Proto Yenisseian

Are the Yeniseian languages Indo-European ?
by Arnaud Fournet
• The Yeniseian languages
The Yeniseian family consists of six languages, one of which Ket is still spoken by about 200
people, many of them over fifty years old, while the other five are now extinct, namely Yug,
Kot, Arin, Pumpokol and Assan.
From a typological point of view, these languages are conspicuous in Siberia for having a set
of grammatical genders : masculine, feminine and neuter. Hundreds of kilometers around,
one finds no language but Russian with this feature.
They are generally considered isolates with no firmly established relationship with other
language families. The hypothesis most frequently encountered is that these languages
should be grouped together with North-West Caucasian (NWC) and Sino-Tibetan (ST).
In this article, we will deal with a completely different hypothesis : Yeniseian languages are a
branch of the Indo-European family that has so far failed to be recognized as Indo-European,
maybe because a huge bulk of the vocabulary is made up of loanwords. In this article, we will
substantiate the reasons why Yeniseian is to be incorporated into the Indo-European family.
To begin with, it can be noticed that one of the Yeniseian languages auto-ethnonym is Arin,
to be added to the list of Indo-European people named after the root *ar-. We shall not
discuss the putative cognates of Yeniseian with other families such as NWC, as this is
another issue to be addressed in a separate article.
• Proto-Indo-European
From a basic descriptive point of view, Proto-Indo-European (PIE) is a set of graphemes,

rules and items that account for the recurrent phonetic isomorphisms that pervade some
languages like Latin, Greek, Sanscrit, English, etc., that are classified as Indo-European for
that specific reason. In a fictionalist approach, PIE could just be considered as a model that
generates a large stock of words and grammatical paradigms of the Indo-European
languages. But most people, including myself, hold PIE to be a prehistorical language which
must have existed in the past and which thereafter split and evolved into the attested Indo-
European languages.
To state that Yeniseian is Indo-European means that the recurrent phonetic isomorphisms of
PIE are to be found in Yeniseian as well, just as they are in English or Latin, in many
Yeniseian words. For the sake of simplicity, we limit the article to dealing with lexical data.
After Yeniseian has been acknowledged to be Indo-European, comparatists will be able to
trace the standard morphology of PIE in this new subgroup.
The most simple set of graphemes to describe PIE is comprised of :
- labials *b *p *bh *m
- dentals *d *t *dh *n
- palatals *ğ *ǩ *ğh
- velars *g *k *gh
- labio-velars *gw *kw *ghw
- non-obstruents *w *s *y *r *l
- laryngeals *H1 *H2 *H3
- vowels *e *o
This set of graphemes requires some comments, the first of which is the issue of the nature
of these graphemes from a linguistic and phonological point of view. We have deliberately
used the word grapheme in order to emphasize that we do not accept the usual approach
that each grapheme of the PIE modelisation should be bijectively seen as one single proto-
phoneme. As a matter of fact, Yeniseian requires a few refinements of the standard model.
This is the case for the PIE grapheme *w, that has two different reflexes in Yeniseian. We
shall see that there are more than one phoneme underlying *r and *l.
In the morphographemic rules of the traditional brugmannian PIE model, the vowels *i and *u
are supposed to be the same 'thing' as *w and *y. We consider that the vowels *i and *u
existed independently of the consonants *w and *y. Yeniseian provides supplementary
reasons to think so, as *u and *w do not have the same reflexes.
This set of graphemes is notorious for displaying a strange opposition of features : voiced,
voiceless and voiced aspirate, which conflicts with typological and phonological universals. A
certain number of proposals have been made to emend the traditional graphemes into a
more acceptable set. The glottalic approach is one of them. It rewrites *b *d and *g as
glottalized *pˀ *tˀ and kˀ, so that the voiced aspirate could be plain voiced. We will discuss
this point at the end of the article.
The phonological values of the laryngeals are unclear and Yeniseian provides new insights
on this question, as the data will show. We will not take into account the conjectured valued
for the laryngeals proposed so far and on the contrary, we will take Yeniseian as the basis for
proposing possible phonological identifications.
The internal evidence of IE languages (Yeniseian included) requires two different sets of
velars and palatals. There exists some controversy on the phonological status of these
graphemes. Yeniseian shows a clear-cut separation of these two sets which therefore must
be dealt with as standing for two sets of phonemes.
The traditional set of graphemes with the addition of w1 and w2 plus *i and *u and a more
detailed set of laterals and rhotics is enough for the sake of comparing Yeniseian with PIE.
Conservative comparatists can ignore the enriched model we are proposing for PIE. There
are enough cognates in the standard model to show that Yeniseian is Indo-European.
• The reconstruction of proto-Yeniseian
There exists two reconstructions of proto-Yeniseian (PY) : one is the work of Sergei Starostin
and his followers, the other one is from Heinrich Werner.
The proto-reconstruction of PY that is used throughout this article seeks to be as close as
possible to attested lexical data in priority and to existing reconstructions, when possible. In
many cases, Werner's phonetic choices seem preferable but Starostin's morphemic analyses
seem more reliable in general. We have been compelled to make adjustments to about all
existing reconstructions. Major problems arise with velars because previous reconstructions
are not using graphemes in a consistent way. More often that not, one grapheme stands for
more than one correspondence and the reverse is true as well. A complete overhaul of the
vocalic system of PY was also inevitable. No attempt has been made to give a full account of
the equivalences between previous reconstructions and the new one used in this article.
In many cases, the data are not coherent with a possible proto-form because they do not
match. We add an asterisk <*> only to proto-forms that display consistent correspondences,
especially when they can be traced to a PIE root. Other 'proto-forms' with no <*> are only to
be understood as an indication what the original form might have been. Incoherent data can
most often be traced back to Uralic loan-words, Samoyedic or Khant-Mans to be more
precise. Some correspondences although 'regular' 1 are exhibited only in loan-words. They
have nothing to do in a reconstruction of PY. Some words may be Kartvelian loanwords.
Whatever the genetic hypothesis may be for Yeniseian, it seems highly recommendable in
the first place to eliminate from the discussion as many words as possible that seem to be
loanwords. It makes little sense to look at PIE, Basque or Eyak for putative cognates when
the Yeniseian items look like loanwords from Uralic neighboring languages. We have striven
to achieve that goal as consistently as we could.
Loanwords are listed only once according to their initials. PIE cognates are listed as many
times as they include consonantal phonemes.
For each cognate, we cite the PIE root under its citation form in Pokorny, the PIE form that
underlies the PY reconstruction and the PY proto-form accounting for the data.
1
In the sense that they consistently occur appear in a set of words.
Labials
PY PIE Value 2 SS HW
3
b /pˀ/
p p /p/ pb p
ph bh p ph
m m /m/ m m
b w1 /b/ b b
w4 w2 /w/ w w
Dentals
PY PIE Value SS HW
d d /tˀ/ /d/ t d
t t /t/ t t
t dh d d
n n /n/ n n
s s /s/ s n
Palatals
PY PIE Value SS HW
ž ğ /g/ ž d'
c ǩ /k/ c t'
kh ğh k k
Velars
PY PIE Value SS HW
g g /kˀ/ Ggx gk
k k /k/ k k
q gh xqg gq
Labio-velars
PY PIE Value SS HW
k gw /kˀw/ /gw/ kq q
k kw /kw/ kg
k ghw kq
Non obstruents
PY PIE Value SS HW
y y /j/ j j
j l /l/ j j
λ l1 /tl/ lr l
t l2 /dl/ t t
ɬ l3 j d'
r r1 /r/ r1 r
rˀ r2 /rˀ/ ˀ ˀ
Laryngeals
PY PIE Value SS HW
j H1 j j
ˀγ H2 /ˀ/ /γ/ ˀ ˀ
w H3 u u
2
Proposed phonological values of the graphemes will be discussed at the end of the article.
3
There is no explicit example of PIE *b /pˀ/.
4
Sometimes *w is dissimilated into *y.
There is a general tendency in existing reconstructions to automatically add #ˀ- as initial in
PY words, even though the attested languages do not have this glottal stop as initial. This
should be avoided. The word for bone PY *aˀd- can be compared with PIE *ost- attested in
Anatolian ḫastai. There were probably at least two phonemes underlying H2 : a glottal stop /ˀ/
and another one, probably /γ/. The word 'fox, lynx' is an indication of the existence of /γ/.
One clear point is that the value /ˀ/ is impossible for H1, which probably was either
pharyngeal /ḥ/ or velar /x/. From the point of view of Yeniseian, H1 is a phoneme that caused
the same deaspiration of *dh as the other so-called voiced aspirates as is shown by the
examples of Grassmann's Law in Yeniseian. At least three words seem to have no
consonant as initial at all.
• The list of PIE cognates in Yeniseian
The following PIE roots are represented in Yeniseian vocabulary.

