make your argumentation complete. Work on the sound-by-sound basis. Whenever your
reconstruction with respect to a particular sound of the proto-form depends on your reconstruction of some other
sound, state explicitly how exactly the reconstruction of the sound in question depends on your reconstruction of
the neighboring sound.
1.

the first sound of the proto-form (state here what the possible alternatives are and which of them is
chosen on the basis of the available arguments):

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arguments:
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2.

the second sound of the proto-form (state here what the possible alternatives are and which of them is
chosen on the basis of the available arguments):

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arguments:
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3.

the third sound of the proto-form (state here what the possible alternatives are and which of them is
chosen on the basis of the available arguments):

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arguments:
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4.

the fourth sound of the proto-form (state here what the possible alternatives are and which of them is
chosen on the basis of the available arguments):

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arguments:
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Having reconstructed the proto-form, characterize the processes of sound change which must have occurred
in the evolution of the word kib from the proto-form. Whenever this is important, pay attention to the
ordering of the relevant processes of sound change.
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