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STEDT #2154

*b(w)ay

LEFT (HAND)
Proto-Tibeto-Burman

Reconstruction analysis

handlebayinitialbrhymeay~bwaycoverP · W

Intermediate reconstructions

Tangkhulic*joj ‘LEFT SIDE’
Loloish*b-way² ‘LEFT’

Connections

HPTB*bʷay or *b(w)ay ‘left side / lefthand’pp. 61, 211, 214, 219, 510

Notes

This etymon is certainly co-allofamic with #6133 PTB *(p/b)aːy LAME / LIMP / ASKEW, via a set of semantic associations familiar from Western languages, where left-handedness has been regarded as “gauche” or “sinister”.

HPTB pp. 219, 510 ill-advisedly reconstructs an allofam *r-bi(y) to account for Karbi ar-vi, though STC correctly assigns it to the general *b(w)ay etymon.

W.T. French 1983:445 sets up a Proto Northern Naga root *phaːy AFTER (> e.g. Chang pai ‘backwards, behind’), which he also suggests to be related to the notions of LEFT and LAME / LIMP. (See #7190 PNN *pʰaːy AFTER.)

A number of Nungish and Qiangic forms with velar + labial clusters must also reflect this root. If we were to set up an allofam *gway, this would be tantamount to admitting this root into the select company of etyma with *labiovelar initials like DOG, NEST, COMB, TRUMPET, etc.

Chinese comparandum

≠ 左, but add note to refer to comparanda in #6133.

Reflexes & cognates243 reflexes · 29 subgroups

0.1Tibeto-Burman (previously published reconstructions)5

*Tibeto-Burmanbʷay or b(w)ay ‘left side / lefthand’Matisoff 03 HPTB: 585
*Tibeto-Burmanbʷay or b(w)ay ‘left side / lefthand’Mortensen 12 Tk

1.1.2Deng3

Kaman [Miju]kɯ³¹morpheme wɑi⁵³ ‘left’Sun H 80 MLD
Kaman [Miju]kɯ³¹morphemewɑi⁵³ n/adv‘left’Huang and Dai 92 TBL: 0710.23
Kaman [Miju]kɯ³¹morphemewɑi⁵³ ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.48

1.2.1.1Northern Chin3

Kuki-Chinvei◦lammorpheme ‘side (left)’Haokip 98: 1.3
Kuki-Chinvei◦langmorpheme ‘left hand’Haokip 98: 6.1.7.5

1.2.1.2Southern Plains Chin2

Awa Khumivoeu⁴ ‘left (hand)’Luce 85: R.64
Khumi (Ahraing)-vʷɔɪ¹ ‘left (hand)’Luce 85: R.64

1.2.2Central Chin5

Lushai [Mizo]vei-lammorpheme ‘left-hand side’Bhaskararao 96 CDB: 1949
Lushai [Mizo]vei◦lammorpheme ‘left-hand’Marrison 67 Naga

1.2.3Maraic1

Lakher [Mara]²tsəmorpheme³vei ‘left’Weidert 87 TBTo: 225

1.3.1Central Naga (Ao Group)2

Lotha Nagaāyúmorpheme◦wè ‘left-handed’Acharya 75
Lotha Nagahayimorpheme◦we ‘side (left)’Nienu 90 LotQ: 1.3

1.3.2Angami-Pochuri Group7

Angami Naga²themorpheme⁵vi- ‘left’Weidert 87 TBTo: 225
Angami (Khonoma)pemorpheme◦vi◦tsa ‘left-hand’Marrison 67 Naga
Angami (Kohima)(u)morpheme vi⁵⁵ t sa³¹ ‘side (left)’Nienu 90 AngQ: 1.3
Angami (Kohima)(u)morpheme vi⁵⁵ tsa³¹ ‘left hand’Nienu 90 AngQ: 6.1.7.5
Angami (Kohima)themorpheme◦vi◦tsa ‘left-hand’Marrison 67 Naga
Chokri(u)morpheme ve³³ tso³¹ ‘side (left)’Nienu 90 ChoQ: 1.3
Chokri(u)morpheme ve³⁵ tso³¹ ‘left hand’Nienu 90 ChoQ: 6.1.7.5

1.3.4Tangkhulic13

Note the triple Tangkhul allofams in y- ⪤ w- ⪤ ph-.