PIE 48 *(a)nsu 'world, god' => PY *es 'sky, god'
*bheH2-k : Latin faeces => PY *phoˀk 'defecate'
PIE 127 *bhendh 'bind' => PY *phon-k 'net'
PIE 128 *bher2 'to bear (a child)' => PY *phurˀn 'daughter'
PIE 128 *bher2 'to bear (a child)' => PY *phurˀph 'son'
PIE 141 *bher2H 'bright' => PY *phuˀr 'fine (weather)'
PIE 98 *bhew2 'belly, bosom' => PY *phew 'intestines, breast' ; *phəwr 'intestines'
PIE 152 *bhew2g 'pliable' => PY *pho:gem 'soft, мягкий'
PIE 174 *bhudh 'bottom' => PY *phätim 'low, нижний'
PIE 146 *bhuH2 'to grow, a plant' => PY *phäˀj 'cedar, кeдp'
PIE 198 *dem 'house' => PY *d(e)m-qo- 'window' (< 'house-hole')
Germanic *dannwo- 'fir-tree' => PY *təni 'fir-tree, eль'
PIE 196 *dl2ongh 'long' => PY *tənqer 'high'
PIE 243 *dor2u- 'tree' => PY *dirˀ 'treetrunk'
PIE 243 *dhe(H1)- 'to put' => PY *di(j) 'to put'
PIE 242 *dheH1- 'breast, milk' => PY *tej-n 'nipple, milk'
PIE 242 *dheH1- 'breast, milk' => PY *tojq 'breast'
PIE 449 *dheigh 'knead clay' => PY *t_q '(to smear with) clay, глинa'
PIE 234 *dhal1 'to blossom, to grow' => PY *dəHλe 'willow'
PIE 261 *dhew2- 'smoke' => PY *dewq 'smoke, дым'
PIE 268 *dhew2-bh 'wedge, nail' => PY *duˀt 'awl'
PIE 243 *dhey- 'to see' => PY *de:-s 'eye, глaз'
PIE 291 *eğo 'P1, I, me' => PY *ež 'P1, I, me'
PIE 292 *eğh-s 'out of' > PY *eq 'to go out'
PIE 302 *el- 'brown' : Greek ελaтη 'pine-tree' => PY *ej 'pine-tree'
PIE 344 *eti 'above, beyond' => PY *aˀtu 'soon, cкopo'
PIE 356 *geig-ros 'bitter' => PY *qoyqro 'bitter, гopкий'
PIE 365 *gel 'freeze' => PY *guλ 'hoar-frost'
PIE 373 *ğen 'beget, clan' => PY *žeˀŋ 'people, люди'
PIE 399 *gew2 'glowing coals' => PY *gew2-s 'warm'
PIE 471 *gwel1 'to flow, drip' => PY *guλ 'water, вoдa'
PIE 471 *gwel1 'to flow, drip' => PY *guλəŋ 'saliva, cлюнa'
PIE 365 *gwel1-bh 'womb' => PY *keλ 'vulva'
PIE 477 *gwer1 'mountain' => PY *ker 'mountain'
PIE 474 *gwer1H 'to swallow' => PY *käred 'throat, гopлo'
PIE 485 *gwr2ets 'fat' => PY *kərˀt 'fat, жиp'
PIE 418 *ğho 'enclitic particle' => PY *kho- 'here, there, this, etc.'
PIE 423 *ghedh : Slavic *god 'year, time' => PY *qoqt 'autumn'
PIE 416 *ğhdhuH1 'fish' => PY *cäj-q 'fish'
PIE 449 *gheH2w2 'yawn, gape' => PY *qow 'mouth, poт'
PIE 449 *ghei-m 'winter' => PY *qim- 'cold'
PIE 427 *ghei-s 'fear or amazement' => PY *qoj- 'angry'
PIE 427 *ghoi-s-dh 'ghost' => PY *qosed 'witch, she-devil'
PIE 436 *ghel1 'jaw' => PY qoλ 'cheek'
PIE 418 *ğhdhom 'earth, ground' => PY *igde 'on the shore'
PIE 442 *gher2 'enclose, garden' => PY *qurˀs 'house, tent'
PIE 445 *ğher2-s 'bristle' => PY *khuλH- 'beard'
PIE 442 *ghdheyes 'yesterday' => PY *q(od)es 'yesterday'
PIE 287 *H1ednt- 'tooth' => PY *ji:t 'tooth'
PIE 293 *H1ogn 'feu' => PY jogan- 'boil'
PIE 783 *H2ost- 'bone' => PY *aˀd 'bone'
PIE 343 *H1es 'blood' => PY *jise 'meat, мяco'
PIE 343 *H1esr1 'blood' => PY *sur 'blood, кpoвь'
PIE 442 *H2egh 'day' => PY *iq 'day'
PIE 4 *H2eks- 'shoulder' => PY *aks-aˀd 'shoulder-blade'
PIE 43 *H2enghwi 'snake' => PY *aŋkui 'snake'
PIE 42 *H2enH1- 'door' => PY *anjto 'door, part of house before the house'
PIE 45 *H2enk 'to bend ; elbow' => PY *aŋket 'elbow'
PIE 55 *H2epseH2 'aspen' => PY *əpəl 'aspen'
PIE 55 *H2er1 'craft, art' => PY *ar 'cunning, xитpый'
PIE 73 *H2ew1 'pronominal base' => PY bi- 'where, how, which, etc.'
PIE 89 *H2ew1- 'male ascendant' => PY ob 'father, oтeц'
PIE 89 *H2ew1- 'no, not' => PY bə-n 'there is not' (Cf. PY *mo)
PIE 11 *H2ey 'speak' => PY *e:y 'tongue, lick, voice'
PIE 17 *H2ey-t- 'to live' => PY *e:te 'alive, живoй'
PIE 518 *kaghlo 'pebble, hail' => PY *qok-d- 'hail'
Germanic *s-ko:haz 'shoe' => PY *ce:se 'shoe'
PIE 597 *s-ku:r 'shower' => PY *gur 'rain, дoждь'
PIE 611 *koǩsa 'foot, hip, etc' => PY *keˀs 'foot, ankle'
PIE 517 *keH2ğ 'goat, coat' => PY *qaˀž 'overcoat'
PIE 923 *skel1-p : Germanic *half => PY *kolop 'half'
PIE 918 *s-ke/amb 'to curve, bend' => PY *kəmər 'crooked'
PIE 931 *s-kep : Latin scapula 'shoulderblade' => PY *qep 'back, cпинa'
PIE 577 *ker2- '(young) man' => PY *kerˀt 'man'
PIE 583 *ǩer2 'head' => PY *cerˀ-ŋe 'hair'
PIE 583 *ǩer2 'head' => PY *cərˀ 'head'
PIE 615 *kor2 'war' => PY *koˀr 'war'
PIE 933 *s-ker 'jump' => PY *gorˀ 'frog'
PIE 583 *ker2s- 'run' => PY *kurˀs 'horse'
PIE 632 *ǩwon 'dog' => PY *kuən 'wolverine'
PIE 632 *ǩwon 'dog' => PY *kughən 'fox, lynx'
PIE 628 *kwei 'white, shining' => PY *k(o)y-n- 'light, dawn'
Latin l1atus 'side' => PY *λaˀm 'side'
PIE 651 *l1ab 'lip, lick' => PY *λo:n 'lip, cпинa'
PIE 690 *l3ew2bh 'leaf' => PY *ɬojph 'leaf, лиcт'
PIE 651 *l2ew2k 'white" => PY *təwk-am 'white, бeлый' and PY *tok- 'whitish, grey'
PIE 692 *l2ew2-s 'louse' => PY *ɬo:-k 'louse, nit''
PIE *meH1 'not' => PY *mo 'no' (Cf. PY *bə-n)
PIE 702 *mi 'me, P1' => PY *e-mi-phi 'me'
PIE 973 *s-neH1 'sew, needle' => PY *iˀn 'needle, иглa'
PIE 762 *neǩ 'dead' => PY *onco 'dead'
PIE 775 *ôku 'hawk' => PY *keku 'owl, hawk'
Latin *patella 'knee-cap' => PY *pat- 'knee (-joint)'
PIE 790 *pedon 'soil' => PY *paˀŋ 'earth'
PIE 798 *pel 'full' => PY *poj 'much'
PIE 805 *pel2H2 'flat' : *plH2-m 'palm' => PY *pat- 'palm'
PIE 835 *pl1eu 'flow, rain' => PY *pəλ/paλ 'cloud, oблaкo'
PIE 808 *penkwe 'five' => PY *kunk- 'fist'
PIE 808 *penkwe 'five' => PY *qenk- 'five'
PIE 810 *perero 'far' => PY *pir 'far'
PIE 823 *per2snâ 'heel' => PY *puˀr 'foot, нoгa'
PIE 823 *per2snâ 'heel' => PY *puˀror 'stockings, чулoк'
PIE 824 *pes 'penis' => PY *pəs/pos 'penis'
PIE 842 *puH2er 'child' => PY *p_ˀr 'child'
PIE 897 *sekwe 'say' => PY *sek- 'say, speak'
PIE 901 *sel1-k 'to slide' => PY *soˀλ 'sleigh'
PIE 907 *sen 'old' => PY *sin 'old'
PIE 897 *es 'sit' => PY *ses-t- 'sit'
PIE *-to- 'adjectival morpheme' => PY *to-w2 'adjectival morpheme'
PIE 1086 *to- 'anaphoric' => PY *to-w2 'demonstrative and anaphoric for P3 and P6'
PIE 1004 *s-teH2- 'stand up' => PY *ta-s 'to stand up' 5
PIE 1063 *tem- 'dark' => PY *təm- 'black'
PIE 1075 *ter- 'pass thru' => PY *teˀk/tetk- 'thru'
PIE 81 *w1eH1 'to blow, wind' => PY *bej 'wind, вeтep'
PIE 1127 *w1eidh-s 'separate ; widow, orphan' => PY boyss- 'widow(er), orphan'
PIE 1168 *w1erg 'do, work' => PY ber- 'do, дeлaть'
PIE 1173 *w1es 'evening' => PY *bis 'evening, вeчep'
PIE 1051 *s-w1es-or 'sister' => PY *bis 'sister, brother'
PIE 243 *w2ed- 'water' => PY *ud 'wet'
PIE 1125 *w2eid 'see, know' => PY id- 'know'
PIE 1140 *w2el1(H) 'to turn, round' : Latin vulva => PY *λHos 'vulva'
PIE 1170 *w2es 'to be' => PY *us 'there is'
PIE 373 *yenH1-ter 'wife of the husband's brother' => PY *yeni 'son, daughter-in-law'
The PIE labial *b in Yeniseian

This consonant is exceedingly rare in PIE, which is one of the arguments for reinterpreting
this grapheme as standing for /pˀ/ in PIE.
PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

*b /pˀ/
*lab *λo:n λo:n(-tiś) lon d'an tan
This correspondence is based on the following items :

PIE 651 *l1ab 'lip, lick' => PY *λo:n 6 'lip, cпинa'
The PIE labial *p in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by *p.

*p *p b/v b/f p p ph
*s-kep- qep qov-ət xof-at hap-ar qop (kolpar) 7
*pol- *poj bʌj paj-
*H2əpəl1 *əpəl ɨ:λ ɨfɨl i:pal
*pl1ew2 *p_λ 8 puλ fɨl par par
*perer *pir biλ bi:hr pil pa-ta
5
It is unclear if the -s- of *ta-s is the same affix as *s-teH2 but in a different place.
6
PY *λon is a participle resulting from the contraction *λepˀont- > λo:n(t)-.
7
This item may not belong here.
8
The vocalism is unclear : *pəl or *pal.
*pər- *puˀr bu:λ bul pul pil pulaŋ
*pər- *puˀror bu:λoλ bulol proroŋ
*puH2r *p_ˀr 9 al-polat phalla
*pel2H2 *pat- battop fatap
*ped- *paˀŋ baˀŋ baˀŋ paˀŋ peŋ biŋ
*peˀt- *pat- bat- bat- -pat- pat-as
*p_s *pəs/pos- bɨˀś bɨˀs puš poš

PIE 931 *skep 10 : Latin scapula 'shoulderblade' => PY *qep 'back, cпинa'
PIE 798 *pel 'full' => PY *poj 'much'
PIE 835 *pl1eu 'flow, rain' => PY *p_λ 'cloud, oблaкo'
PIE 810 *perero 'far' => PY *pir 'far' 11
PIE 823 *per2snâ 'heel' => PY *puˀr 'foot, нoгa'
PIE 823 *per2snâ 'heel' => PY *puˀror 'stockings, чулoк'
PIE 842 *puH2er 'child' => PY *poˀr 'child'
PIE 790 *pedon 'soil' => PY *paˀŋ 'earth' 12
This pattern is exhibited by other examples with no clear PIE connections.
sweet 13 phiHλ 14 hi:λ fiˀr fil

sweet pheHλ hiλaŋ foraŋ falaŋ pala
unmarried ojpəl ʌ:l ʌfɨl ipal
kidney pajpəl 15 bajbuλ bajbɨl koipala
The PIE labial *bh in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *ph.

