Reconstruction:Proto-Yoruba/o-ríɣo
Proto-Yoruba
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editThe compounding of the suffix "ɣo" (later "wo") is possibly an Proto-Edekiri innovation still maintained in a majority of Edekiri languages. Proto-Yoruba likely inherited it but the non-suffixed form likely existed side-by-side, see Doublet of *o-rí. A contracted form also likely existed, see *o-óɣo. Proposed to be derived from Proto-Edekiri *o-ríɣo.
Descendant languages also use an e- prefix, which is likely a remnant of an old noun class system where o-/e- prefixes likely related to plurals. This noun class form did not exist in Proto-Yoruboid and thus was long obsolete in Proto-Yoruba, as it is in modern Yoruboid dialects.
Pronunciation
editNoun
edit*o-ríɣo