Huishuʔamorpheme-vue ‘left side’Mortensen 12 Tk
Kachaiʔamorpheme-ji-wamorpheme ‘left side’Mortensen 12 Tk: BodyParts.003
Tangkhulphui kəsiŋəmorpheme ‘left-handed’Matisoff 85 GSTC: 080
Tangkhulphui kəsiŋəmorpheme ‘left-handed’Benedict 72 STC: 47
Tangkhulwui-sóŋ ‘left’Matisoff 85 GSTC: 080
Tangkhulwui-śoŋmorpheme ‘left’Benedict 72 STC: 47
Tangkhulwui◦shong ‘left-hand’Marrison 67 Naga
Tangkhulwuy ‘left (side)’Bhat 69 TNV: 92
Tangkhulyuy ‘left (side)’Bhat 69 TNV: 92
Tangkhulyuy◦paŋ ‘left hand’Matisoff 85 GSTC: 080
Tusomʔəpamorpheme-pa ‘left hand’Mortensen 12 Tk: BodyParts.173

1.4Meithei8

Meitheioi◦rommorpheme ‘left-hand’Marrison 67 Naga
Meitheioy ‘side (left)’Singh 91 MeiQ: 1.3
Meitheioy◦namorpheme ‘left’Abbi 85
Meitheiwoi ‘left-hand’Marrison 67 Naga
Meitheiwoy ‘side (left)’Singh 91 MeiQ: 1.3

1.5Mikir [Karbi]4

Mikir [Karbi]armorpheme◦vi ‘left-hand’Marrison 67 Naga
Mikir [Karbi]armorpheme◦vi ‘left’Matisoff 85 GSTC: 080
Mikir [Karbi]armorpheme◦vi ‘left’Benedict 72 STC: 47
Mikir [Karbi]armorpheme◦vī(ʔ) ‘left’Weidert 87 TBTo: 225

1.6Mru1

Mrutămorpheme◦wɑi¹ ‘left (hand)’Luce 85: R.64

1.7.3.1Jingpho12

Jingphopa̱i³³ ‘left’Liu 84
Jingphopa̱i³³ n/adv‘left’Huang and Dai 92 TBL: 0710.19
Jingphopa̱i³³ ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.47
Jingphoəprefix◦pāi be v.‘awkward / speak with a brogue’Matisoff 85 GSTC: 080
Jingphoəprefix◦pai vs.‘awkward, speak with a brogue’Benedict 72 STC: 47

2.1.1Western Himalayish2

2.1.3Lepcha2

Lepchavi-msuffix ‘left’Matisoff 85 GSTC: 080
Lepchavi-msuffix ‘left’Benedict 72 STC: 47

3.2Qiangic33

Guiqiongwi⁵⁵la⁵⁵morpheme n/adv‘left’Huang and Dai 92 TBL: 0710.16
Muyaʁɐ̱⁵⁵rɐ⁵³morpheme n/adv‘left’Huang and Dai 92 TBL: 0710.15
Muya [Minyak]qho⁵⁵#5364 PTB *kwak ‘BODY / TRUNK’pa⁵³suffixʁɒ³⁵ʐɐ³⁵morpheme ‘side (left)’Sun H 91 MuyQ: 1.3
Muya [Minyak]ʁɐ³⁵ʐɐ³⁵morpheme ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.15
Namuyija³³ta³³morpheme ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.19
Namuyija³³ta³¹morpheme n/adv‘left’Huang and Dai 92 TBL: 0710.46
Pumi (Qinghua)uɑ¹³ ‘left (hand)’Lu 83 Pumi
Pumi (Taoba)we⁵⁵ tɕʰye⁵³morpheme ‘left’Lu 83 Pumi
Pumi (Taoba)we⁵⁵tɕhye⁵³morpheme ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.10
Qiang (Longxi)límorpheme zɨ́morpheme ʁuá ‘left (hand)’Evans 99 Qiang: 1045
Qiang (Mawo)ʁuaʴ ‘left’Sun H 81 Qia
Qiang (Mawo)ʁuɑʴ χimorpheme ‘side (left)’Sun H 91 MawQ: 1.3
Qiang (Mianchi)guì ~ guí ‘upside down, inverted (=left (hand))’Evans 99 Qiang: 1446
Qiang (Taoping)χgy³³ ‘left’Sun H 81 Qia
Qiang (Yadu)ʁuæ xʂemorpheme ‘left’Dai 89 Qian: 1045
Queyu (Yajiang) [Zhaba]wa³⁵ɕã⁵⁵morpheme ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.16
Queyu (Yajiang) [Zhaba]zu³⁵#4 PTB *g-zuk ‘BODY’ pu⁵³morpheme wa³⁵ ɕã⁵⁵morpheme ‘side (left)’Sun H 91 ZhaQ: 1.3
Xumijæ³³ (li⁵⁵morpheme) n/adv‘left’Huang and Dai 92 TBL: 0710.17
Xumili³³morpheme pu⁵⁵morpheme ʑɛ⁵⁵ zi⁵⁵morpheme ‘side (left)’Sun H 91 ShiQ
Xumiʑɛ³³zi⁵⁵morpheme ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.20

3.3.1rGyalrong3

rGyalrongkaprefix wi ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.12
rGBenzhenkeprefix-vi-laʔmorpheme ‘left’Sun J 97 rGB