*bh *ph h- / -p f / -p f- / -p (p)f- / -p (p)f- / -p p
*bhuH2 *phäˀj haˀj faˀj fej (im-)phaj pɨ pej
*bhow2g *pho:gem hom fom fu:gam puma
*bhew2- *phew hu: fu fui, phui pfu
*bhəw2- *phəwr hɨ:λ fɨ:λ phorga
*bhudhim *phätim hi:tim fitim fi:dam
*l3ow2bh *ɬojphe 16 ʌ: ʌ:hp d'ipi ipoŋ dɨpun
*bhərH *phuˀr hɨˀλ fɨˀl fur
*bhon-dh *phon-g hʌˀŋ fʌˀŋ fung pen
*bhər2 *phurˀn huˀn fuˀn fun pun
*bhər2 *phurˀph hɨˀp fɨˀp fup
*bhoH2-k *phoˀq 17 hoˀq foˀx fo:k
9
The vocalism is unclear.
10
This root mixes quite a lot of forms and meanings.
11
Arin can reflect *per > pa. Other forms reflect a contraction *perer > *pi:r.
12
This supposes a contraction *pedon-k- > peˀŋ.
13
Also describes 'saft' or 'sweet mass under birch bark'.
14
A connection with PIE 793 *peiH 'fat, milch' seems possible.
15
Cf. Turkish bel, böjrek, böbrek 'kidney' with Turcic cognates.
16
The reconstruction *jə:p is clearly inadequate as *j is reflected by /j/ not /d/.
17
The glottal stop probably triggered the change *phoˀk > *phoˀq.
PIE 146 *bhuH2 18 'to grow, a plant' => PY *phäˀj 'cedar, кeдp'
PIE 152 *bhow2g 'pliable' 19 => PY *pho:gem 'soft, мягкий'
PIE 98 *bhew2- 'belly, bosom' 20 => PY *phew 'intestines, breast' ; *phəwr 'intestines'
PIE 174 *bhudhim 'bottom' => PY *phätim 'low, нижний' 21
PIE 690 *l3ow2bh 'leaf' => PY *ɬojph 'leaf, лиcт' 22
PIE 141 *bhərH 'bright' => PY *phuˀr 'fine (weather)'
PIE 127 *bhendh 'bind' => PY *phon-k 'net' 23
*bheH2-k : Latin faeces => PY *phoˀk 'defecate'
Meaning PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

hermin 24 kulep kuλep kulεp hulup kulep
sand 25 phojnəŋ hʌnəŋ fʌnɨŋ fenaŋ phińaŋ pinniŋ
wolverine 26 phjastap feštap phjastap pestap
thin 27 phaksem hakśem faksim fačam
thigh 28 pha:p ha:p fap fe:par
h
tail p u:-g/t- hu:t 29 fu:t fugai phugaj pugaj
owl 30 phəˀj hɨˀj fɨˀj keŋa-fuj phie
neck phujm- fuimur pemä
morning phəg- hɨgem pɨganes tsɨl-paga
man phi-q hi:γ fi:k fi
cut p agh 31
h
haγej fagej päk
deep phog hoRu fo:hx fo:ge
glue 32 phiˀ-t hiˀt fiˀt fit
The PIE labial *w1 in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *b.

*w1 *b b / -p b / -p p p p p
*w1eH1 *bej be:j bej pe:j paj baj
*w1is *bis bi:ś bis pi:š pis bič pijaga
*H2ew1 *ob oop op oop ap ab
*H2ew1 *bo(y)n bʌn bʌn bo: 33 bon
18
There is some controversy about the laryngeal being H2 or H1, Yeniseian has H2.
19
Cf. Irish bog 'soft'.
20
These words may derive from a broader meaning as 'a round and swollen part of the body'.
21
The vowel *u has been infected by the following *i.
22
This proto-form seems to reflect a dissimilation of *w > *j.
23
If one accepts the description of a net as being threads woven or bound together.
24
A Siberian word : Cf. UEW 116 Finnish kärppä 'hermin'. Germanic *harmin.
25
The connection with either i.e 145 bhes or Greek psammos is about impossible.
26
This word definitely looks like a compound word. The first part somehow reminds of Uralic *pene 'dog'.
27
Cf. Uralic *wekke 'thin'.
28
Cf. Uralic *počka 'thigh'. Yeniseian looks like a reduplication. Cf. Kartvelian *barḳ 'thigh'.
29
Cf. Samoyedic *batu- 'tail'. At least three Uralic roots starting with #b/p- mean 'tail'.
30
Cf. the onomatopeic root PIE 97 *b(h)eu 'bird sound' : buzzard, bittern, buteo, bubo, etc.
31
This item nearly reflects PIE 115 *bheg 'break'.
32
The initial forbids a connection with PIE 793 *piH-k 'pitch'.
*w1erg *ber bε:ri bε:ht' ba- pi
*H2ew1i *bi- bi- bi- bi- bi-
*w1oydhs *boyss- bʌssem bʌssem paš- pas paš-
*s-w1es *bis- biśeˀp biśeˀp popeš- bič

PIE 1173 *w1es 'evening' => PY *bis 'evening, вeчep' 34
PIE 89 *H2ew1- 'male ascendant' => PY ob 'father, oтeц'
PIE 89 *H2ew1- 'no, not' => PY bo(y)-n 'there is not' (Cf. PY *mo)
PIE 1168 *w1erg 'do, work' => PY ber- 'do, дeлaть'
PIE 73 *H2ew1 'pronominal base' => PY bi- 'where, how, which, etc.'
PIE 1127 *w1oidh-s 'separate ; widow, orphan' => PY boyss- 'widow(er), orphan' 35
PIE 1051 *s-w1es-or 'sister' => PY *bis 'sister, brother' 36

fung 37 be/ol-ba boλba boλba pol-šoja pen-betu
clay tuˀw 38 tuˀ t'u t'uburun tu t'u
mitten boq- 39 bo:q boxon pagan
log ba:k 40 ba:γə ba:k pe:g
face ba:t' 41 ba:t ba:t pičal upusɨr
fire boˀ- 42 boˀk boˀk buč
hail bal(H)- 43 baλbεt kojpat polpieŋ
The PIE labial *w2 in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected in rather complex ways because it most often fuses with adjacent
vowels.

*bhow2g *pho:gom hom fom fu:gam puma
*bhew2 *phew hu: fu fui, phui pfu
*l3ow2bh *ɬojphe ʌ: ʌ:hp d'ipi ipoŋ dɨpun
*dhew2 *dewq duˀ/duγ duˀ/dug- tu/tug- t'u dukar tu
*ghoHw2 *qo:w 44 qo: xo ho:pi 45 xoboj
46
*w2əs- *us uśeŋ u:se
*w2d- *ud utäs utta- uta-
*w2id *id it it
33
/b/ instead of /p/ may be phonotactical : H2p > b.
34
The vowel *i instead of *e is possibly attested in Visigoth 'the western Goths'.
35
The suffix -s is exemplified by Germanic *woidh-s > German Waise 'orphan'.
36
According to Yeniseian, the PIE root is originally *w1es 'sister or brother'.
37
The connection with either German Schwamm or PIE *s-p(h)ongos is difficult.
38
This word has unclear relationships with Samoyedic words but borrowing is unprovable in either way.
39
This root probably meant 'hand' originally, according to Starostin. Cf. *boq-až 'right side'.
40
Cf. Uralic *puw 'wood, tree'. Nenets pâ.
41
Possibly a Turcic loan-word according to Stachowski.
42
Cf. Uralic *päj(wa) 'fire'. Komi has a voiced initial bia.
43
A connection with PIE 1145 *wel-k/g 'wet' is possible.
44
Mixing Werner's reconstruction *qo with Starostin's *xowe seems adequate.
45
This word is probably suffixed the same way as xoboj.
46
The word hičo:ga can hardly belong here.
PIE 152 *bhew2g 'pliable' 47 => PY *pho:gem 'soft, мягкий'
PIE 98 *bhew2 'belly, bosom' 48 => PY *phew 'intestines, breast'
PIE 690 *l3ow2bh 'leaf' => PY *ɬojph 'leaf, лиcт'
PIE 449 *gheH2w2 'yawn, gape' => PY *qow 'mouth, poт'

*tu 49 *aw2/ˀu u: u au au ue
The PIE labial *m in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *m.

*m *m m m m m m m
*mo *mo mon amut
*e-m-bhi *m/bh a:p ap m-inšo bi
*d(e)m *d(e)m dom- xam- tam- tim- dam-
*təm- *təm- tu:m tum thum t'u:ma tuma

PIE *meH1 'not' => PY *mo 'no' (Cf. PY *bo(y)-n)
PIE 174 *bhudh 'bottom' => PY *phätim 'low, нижний' 50
PIE 702 *mi 'me, P1' => PY *e-m-phi 'me'
PIE 198 *dem 'house' => PY *d(e)m-qo- 'window' (< 'house-hole')

mother ama 51 a:m am a:ma amä am ama
nut im i:m im i:m im
goose kem te:m čem šame sam xam šame
bear ka_an šajaŋ xanki
The PIE dental *d in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *d.
Kot shows a difference between PIE *d and PIE *dh but in order to avoid the multiplication of
symbols, both correspondences are rendered in PY as *d.

47
48
These words may derive from a broader meaning as 'a round and swollen part of the body'.
49
A connection is possible if we accept to analyse *tu as *t (anaphoric) + *u 'P2'.
50
This word seems to be *bhutum instead of *bhudhum.
51
This connection with PIE 700 *meH2tr 'mother' is weak as it is a universal baby-talk word. Moreover
inherited (ˀa)meH- should be *(o)mo.
*d *d dt dt tčr t d
*dir *dirˀ diˀ d'iˀ či
*H2od *aˀd aˀt aˀt ar-
*ped- *peˀŋ baˀŋ baˀŋ paˀŋ peŋ biŋ
*w2d- *ud utäs utta- uta-
*w2id *id it it
*d(e)m *d(e)m dom- xam- tam- tim- dam-

PIE 243 *doru- 'tree' => PY *dirˀ 'treetrunk'
PIE 783 *ost- 'bone' 52 => PY *aˀd 'bone'
PIE 790 *pedon 'soil' => PY *paˀŋ 'earth' 53
PIE 198 *dem 'house' => PY d(e)m-qo- 'window' (< 'house-hole')

laugh daq 54 da:ʁə d'a:hx čake jai-
give qoyd qʌdəm xʌd'iŋ koja-
knead de:ŋ 55 da:ŋ d'a:hŋ čeŋ
The PIE dental *t in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *t.

*t *t t t th- / t t td t
*H2ey- *e:te 56 εte ε:ht e:ti atie atodu etutu
*dhugh *t_q 57 tuγ-it təx thagar tɨk
*eti *aˀt 58 aˀt aˀt' et atɨ
*-to- *t_w2 -tu- -tu-
*to *t_w2 tu-da tu-da i-taŋ a-du
*dheH1 *tejn ten teŋul den
*dhoH1 *tojq 59 tʌga tʌga tike
*H2enH1- *anjto atto atnto athol ejtol atol
*H1ednt *ji:t it i:ht iti itin
*peˀt- *pat- bat- bat- -pat- pat-as
*teH2 *ta-s- ta-seŋ -tes -ta-
*ter-k *tet-k tεtka tεtkej the:ta
*təm- *təm- tu:m tum thum t'u:ma tuma

PIE 17 *H2ey-t- 'to live' => PY *e:te 'alive, живoй'
52
This root is hence to be reconstructed as *H2od-t- > *H2ost-.
53
This supposes a contraction *pedon-k- > peˀŋ.
54
Cf. Uralic Moksha raha(ms) 'to laugh'.
55
This could be a loanword from another Indo-European language : Cf. dheigh.
56
Cf. Latin aetat-es for the same formation.
57
Yeniseian reflects *t_gh not *dh_gh. The vocalisme is unclear : both -ṇ- and -en-.
58
The glottal stop in Yeniseian is a problem.
59
This is the equivalent of *dhoH1-gha with deaspiration of *dh.
PIE 174 *bhudh 'bottom' => PY *phätim 'low, нижний' 60
PIE 449 *dheigh 'knead clay' => PY *tuq '(to smear with) clay, глинa'
PIE 344 *eti 'above, beyond' => PY *aˀtu 'soon, cкopo'
PIE *-to- 'adjectival morpheme' => PY *to-w2 'adjectival morpheme'
PIE 1086 *to- 'anaphoric' => PY *t_w2 'demonstrative and anaphoric for P3 and P6' 61
PIE 287 *H1ednt- 'tooth' => PY *ji:t 'tooth'
PIE 1004 *steH2- 'stand up' => PY *ta-s 'to stand up' 62
PIE 1075 *ter- 'pass thru' => PY *teˀk/tetk- 'thru' 63

clay tuˀw 64 tuˀ t'u t'uburun tu t'u
straight tat 65 tatəŋ tatɨŋ that tedenga
cold taˀj 66 taˀj taˀj tonog
otter 67 tä:gəλ ta:λ ta:r the:gär
rotten tulaq 68 tulaq tulax thalak
flour talgən 69 tallɨn tallɨn talkan
root tir 70 ti:ŕi ti:ht' ičičan 71
ičičan
cheap tol 72 to:λ thui
ten tuˀ- thukŋ thu:n 73
bowstring -tu 74 -tut -tut' -tu -tu
naked tonjol 75 tońol- tońol-
navel təλ tɨλ tɨl
cow təg thigä t'ugal tɨg
full u:t u:t u:t u:t-i/am
finger toˀq 76 tʌˀq tʌˀx thok tok
The PIE dental *dh in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected as PY *t.
60
This word seems to be *bhutum instead of *bhudhum.
61
According to Yeniseian, *to is maybe better reconstructed as being -tH3-.
62
63
This word is partially contaminated by the word *tet 'straight'.
64
This word has unclear relationships with Samoyedic words but borrowing is unprovable in either way. Kot is
not aspirated and this oddity must be taken as a warning that this word is not inherited.
65
A connection with PIE 1075 *ter 'to go through' is possible.
66
This word is most probably a Uralic loanword : *tal-/tjal 'winter'.
67
The connection with Greek lunks seems impossible. Cf. Samoyedic Selqup *töt 'otter'.
68
This word meaning 'rotten wood' is probably a compound of tul + haˀx 'rotten wood'.
69
This word cannot be inherited and looks like a turcic loanword. Cf. talc of unknown origin.
70
Cf. Uralic *sär 'root' reflected by Mans tär 'root'.
71
Kediŋ has nothing to do here and could represent Uralic *kanta 'root, tree-stump'.
72
Cf. Uralic *šal 'cheap'. The root is not attested in eastern Uralic languages but may have existed.
73
/t/ is generally not aspirated in Arin.
74
Cf. Uralic *sen/son 'string'. Samoyedic and Ugric have reflexed with #t- initial.
75
If this word is rashly segmented *to-ńol then *ńol could reflect *nog-u- > *no.
76
This cannot be PIE 188 *deik 'finger' but could be PIE 1054 teˀg 'touch'.
*dh *d d d t t d t
*dhey *de:-s 77 de:-ś de-s ti:-š ti- da-t te-š
*dhən- *dəni dɨń dɨn ti:ni tin dɨńe tin
*dhew2 *dewq duˀ/duγ duˀ/dug- tu/tug- t'u dukar tu
*ghodh *qoqd qogdi xogdi ho:ri kute
*dhoHl1 *dojλe dʌλ- də:λ tili tal
*dhew2 *duˀt- duˀt duˀt tu:t
*dhe(H1) *di(j) dij di
*iğhdhe *igde igde igdej

PIE 243 *dhey- 'to see' => PY *de:-s 'eye, глaз'
Germanic *dannwo- 'fir-tree' => PY *dəni 'fir-tree, eль'
PIE 423 *ghedh : Slavic *god 'year, time' => PY *qoqd 'autumn'
PIE 234 *dhal1 'to blossom, to grow' => PY *dojλe 'willow'
PIE 268 *dhew2-bh 'wedge, nail' => PY *duˀt 'awl'
PIE 243 *dhe(H1)- 'to put' => PY *di(j) 'to put' 78

three toˀŋ doˀŋ doˀŋ to:ŋa tu:ŋa doŋa
knife toˀn 79 doˀn doˀn ton ton
bird t(w)əm 80 du:m tɨm tu:ma
The PIE dental *n in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *n.

*n *n n n n n
*H1ogn *jogan ʌ:n ʌxan augan-
*l1ebon *λon λo:n(-tiś) lon d'an tan
*dhənw- *dəni 81 dɨń dɨn ti:ni tin dɨńe tin
*sin *siń śi:ń sin
*s-neH1 *iˀn 82 iˀn iˀn in in
*ǩwəHən *kuən ku:n ku:hn kun
*ğen *žeˀŋ 83 dεˀŋ d'εˀŋ čeäŋ
*yenH1 *yeni εń ε:hń ani än
*eH1n *ejn e:n en eaŋa iŋni eń

PIE 293 *H1ogn 'feu' => PY jogan- 'boil, дeлaть'
PIE 651 *l1ab 'lip, lick' => PY *λon 84 'lip, cпинa'
77
The suffix -s is a singulative marker.
78
Yeniseian does not seem to have H1, otherwise **tej would be expected.
79
Cf. Uralic *ćoḥ-r(k) 'knife'. Khant t'oḥr 'knife'.
80
The connection with Uralic *linta/lunta 'bird' is unclear. Cf. Kant tunt 'goose'.
81
Yeniseian seems to reflect *dhən-i- instead of *dhon-w-.
82
The presence of a glottal stop is strange as the PIE root definitely has H1 (reflected by i) not H2. Yenisseian
seems to have undergone a metathesis : *neH1 > *nej > *ˀejn.
83
It seems probable that *žeˀŋ reflect a reduplicated *ğeğn-.
84
Germanic *dannwo- 'fir-tree' => PY *dəni 'fir-tree, eль'
PIE 632 *ǩwon 'dog' => PY *kuən 'wolverine' 85
PIE 770 *nu 'now' => PY *ejn 'now'

boiler tiˀn tiˀn tiˀn a-tin
seven oˀn oˀn una/ɨna onaŋ
sand 86 phojnəng hʌnəng fʌnɨng fenang phińang pinning
fathom qan qa:ń xan hen
shaman sen śεn sεnəŋ še:naŋ
The PIE dental *s in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *s.

*s *s ś s š sš ts č š
*w1is *bis bi:ś bis pi:š pis bič pijaga
*sin *siń śi:ń sin
*H1sər *sur śuλ sur šur sur
*H1es *jes i:ś i:s i:či is
87
*w2əs *us uśeŋ u:se
*sol1k *soˀλ 88 śu:λ so:l čol šal tsel
*ghdhoyes *qodes qodeś 89 kisoŋ hončig 90 kanži xonži
*ens ens e:ś es eš es / eš eč es / eš
*w1oydhs *boyss- 91 bʌssem bʌssem paš pas paš-
*p_s *pəs/pos- bɨˀś bɨˀs puš poš
*sekw *sek sag- sag- ćag-
*ses-t *ses-t sesete sesta

PIE 1173 *w1es 'evening' => PY *bis 'evening, вeчep' 92
PIE 343 *H1esr 'blood' => PY *sur 'blood, кpoвь'
PIE 442 *ghdheyes 'yesterday' => PY *qodes 'yesterday'
PIE 48 *(a)nsu 'world, god' => PY *es 'sky, god' 93
PIE 1127 *w1eidh-s 'separate ; widow, orphan' => PY boyss- 'widow(er), orphan' 94
85
On account of Yeniseian, the PIE reconstruction must be emended into *kuH2on.
86
The connection with either i.e 145 bhes or Greek psammos is about impossible.
87
The word hičo:ga can hardly belong here.
88
The data in Kott, Arin and Pumpokol is contaminated by the turcic word *čegar.
89
The suffix -es is not necessarily *es 'sky'. It is more probably a suffix -es.
90
Hončig and kanži can be analysed as hon- 'dark' -šig 'night'.
91
The geminate results from *-dh-s- > *-ss-.
92
The vowel *i instead of *e is possibly attested in Visigoth 'the western Goths'.
93
This is only possible if the root *ansu is an infixed derivative of an older *es.
PIE 897 *es 'sit' => PY *ses-t- 'sit' 95
PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