6.1.1Burmish27

Burmese (Modern)-wai⁴ ‘left (hand)’Luce 85: V.35
Burmese (Written)-way ‘left (hand)’Luce 85: V.35
Burmese (Written)wâi ‘speak with a brogue’Matisoff 85 GSTC: 080
Burmese (Written)wâi ‘speak with accent’Benedict 76 WBur
Burmese (Written)waì ‘speak with a brogue’Benedict 72 STC: 47
Burmese (Written)wɑi⁴ ‘left (hand)’Luce 85: R.64

6.1.2Loloish2

6.1.2.1Northern Loloish37

Laloʔve²¹ ɕi⁵⁵morpheme ‘side (left)’Chen 86 Yi: 1.3
Liphovɛ⁵⁵bo²¹morpheme ‘side (left)’Chen 86 Yi: 1.3
Nesua⁵⁵prefix fer³³ ta³⁵morpheme ‘side (left)’Chen 86 Yi: 1.3
Noesufe³³ ‘side (left)’Chen 86 Yi: 1.3
Nusu (Northern)ue³⁵ nu⁵⁵ ‘left’Sun J 86 Nusu
Nusu (Central)ue⁵⁵ ɑ³¹ ‘left’Sun J 86 Nusu
Nusu (Bijiang)ue⁵⁵ɑ⁵³ ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.45
Nusu (Southern)ui³¹ tʂʰɛ⁵⁵ ‘left’Sun J 86 Nusu
Yi (Dafang)fə³³ ‘left’Chen 85 YiJZ
Yi (Liangshan)vɿ³³ ‘left (side)’Ma 08 Yi: index
Yi (Liangshan)vɿ³³ʨo²¹ ‘left (side)’Ma 08 Yi: index
Yi (Mile)ᴀ³³prefixvᴀ⁵⁵phi⁵⁵ ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.25
Yi (Mojiang)ᴀ⁵⁵prefixfɛ³³bo⁵⁵ ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.26
Yi (Nanhua)vɛ⁵⁵bɛ²¹ ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.24
Yi (Nanjian)ve²¹ ɕi⁵⁵ ‘left’Chen 85 YiJZ
Yi (Nanjian)ve²¹ɕi⁵⁵ ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.23

6.1.2.2Central Loloish39

Ahia³³morphemeva⁵⁵phi⁵⁵ ‘side (left)’Chen 86 Yi: 1.3
Ahiɑ³³prefix vɑ⁵⁵ pʻi ‘side (left)’Luo 90: 1.3
Lahumɛ̄ ‘left’Benedict proposes a development from PLB *lak-bai > *laŋ-wai > *mai > mɛ̄. This analysis implies that there was a subsequent re-compounding of this mɛ̄ with the morpheme làʔ ‘hand’.Benedict 72 STC: 25n80
Lisu (Theng-yüeh)-rgh¹ ‘left (hand)’Luce 85: V.35
Lisu (Northern)ɤ⁵⁵ N‘left; left side; left-leaning’Bradley 94 Lisu
Lisu (Putao)ʀɯ¹ ‘left (hand)’Luce 85: V.35
Sani [Nyi]a³³prefixvæ⁵⁵o⁵⁵ ‘side (left)’Chen 86 Yi: 1.3
Sani [Nyi]ɑ⁴⁴prefix væ⁵⁵ o⁵⁵ ‘left side’Ma 89 SanQ: 313.3
Yi (Sani)ɒ⁴⁴prefixvæ⁵⁵ n/adv‘left’Huang and Dai 92 TBL: 0710.39

6.2Naxi9

Laze (Xiangjiao)væ˧tɑ˧morpheme ‘left’Michaud 06 NaLaze: 1509
Na (Yongning)ʁwæ˥ ‘left (monosyllable)’Michaud 06 NaLaze
Na (Yongning)ʁwæ˧gi#˥morpheme ‘left’Michaud 06 NaLaze
Na (Yongning)ʁwæ˧gi˧morphemedzɤ˧morpheme ‘left’Michaud 06 NaLaze
Naxi (Western)ua³³tɕy³¹morpheme ‘left’He 85
Naxi (Lijiang)ua⁵⁵tɕy³¹morpheme ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.28
Naxiuæ³³tɕy²¹morpheme n/adv‘left’Huang and Dai 92 TBL: 0710.45
Naxi (Eastern)uɑ³³dʑi³³morpheme ‘left’He 85
Naxi (Yongning)ɣua³³dzə³³morpheme ‘left’Sun H 91 ZMYY: 53.29

Cite this entry

STEDT etymon #2154, *b(w)ay ‘LEFT (HAND)’.
Stable link: https://larc-iu.github.io/stedt/etymon/2154
Data: STEDT v1.0 (2017). Accessed: [date].
References: STC#047
BibTeX
@misc{stedt-2154,
  title  = {{*b(w)ay 'LEFT (HAND)'}},
  author = {STEDT},
  year   = {2017},
  note   = {Sino-Tibetan Etymological Dictionary and Thesaurus (STEDT) v1.0, etymon #2154},
  url    = {https://larc-iu.github.io/stedt/etymon/2154}
}