night 96 siq śiγ si šig saj te-č
to night sagel sa:l sa:hl šagal to:l
97
year səngu śɨ sɨ še:ga šhej tsiku
larch seˀs śeˀś seˀs še:t čit tag
river ses 98 śe:ś ses še:t sat tataŋ šet
99
kamus sas/set śa:ś sa:hs šet
one qu:s qu:ś xus hu:ča kuisa xuta
squirrel saˀqa saˀq saˀx šaga sava tak šaha
deer sε:r 100 śε:λe sε:r šeli sin salat
stone ǩɨˀ- 101 tɨˀś čɨˀs ši:š kes kit šiš
yellow su 102 sulemam šui tul-si
trough 103 sɨˀk śɨˀk sɨˀk
104
summer siHr śi:λi si:r šil šil
stump suŋ- 105 śiŋuλt śuŋulap šagali teksulči
ski-strap εs 106 εś ε:hs
sleep (g)us uśen usan uča kus 107 utu
108
skin sa:-t/s śa:śi sa:hs še:t
moon suj 109 šui ešuj tuj
lung šiča 110 šiča:t šišal
liver se:ŋ 111 śe:ŋ seŋ šin
backward suq 112 śuga sugej šu:ka tuk
eat 113 säg śi: si: šig ša-n sogo
four sä:k śi:k sik še:gä šaga tsiaŋ
The alternation s-/t- points at Uralic. Many items displaying this alternation are doubtless
Uralic loanwords.
Borrowed correspondence č :
94
The suffix -s is exemplified by Germanic *weidh-s > German Waise 'orphan'.
95
This verbal seems to be highly irregular in Yeniseian. The vowel -e- in contact with /s/ is inexpected.
96
Cf. Kartvelian *ser 'night'.
97
Maybe a derivative of *sen according to Starostin, but most probably a loanword because of Pumpokol.
98
Cf. Uralic *säčä 'water-level, flood'.
99
'Fur from reindeer's legs'.
100
Cf. Uralic *sjarta 'deer'. Selkup sjära.
101
Cf. Uralic *kiw 'stone'. Pumpokol may be the Uralic plural *kiw-t.
102
Cf. Uralic *čoša/tjoša 'yellow'.
103
A trough for dough, нoвeчкa.
104
Cf. Uralic *soŋe 'summer'.
105
Cf. Uralic *tiŋ/tüŋ 'stump'.
106
Cf. Uralic *joč 'ski, snow-shoe'.
107
If the Arin word is removed from the set, a connection with Uralic *oda 'to sleep' becomes possible.
108
Cf. Uralic *ćapt 'skin'.
109
Cf. Kartvelian *du(ś)te 'moon'.
110
Cf. Uralic *soð 'lung'. Mari šode, Komi šəl.
111
Cf. Uralic *soð 'lung'. More or less the same root as the preceding 'lung'.
112
Cf. Uralic *śäŋk 'back', although this root is not attested in the Uralic languages that display s > t.
113
Cited par Ruhlen but not listed in Starostin's databases. Cf. Kartvelian č(ḳ)am 'to eat'.
run čoq 114 čoq čat- čag
cold čal 115 čal sol-ma čala
Borrowed correspondence t/č :

dog t'ip 116 ti:p čip šip čap tsi šip/čip
snow beˀč 117 beˀt beˀt' beč
swan t'i:g 118 ti:γə čik ši:gi
salt t'ojˀ 119 tʌˀ čʌˀ ši
berry t'uλ 120 tuλet tuλet šul-pi šul-bo t'určari
copper t'ur 121 tuλä šur
copper tərən 122 tɨˀn tɨˀn a-tin
The PIE yod *y /j/ in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected in PY *y.

*y *y øj øj øj ø øj ø
*yenH1 *yeni εń ε:hń ani än
*H2ey *e:y e:j ej ei aj

PIE 11 *H2ey 'speak' => PY *e:y 'tongue, lick, voice'
The PIE liquid *l /l/ in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *j.

*l *j j j j j j
*pol- *poj bʌj paj-
*el *ej e:j ej ei aja ej

PIE 798 *pel- 'fill, full' => PY *poj 'much'
The PIE labial *l1 /tl/ in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *λ.

*l1 *λ λ l dr tr r
*Hl1 *Hλ λ λ l l l
114
Cf. Uralic *ćad / *čik 'run'.
115
Cf. Uralic *kilma 'cold' or maybe even PIE *gel 'cold, freeze'.
116
Cf. Kartvelian *žaγ-l 'dog'.
117
Cf. Uralic *waća 'wet snow'.
118
Maybe Kartvelian *γorγ 'goose'.
119
Cf. Kartvelian *zoγw 'sea'.
120
Cf. Uralic *osa 'berry'. Yeniseian words are suffixed by another element.
121
Cf. Uralic *saran 'copper'. Khant lorn and Mans tarən. Maybe this word was borrowed twice in Yeniseian.
122
Cf. Uralic *saran 'copper'. Khant lorn and Mans tarən. Maybe this word was borrowed twice in Yeniseian.
*l1ab *λo:n λo:n(-tiś) lon d'an tan
*pl1eu *p_λ puλ fɨl par par
*sol1k 123 *soˀλ 124 śu:λ so:l čol šal tsel
*ghoH2w2l1 *qoλ qoλet xoλat hol qoλoŋ holan
*l1eH2- *λaˀm λaˀm laˀm
*wel1H *wλHos λo:ś los lat
*dhoHl1 *dojλe dʌλ- də:λ tili tal
*gwel1-bh *keλ- kar ken kar

PIE 651 *l1ab 'lip, lick' => PY *λon 125 'lip, cпинa'
PIE 835 *pl1eu 'flow, rain' => PY *p_λ 'cloud, oблaкo'
PIE 449 *gheH2w2 'yawn, gape' => PY *qoλ 'cheek, щëкa'
Latin latus 'side' => PY *λaˀm 'side'
PIE 1140 *w2el1 (H) 'to turn, round' : Latin vulva => PY *λHos 'vulva'
PIE 234 *dheHl1 'to blossom, to grow' => PY *dojλe 'willow' 126
PIE 365 *gwel1-bh 'womb' => PY *keλ 'vulva'

mountain λəˀ 127 λɨˀt λɨˀt' d'i lɨtsɨ jii
woman al alit alte
unmarried ojpəl ʌ:l ʌfɨl ipal
firm, fasten λa 128 λaŋ d'aˀ
The PIE labial *l2 /dl/ in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *t.

*l t t th t t t
*l2ew2k *təwk- taγam tig the:gam ta:ma tam tegama
*l2ow2k *tok- toγäj togej
*dləngh 129 *tənqer *tɨŋeλ *tɨŋgɨl tokar-du
*pl2H2-m *phat- battop fatap

PIE 196 *dlongh 'long' => PY *tənqer 'high'

lake *təwgh 130 taγ te:g tegan
123
PIE is probably *sHelk according to Yeniseian.
124
The data in Kott, Arin and Pumpokol is contaminated by the turcic word *čegar.
125
126
Starostin considers this word a Turcic loanword from PT *dal 'willow'. Yeniseian phonetics is not perfect.
127
The relationship with PIE *leHu 'stone' is not clear. Another possibility is *lig 'wood', Latin lignus, assuming
that mountains bear forests.
128
Cf. Uralic *ñida 'fasten, tie'.
129
The contact of two phonemes *d-*l has the same reflect as the original monophonemic *dl.
The PIE liquid *l /dhl/ in Yeniseian
This consonant is reflected by PY *ɬ.

*l *ɬ ø ø d' ø d
*l3ow2bh *ɬojphe ʌ: ʌ:hp d'ipi ipoŋ dɨpun
*l3ow2-s *ɬo:k ok ʌ:k d'oga

PIE 690 *l3ew2bh 'leaf' => PY *ɬojph 'leaf, лиcт'
PIE 692 *l3ew2-s 'louse' => PY *ɬo:-k 'louse, nit''

mouse ɬu:t 131 u:t u:t d'uta ute
egg, roe ɬen 132 εˀŋ eŋ d'anan aŋ tańaŋ anaŋ
The PIE rhotic *r in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *r.

*r *r λ r r rø r
w1erg *berg bε:ri bε:ht' ba- pi
*gurHe *kärHet kʌλit kʌlat u-kurii
*H1esr *sur 133 śuλ sur šur sur
*sku:r *gur- uλeś 134 ures ur kur ur
*perero *pir 135 biλ bi:hr pil pa-ta
*H2er *ar aλ ar a:r-u
*bherH *phurH 136 hɨˀλ fɨˀl fur
*per- *puˀr bu:λ bul pul pil pulaŋ
*per- *puˀror bu:λoλ bulol proroŋ
*puH2r *poˀr al-polat phalla
*kor *kor ka:λi ka:hr hali kel
*gwer1 *ker kar

PIE 1168 *w1erg 'do, work' => PY ber-(g)- 'do, дeлaть'
PIE 474 *gwerH 'to swallow' => PY *kärHed 'throat, гopлo'
PIE 343 *H1esr 'blood' => PY *sur 'blood, кpoвь'
PIE 597 *s-ku:r 'shower' => PY *gur 'rain, дoждь'
PIE 810 *perero 'far' => PY *pir 'far'
PIE 55 *H2er 'craft, art' => PY *ar 'cunning, xитpый'
PIE *bherH 137 'bright' => PY *phuˀr 'fine (weather)'
PIE 823 *persnâ 'heel' => PY *puˀr 'foot'
130
The connection with PIE 653 *lak/lok is unclear. Cf. Uralic Mans tor 'lake'.
131
The connection with PIE 367 *gel 'mouse' is possible but unclear.
132
The connection with Uralic *meren 'fish roe' is not clear.
133
This word is the zero grade of *H1sr > *sur.
134
The root is suffixed by -ˀes 'sky'.
135
Another possibility is that Yeniseian is based on *perˀero > *piˀλ.
136
Yeniseian reflects the zero grade *bhrH > *phurH.
137
According to Yeniseian, the laryngeal must be H2.
PIE 823 *persnâ 'heel' => PY *puˀror 'stockings, чулoк'
PIE 842 *puH2er 'child' => PY *poˀr 'child'
PIE 615 *kor 'war' => PY *kor 'war'

sweet 138 phiHλ 139 hi:λ fiˀr fil
sweet pheHλ hiλaŋ foraŋ falaŋ pala
door (g)elx- 140 εllə εrfox elxan
The PIE rhotic *r2 in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by /ˀ/ or /r/.

*r2 *rˀ ˀ ˀ ˀr ø ø ø
w
*g r2et-s *kərˀt kɨˀt kɨˀt ki:r ki
*ker2- *kerˀt kεˀt kεˀt hit kit kit hit
*ker2s *kurˀs 141 kuˀs kuˀs huš kus kus
*s-ker2- girˀ ʌˀl / ʌt ʌˀl / ʌt kere
*gher2- *qurˀs 142 quˀś xuˀs hus hu hu
*ǩer2 *cerˀŋe tə:ŋə tə:ŋ heŋai qagaŋ
*ǩer2 *cirˀ tɨˀ čɨˀ
*bher2 *phurˀn huˀn fuˀn fun pun
*bher2 *phurˀph hɨˀp fɨˀp fup

PIE 577 *ker2- '(young) man' => PY *kerˀt 'man'
PIE 583 *ker2s- 'run' => PY *kurˀs 'horse'
PIE 933 *s-ker2 'jump' => PY *girˀ 'frog'
PIE 442 *gher2 'enclose, garden' => PY *qurˀs 'house, tent'
The PIE velar *g in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by *g.

*g *g ø øx ø -g k ø ø
w1erg *ber- bε:ri bε:ht' ba- pi
*bhow2g *pho:gem hom fom fu:gam puma
*H1ogn *jogan ʌ:n ʌxan augan-
*gewr *gewr- uλeś 143 ures ur kur ur
138
Also describes 'saft' or 'sweet mass under birch bark'.
139
A connection with PIE 793 *peiH 'fat, milch' seems possible.
140
Cf. Kartvelian *ḳar 'door'.
141
This word is based on the zero grade : *krˀs > *kurˀs > *kuˀs.
142
This word is based on the zero grade *ghrs > *qurs > *quˀs. Cf. Germanic *hu:s 'house'.
143
The root is suffixed by -ˀes 'sky'.
*gewr *gewr- uλtu ul u:ra kur ur-ga
*gel1 *guλ uλan
*s-ker2- *gorˀ ʌˀl ʌˀl kere
*gwel1 *guλ u:λ ur u:l kul ul ul
144
*gwel1 *guλəŋ uλəŋ urɨŋ
*gew2- *gew2-s u:ś u:s kuši

PIE 1168 w1erg 'do, work' => PY ber-(g)- 'do, дeлaть'
PIE 152 *bhew2g 'pliable' 145 => PY * pho:gem 'soft, мягкий'
PIE 293 *H1ogn 'fire' => PY jogan- 'boil'
PIE 597 *s-ku:r 'shower' => PY *gur 'rain, дoждь' ; *gur- 'wet, влaжний'
PIE 365 *gel1 'freeze' => PY *guλ 'hoar-frost'
PIE 933 *s-ker2 'jump' => PY *gorˀ 'frog'
PIE 471 *gwel1 'to flow, drip' => PY *guλ 'water, вoдa'
PIE 471 *gwel1 'to flow, drip' => PY *guλəŋ 'saliva, cлюнa'
PIE 399 *gew2 'glowing coals' => PY *gew2-s 'warm'

boat 146 tig ti: ti: tej taj tɨg
nose olgu 147 olɨn olɨn arquj
two gɨn ɨn ɨn i:na kina hineaŋ
sun gig/hig- 148 i: i e:ga hixem
spring gɨ: ɨ:ŕi ɨ:ht ɨ:ji kej
sleep (g)us uśen usan uča kus utu
six ag 149 a: a: ɨga aggiaŋ
perch tug tʌˀ tʌˀ tou tuga
long (g)uq- 150 ug-də ug-də ui u-ta
birch gu:s 151 uś u:hs u:ća kus uta
crane gem imi kem
cut phegh 152 haγej fagej päk
deep phog hoRu fo:hx fo:ge
The PIE velar *ğ in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by *ž.

*ğ *ž dt dt čj j d j
*eğo 153 *ež a:t at aj aj ad aj
*keH2ğ *qeˀž 154 qaˀt xaˀt hei qaj jexat hejaŋ
144
The word hujuŋ does not correspond cleanly.
145
146
The connection is with PIE 271 *dheugh is unclear. Cf. Kartvelian *ćeḳa 'boat'.
147
This word must be a loan-word because the Yeniseian words hardly match.
148
A connection with Turcic *gün seems possible.
149
The connection with PIE *s(w)eks is all the more venturesome as Yeniseian forms do not correspond. Cf.
Kartvelian *eksw 'six'.
150
Cf. Uralic *kawka 'long'.
151
Cf. Uralic *kojwa 'birch', although the voiced initial in Yeniseian is a stumbling-block.
152
This item nearly reflects PIE 115 *bhegh 'to break'.
153
This word most probably did not have any consonantal initial.
154
This initial is irregular and reflects *gheH2ğ.
*ğen *žeˀŋ 155 dεˀŋ d'εˀŋ čeäŋ

PIE 517 *keH2ğ 'goat, coat' => PY *qaˀž 'overcoat'

rib uλaž 156 uλet uλet ulaj
sable (h)eiğ ε:ŕi ε:ht hija hiju
pike qu:ğ qu:də xu:ht' hu:ja quj kod'u huja
child ğə:λ 157 dɨ:λ dɨl d'al k'al 158 kola
The PIE velar *k in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *k.

*k *k k k hg k k hg
*ker2- *keˀt kεˀt kεˀt hit kit kit hit
*kr2s *kuˀs kuˀs kuˀs huš kus kus
*l2əw2k *täk- taγam tig the:gam ta:ma tam tegama
*l2ow2k *tok- toγäj togej
*kol1p *kolop halap
*ker *keˀr ka:λi ka:hr hali kel
*H2enk *(a)ŋket (uλ-)git 159 (uλ-)git -xat-
*penkwe *kunk ko:Re ku:hx haŋkan
*keǩsa *keˀs kiˀś kiˀs kačoga
*kəmbr1- *kəmər- kamur kamar

PIE 577 *ǩer2- '(young) man' => PY *keˀt 'man'
PIE 583 *ǩer2s 'run' => PY *kuˀs 'horse'
PIE 923 *skel1-p : Germanic *half => PY *kolop 'half'
PIE 615 *kor 'war' => PY *keˀr 'war' 160
PIE 45 *H2enk 'to bend ; elbow' => PY *aŋket 'elbow'
PIE 808 *penkwe 'five' => PY *kunk(w)- 'fist' 161
PIE 611 *koǩsa 'foot, hip, etc' => PY *keˀs 'foot, ankle'

winter 162 ko:t kə:ti kə:t ke:ti kotə
155
It seems probable that *žeˀŋ reflect a reduplicated *ğeğn-.
156
It can be analysed as 'body part *-až of the side *uλ'.
157
Cf. Turcic *ogul 'son'. Cf. Germanic *kil- > English child.
158
Arin and Pumpokol may be contaminated by the word for 'grandchild' PY qar.
159
The first component *uλ means 'bone'
160
Yeniseian has a laryngeal which is not reflected in PIE.
161
From the zero grade as in Germanic *fust 'fist'.
162
Cf. Uralic *konta 'cold, freeze' > Yenets koddi 'to freeze'.
trough 163 səˀk śɨˀk sɨˀk
twenty eˀk eˀk eˀk
P2 thou k k u:k k ajaŋ
foot sole kass kassat hačar
beak kuph ku:p kup
neck 164 kəqt kə:qt-i kəxtɨ agantan
The PIE velar *ǩ in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *c.

*ǩ *c t č h q h
*ǩeH1s *ce:se tε:śi če:hs he:či qisɨŋ
*ǩer2 *cerˀŋe tə:ŋə čə:ŋ heŋai qagaŋ xɨŋa
*ǩr2H *cərˀ tɨˀ čɨˀ
*ǩuH1 *cäj-q tiγ 165 či:g te:g hite tɨg
*neǩ *onco 166 onxa/onka inqo

Germanic *s-ko:haz 'shoe' => PY *ce:se 'shoe'
PIE 416 *ğhdhuH1 'fish' => PY *cäj-q 'fish'
PIE 762 *neǩ 'dead' => PY *onco 'dead'

husband če(n)t 167 te:t čet hat kintej 168 ils-et 169
spoon xalpen kɨlphan hapi
arm 170 ǩen 171 kεn he:nar qinaŋ
sharp aǩ 172 e:t e:t e:ti
The PIE velar *gh in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *q.

*gh *q q -γ- x -g- h -g- k k xh
*dhew2 *dewq 173 duγ- dug- tug- t'u dukar tu
*ghoHw2 *qow qo: xo ho:pi 174 xoboj
*ghoHw2l1 *qoλ qoλet xoλat hol qoλoŋ holan
163
A trough for dough, нoвeчкa.
164
Cf. Uralic *koŋk 'throat'.
165
Ket and Yug means 'snake' but the phonetic is perfect.
166
This root is different from *qo- 'die'.
167
The relationship with PIE 566 *ǩen-s 'to proclaim' is not impossible : 'proclaimed' > 'engaged' > 'married'.
168
This form does not have the expected /q/ as initial and has an extra -n-.
169
Ils means 'woman'.
170
Yeniseian has the following meanings : shoulder-joint, arm, shoulder.
171
A connection with PIE *konH1- 'bone, leg' is not impossible. Cf. Uralic *kenar 'elbow, arm'.
172
A relationship with PIE 48 H2eǩ 'sharp' is difficult because of the laryngeal initial : Yeniseian has no H2.
173
Yeniseian reflects a suffixed *dhw2-gh- with zero grade. The suffix must be a Yenisseian innovation,
otherwise an inherited *dhw2-gh- would be *tw2-gh-.
174
This form is probably suffixed the same way as xoboj.
*dheigh *t_q 175 tuγ-it təx thagar tɨk
*ghym *qim- kinčidin
*dlongh *tənqer tɨŋeλ tɨŋgɨl tokar-du
*gheigh *qoyqro qʌ:λ xʌxul ogar 176
*ghel1 *qoλ qoλet

*ghodh *qoqd qogdi xogdi ho:ri kute
*ghei-s *qoybəč qʌjbeś xəjbεt hajpičaŋ
*gher2- *quˀs 177 quˀś xuˀs hus hu hukut
*H2igh *iq iˀ i:h i:g ji i
*H2egh *ˀqoŋ 178 qoŋ xo:hŋ xagalɨ xaŋg-
*ghdhoyes *q(od)es qodeś kisoŋ hončig 179 kanži
*egh *eq 180 aq ax
*g oys-dh
h
*qos qośεd xośed
*bhoH2-k *p oˀq 181
h
hoˀq foˀx fo:k
*penkwe *qenk qa:k xak xe:gä qaga xej-
*kogh- *qok-d qogdəm xoksl xoxdamon

PIE 261 *dhow2- 'smoke' => PY *du-q 'smoke, дым'
PIE 449 *ghoH2w2 'yawn, gape' => PY *qow 'mouth, poт'
PIE 449 *ghoH2w2l2 'yawn, gape' => PY *qoλ 'cheek, щëкa'
PIE 449 *dheigh 'knead clay' => PY *tuq '(smear with) clay'
PIE 449 *ghei-m 'winter' => PY *qim- 'cold' 182
PIE 356 *geig-ros 183 'bitter' => PY *qoyqro 'bitter, гopкий'
PIE 436 *ghel1 'jaw' => PY qoλ 'cheek'
PIE 423 *ghedh 'good' ; Slavic *god 'year' => PY *qoqd 'automn'
PIE 427 *ghei-s 'fear or amazement' => PY *qʌj- 'angry'
PIE 442 *gher2 'enclose, garden' => PY *quˀs 'house'
PIE 442 *H2egh 'day' => PY *iq 'day'
PIE 442 *H2egh 'day' => PY *qoŋ 'daylight, sun'
PIE 442 *ghdheyes 'yesterday' => PY *qodes 'yesterday'
PIE 427 *ghoi-s-dh 'ghost' => PY *qosed 'witch, she-devil' 184
*bheH2-k : Latin faeces => PY *phoˀq 'defecate'
PIE 808 *penkwe 'five' => PY *qenkwe- 'five'
PIE 518 *kaghlo 'pebble, hail' => PY *qok-d- 'hail' 185

comb 186 tuqən 187 tuγuń tugɨn thun ten
175
Yeniseian vocalism is unclear.
176
The word leo-xoxar 'bladder' cannot be listed here.
177
This word is based on the zero grade *ghrs > *qurs > *quˀs. Cf. Germanic *hu:s 'house'.
178
The initials do not correspond regularly, maybe because of the presence of *ˀ.
179
Hončig and kanži can be analysed as hon- 'dark' -šik 'night'.
180
Yeniseian is from *egh not *eğh.
181
182
Quite strangely, PY for winter is *ke:t unrelated to *ghei.
183
The data listed there are mixed up. The forms meaning bitter are better reconstructed *gheigh.
184
Both PIE and Yeniseian also mean 'to be afraid'.
185
Yeniseian reflects a metathetic *kogh >*ghok.
bark 188 qəˀw 189 qɨˀj xɨˀj hi:pal
side qoλap qoλap xolap kolpar
night siq śiγ si šig saj
pike qu:ğ qu:də xu:ht' hu:ja quj kod'u huja
fathom qan qa:ń xan hen
word qaˀg qaˀ xa: xe:g
woman qim/qam qi:m xim qam (h)em
wide qäjgaλ 190 qi:λ xe:λ hi:gal
ten qo:-g/ğ 191 qo: xo ha:ga hioga xajaŋ
star qoˀ 192 qoˀ xo:hx al-aga il-koj kaken
road qə:k 193 qɨ:k xɨk hek
road qoˀt qoˀt xoˀt kat koat
bridle qu:nda ku:nda- qonda
prince qə:j qɨ:j hi:ji bi-khej
one quˀ- 194 qu:ś xus hu:ča khuzej xuta
alone qoˀ- qoˀk xoˀk hu:piga
mountain qaˀj- 195 qaˀj xaˀj xe:- -haj ko-
big qεˀ 196 qεˀ xεˀ hi:- xääse
boat 197 qaˀp qaˀp xaˀp xep
bow qəˀ- 198 qɨˀt qɨˀt' hi: qoj kaj
branch (j)ə:q 199 ə:Rə ə:x o:ge jaxi
fire qo:t 200 qot xot hat ko:t
overcoat qaˀğ qaˀt xaˀt hei qaj hejaŋ
cough qaqtem 201 qaqtəm xaxtem hatam
die qo- 202 qo- xo- ho- ka-
dry qojw- 203 to-Raiŋ to-xoiŋ xuj-ga qoija ič-koj-ga xuj-ga
duck to:q 204 to:Rə to:hx al-thax
eagle teq diˀ diˀ tage
elk qa:j- qa:ji xa:hj o-kä-ši koja xaju
empty qew- qu:jə xu:hj hui
The PIE velar *ğh in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *kh.
186
A connection is possible with PIE 1014 *steg or stegh that denote sticks, stakes, etc.
187
Werner's reconstruction *thugən with -g- is inadequate.
188
A relationship between PIE 951 *s-kuH1- 'skin' and PY *qɨˀj 'birch-bark, бepëcтa' is phonetically impossible.
189
Werners' reconstruction *qɨˀj- should be preferred to *xɨˀw. Kot hi:pal may be *qəˀj + pal (< PIE *pel 'skin' ?).
190
Cf. Uralic *kiljä/kolja 'wide'.
191
Cf. Uralic Khanty *kaγer 'handful'.
192
Cf. Uralic *ku(n)ć 'star'. It cannot be PIE 495 *ghwoigw 'star'.
193
Cf. Uralic Mordovian ki 'road' although it has no other Uralic cognate.
194
Cf. Uralic *ikte/ükte 'one'. Mans does not display the dental suffix : ük, ak 'one'.
195
Cf. Uralic *kaða 'mountain'. Samoyedic *kuˀ 'mountain'.
196
A connection with PIE 454 *ghreH1- 'to grow' is possible, if a variant form *gherH1- is accepted.
197
A boat made with birch bark. Cf. Germanic *skipam and Khant xa:p.
198
Cf. Uralic *kaŋa 'bow'.
199
Cf. Uralic *(š)aŋga 'branch'.
200
Cf. Uralic *küči 'to burn' or (probably better) *korta 'to burn'.
201
Most probably onomatopeic. Cf. Germanic *kokh.
202
The word *onko 'dead' is another root.
203
Cf. Uralic *kujwa 'dry'.
204
Cf. English duck from Germanic *dukjan 'dive'.
*ğh *kh k k h k x x
*ğhr-s h
*k uλH- ku:λe ku:λ hulup korolep xlepuk xulu:p
*ğhe *kho- ka- ka- ha- xa-
*ğhi *khi- ki- ki-
*iğhdhe *igde igde igdej

PIE 445 *ğher-s 'bristle' => PY *khuλH- 'beard' 205
PIE 418 *ğhe 'enclitic particle' => PY *khe/i- 'here, there, this, etc.'
The PIE labio-velar *gw in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *k.

*gw *k k k k k
*gured *käred kʌλit kʌlat u-kurii
*gwər2d *kərˀt kɨˀt kɨˀt ki:r ki
*gwel *keλ- kar ken kar
*gwer1 *ker kar

PIE 474 *gwer 'to swallow' => PY *käred 'throat, гopлo'
PIE 365 *gwel1-bh 'womb' => PY *keλ 'vulva' 206

soup uˀ-g/kw 207 uˀk uˀk uk
The PIE labio-velar *kw in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by PY *k(u).

*kw *k k k kg kg kg
*ǩuH2on *kuən ku:n ku:hn kun
*ǩukH2on *kuqən kʌ:n kʌxɨn agan
*keku *kek hikeiše kak xagam-
*kw(o)y- *k(o)y-n- kʌˀn kʌˀn kin-
*penkwe *qenk qa:k xak xe:gä qaga xej-
*pənkw *qunk ko:Re ku:hx haŋkan
*sekw *sek sag- sag- ćag-

PIE 632 *ǩwon 208 'dog' => PY *kuən 'wolverine'
PIE 632 *ǩwon 'dog' => PY *kughən 'fox, lynx' 209
205
PY reflects the zero grade. Cf. Latin hirsutus.
206
This is only possible if -bh is dealt with as a suffix, not as a part of the root.
207
Cf. PIE 1118 *wegw 'wet'.
208
On account of Yeniseian, the PIE reconstruction must be emended into *kuγon.
209
A reduplicated form *kukγən > *kughən > *kəqən.
PIE 775 *ôku 'hawk' => PY *keku 'owl, hawk' 210
PIE 628 *kwoi 'white, shining' => PY *koy-n- 'light, dawn'
PIE 808 *penkwe 'five' => PY *qenkwe- 'five'
PIE 808 *penkwe 'five' => PY *qunk(w)- 'fist' 211
The PIE labio-velar *ghw in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected by *k(u).

*ghw *ku k k k
*ghweH2 *kuˀt kuˀt ku:ra kura
*H2enghwi *aŋkui onxoi ankoj

PIE 489 *ghweH2 'thread' => PY *kuˀt 'cord, belt, пoяcoк'
PIE 43 *H2enghwi 'snake' => PY *aŋkui 'snake'
The PIE laryngeal *H1 in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected in Yeniseian as *j.
This laryngeal H1 probably was a velar or pharyngeal fricative */x/ or */ḥ/.

*H1 *j j j j j j
*w1eH1 *bej be:j bej pe:j paj baj
*neH1 *iˀn 212 iˀn iˀn in in
*H1es *jes/jis i:ś i:s i:či is
*yenH1 *yenH1 εń ε:hń ani än
*dheH1 *tejn ten teŋul den
*dhoH1 *tojq 213 tʌga tʌga tike
*H2enH1- *anjto atto atto athol ejtol atol
*H1ednt *ji:t it i:ht iti itin
*dhe(H1) *di(j) dij di

PIE 373 *yenH1-ter 'wife of the husband's brother' => PY *yeni 'son/daughter-in-law'
PIE 287 *H1ednt- 'tooth' => PY *ji:t 'tooth' 214
PIE 243 *dhe(H1)- 'to put' => PY *di(j) 'to put' 215
These words do not seem to have H1 as initial :
210
Kot means 'owl' and Pumpokol is xagam-kolka 'owl'.
211
From the zero grade as in Germanic *fust 'fist'.
212
The presence of a glottal stop is strange as the PIE root definitely has H1 (reflected by i) not H2. Yenisseian
seems to have undergone a metathesis : *neH1 > *nej > *ejn.
213
This is the equivalent of *dhoH1-gha with deaspiration of *dh.
214
The word 'eat' *doq may also derive from this root but it display no *j < H1 in the radical.
215
Yeniseian does not seem to have H1, otherwise **tej would be expected.
*eğo *ež a:t at aj aj ad aj
*egh *eq 216 aq ax
*el *ej e:j ej ei aja ej

These words seem to have H1 preserved as /h/ :

go (h)ej- 217 e:jeŋ ejiŋ hejaŋ
drink (h)egw t'a:gur hokoj
Words with unclear correspondences :

wood 218 haˀx / aˀq aˀq aˀx a:x oo hoxon
tent pole (h)äg 219 ʌŋn ʌŋńiŋ hagi:ni
outside (h)ojr ʌλa ʌrej hili
nose (h)aŋ aŋ aŋ haŋ
name i(x) 220 i: i ix i
meadow o:g 221 u: ou o:x 222
male əˀq ɨγ ɨˀk ig au

belt (h)exta 223 axtaŋ hi:te:g ittä ekta
breathe iˀr 224 iˀλ i:r
ear okt- 225 ogde ogd- utken atkin
good (h)aq- aq-ta ax-ta hag-ši ekte-
The PIE laryngeal *H2 in Yeniseian

This consonant is reflected in Yeniseian as *ˀ internally.
Word-initially the situation is made more complicated because assuming only one value /ˀ/
does not account for Anatolian having both <ḫ> and <ø> for H2. Yeniseian is not the place to
address this issue. We shall uncommittingly avoid writing any glottal initial in PY.
Phonotactical results in Yeniseian suggest two values for H2 as is shown by the reduplicated
form of the word 'dog' *ǩwH2on > *kukγən > *kughən > *kəqən instead of **kugən, which
would be the expected result of -k-ˀ- > *g.

*H2 *(ˀ)
H2ew1 *ob o:p op o:p ap ab
*bhuH2 *päˀj haˀj faˀj fej (im-)phaj pɨ pej
216
Yeniseian is from *egh not *eğh.
217
Cf. PIE 293 H1ej 'to go'.
218
Cf. Kartvelian *cxweḳ 'firewood'.
219
Cf. Uralic *ulke 'pole'.
220
Cf. Kartvelian *źax 'name'.
221
Cf. Uralic *aća-k 'meadow, valley'.
222
Arin also has jujuŋ 'grass' and Ket has oγə 'floodable low-land'.
223
This word is a probable compound. Cf. Uralic *kić 'belt, knot'.
224
A derivation from PIE *H2enH1- is not impossible : PY *ãj- > *ej > i:
225
Any connection with PIE 606 *ǩleu 'to hear' and 785 *ous 'ear' is unclear.
*H2ey- *e:te 226 εte ε:ht e:ti atie atodu etutu
*H2əpəl *əpəl ɨ:λ ɨfɨl i:pal
*ghweH2 *kuˀt kuˀt ku:ra kura
*H2er *ar aλ ar a:r-u
*H2igh *iq iˀ i:h i:g ji
*H2od 227 *aˀd 228 aˀt aˀt ar-
*H2enH1- *anjto atto atnto athol ejtol atol
*bhoH2-k *phoˀq 229 hoˀq foˀx fo:k
*ǩuˀən *ǩuqən kʌ:n kʌxɨn agan
*H2eks- *aks akś ač-
*teH2 *ta-s- ta-seŋ -tes -ta-

PIE 89 *H2ew1- 'male elder relative' => PY ob 'father, oтeц'
PIE 146 *bhuH2 230 'to grow, a plant' => PY *päˀj 'cedar, кeдp'
PIE 17 *H2ey(w) 'to live' => PY *e:te 'alive, живoй'
PIE 489 *ghweH2 'thread' => PY *kuˀt 'cord, belt, пoяcoк'
PIE 55 *H2er 'craft, art' => PY *ar 'cunning, xитpый'
PIE 442 *H2egh 'day' => PY *iq 'day' 231
PIE 783 *Host- 'bone' => PY *aˀd 'bone'
Latin faeces < *bheH2-k => PY *phoˀk 'defecate'
PIE 632 *ǩwon 'dog' => PY *kughən 'fox, lynx' 232
PIE 4 *H2eks- 'shoulder' => PY *aks-aˀd 'shoulder-blade'
PIE 1004 *steH2- 'stand up' => PY *ta-s 'to stand up' 233
• Grassman's Law in Yeniseian
There are examples of aspiration being lost in Yeniseian vocabulary. PIE *dh (=PY *d) was
changed into *t when an aspirate was the next or preceding phoneme. :
- PIE 174 *bhudh 'bottom' => PY *phätim 'low, нижний'
- PIE 449 *dheigh 'knead clay' => PY *tuq '(to smear with) clay, глинa'
- PIE 242 *dheH1- 'breast, milk' => PY *tej-n 'nipple, milk'
- PIE 242 *dheH1- 'breast, milk' => PY *tojq 'breast'
Nevertheless, another example is :

PIE 423 *ghedh : Slavic *god 'year, time' => PY *qoqd 'autumn'
Maybe two roots have to be distinguished : *ghedh 'fitting, good' and *ged 'time, season'.
Some remarquable forms are :

- Ket qodeś 'yesterday' < *ghdhoyes and Yug kis-oŋ < *ghys-,
- Ket kʌˀn 'light' < *kwoyn and Kot kin < *kwin,
- PY *boyss- < *w1oydh-s- as in Germanic *woydh-s > German Waise 'orphan'.
All these precise phenomena bear testimony to the Indo-European character of Yeniseian.
226
Cf. Latin aetat-es for the same formation. There is no -w- in either Latin nor Yeniseian.
227
This root is hence to be reconstructed as *H2od-t- > *H2ost-.
228
On account of Anatolian ḫastai, this root cannot have been *ˀad- in the earliest stage of PIE.
229
230
There is some controversy about the laryngeal being H2 or H1, Yeniseian has H2.
231
This item reflects either *H1egh or *H2igh.
232
A reduplicated form *kukγən > *kughən > *kəqən.
233
They cannot result from borrowing.
• PIE vowels in Yeniseian
We propose the following system for PY :

- front : *a, *e and *i,
- central : *ä (< PIE *u) and *ə, a fluidifying vowel,
- back : *o and *u.
The *e grade :

*CeC *e a a a a a a
*el *e e e e a a e
*H1e *ji i: i: i: i
*H2e *a a a a
*eH1 *e: eε e e i e
*eH2 *aˀ aˀ aˀ a
*ey *e: ε ε: e: a a e
*ye *ye ε ε: a ä
*ew2 *ew u u u u u u
*eP *eP o o o a a
*enC *anC a: a ae ea e a
The *o grade :

*CoC *o o o o u u
*o-H/l *oj ʌ ʌ i i i
*H1o *jo ʌ: ʌ au
*oy *oy ʌ / ʌj ʌ / əj o / aj a a
*H2o *a a a a
*ow2 *o: o o ou u o
*on *on ʌn ʌn u e
The zero grade :

*ə is probably not a phoneme but an allophone of *e when unstressed.

*ṛ / ḷ *ur/ul u: u: u o u
*ṇ *ən o: u: an in an
*ṃ *əm u u u u u
*CəC *ə ɨ ɨ i: i ɨ i
*Cw2C *u u u u u u
The vowel PIE *u :

This vowel behaves differently from PIE *w2 > PY *u.
At least two words 'fish' and 'cedar' have PIE *u as vowel.
We use the symbol <ä> in order to make it different from both *u and *ə. Apparently, PIE *u
got delabialised in Proto-Yeniseian into something close to /ʌ/.

*u *ä ʌ ʌ a u ɨ
*uH1 *äj i i: e: i ɨ
*uH2 *ä a a e a ɨ e
The vowel *i :
Most examples seem to be *e in phonotaxis with *s.

*i *i i i i i i i
• The phonological value of the graphemes
As we have stated in the introduction, the graphemic representation of PIE is notorious for
displaying an impossible set of features : voiced, voiceless and voiced aspirate. It has been
suggested that the voiced graphemes were standing for underlying glottalic phonemes and
that the voiced aspirate were standing for plain voiced. Yeniseian refutes that premise.
As regards the labials, *bh cannot stand for */b/ because the two phonemes */b/ and */w/
fused in most Indo-European languages into *w1/2 but Yeniseian has kept them apart.
The second point is the velars : the opposition between *ğ and *g probably reflects */g/ and
*/kˀ/. But this cannot be discussed here. PIE *d probably stands for both */d/ and */tˀ/.
As regards the voiced aspirate, Yeniseian provides contradictory indications about their
possible phonetic identification. *bh seems to stand for an aspirated sound PY *ph. *dh stands
for a voiced sound PY *d. And *gh seems to be unvoiced PY *q. *ğh is reflected by an
unvoiced set of Yeniseian phonemes that is nevertheless different from the set of phonemes
that stands for PIE *k.
The phonological status of the voiced aspirate remains rather enigmatic. Our point of view is
that the voiced aspirate *bh, *dh, *gh *ğh probably were not phonemes, but the real phonemes
(voiced, unvoiced and glottalized) combined with another feature. Maybe pre-nasalisation
makes sense. This happened in modern Greek -mp- > b. Maybe the voiced aspirate
graphemes are to be interpreted as prenasalized phonemes.
• Conclusion
More than one hundred twenty words shared by Yeniseian languages consistently derive
from Indo-European roots with perfectly regular correspondences. We are confident that a
careful analysis of the vocabulary of each Yeniseian language will bring a new harvest of
Indo-European cognates.
We consider that the provisional list of cognates provided in this article is sufficient to
establish that Yeniseian is to be considered Indo-European.
The standard phonological model of PIE requires a slight overhaul as regards *l and *r which
have to be distinguished into five phonemes on account of Yeniseian lexical evidence.
Bibliographie
Starostin, Sergej, 1982, 'Prajenisejskaja rekonstruktsija i vnešnije cviazi jenisejkih jazykov' in Ketskij Sbornik
v3, Saint-Petersburg, Nauka, p.144-237,
Werner, Heinrich, 1994, Das Klassensystem in den Jenisej-Sprachen, Wiesbaden, Harrassowitz,
Werner, Heinrich, 1998, 'Reconstructing Proto-Yeniseian' in Mother Tongue 4, p17-26,
Werner, Heinrich, 2002, Vergleichendes Wörterbuch der Jenisej Sprachen (3 vol.), Wiesbaden, Harrassowitz,
www.starling.rinet.ru

Proto Yenisseian

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Are the Yeniseian languages Indo-European ?

• The Yeniseian languages

From a basic descriptive point of view, Proto-Indo-European (PIE) is a set of graphemes,

• The reconstruction of proto-Yeniseian

• The list of PIE cognates in Yeniseian

The following PIE roots are represented in Yeniseian vocabulary.

The PIE labial *b in Yeniseian

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

This correspondence is based on the following items :

The PIE labial *p in Yeniseian

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

This correspondence is based on the following items :

This pattern is exhibited by other examples with no clear PIE connections.

sweet 13 phiHλ 14 hi:λ fiˀr fil

The PIE labial *bh in Yeniseian

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

This pattern is exhibited by other examples with no clear PIE connections.

Meaning PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

The PIE labial *w1 in Yeniseian

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

This correspondence is based on the following items :

This pattern is exhibited by other examples with no clear PIE connections.

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

The PIE labial *w2 in Yeniseian

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

This pattern is exhibited by other examples with no clear PIE connections.

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

The PIE labial *m in Yeniseian

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

This correspondence is based on the following items :

This pattern is exhibited by other examples with no clear PIE connections.

Meaning PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

The PIE dental *d in Yeniseian

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

This correspondence is based on the following items :

This pattern is exhibited by other examples with no clear PIE connections.

Meaning PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

The PIE dental *t in Yeniseian

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

This correspondence is based on the following items :

This pattern is exhibited by other examples with no clear PIE connections.

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

The PIE dental *dh in Yeniseian

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

This correspondence is based on the following items :

This pattern is exhibited by other examples with no clear PIE connections.

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

The PIE dental *n in Yeniseian

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

This correspondence is based on the following items :

This pattern is exhibited by other examples with no clear PIE connections.

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

The PIE dental *s in Yeniseian

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

This correspondence is based on the following items :

This pattern is exhibited by other examples with no clear PIE connections.

PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

Borrowed correspondence t/č :

PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

The PIE yod *y /j/ in Yeniseian

PIE PY Ket Yug Kot Arin Pumpokol Assan

This correspondence is based on the following items :

The PIE liquid *l /l/ in Yeniseian

ghel1 qoλ qoλet

PIE 291 eğo 'P1, I, me' => PY ež 'P1, I, me'