The divergence of Proto-Uralic and its offspring

• Main Author: Saarikivi, Janne
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University PressOxford 2022
• Subjects: khanty; mansi; samoyed*; Mansi
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198767664.003.0002; https://academic.oup.com/book/chapter-pdf/47094403/oso-9780198767664-chapter-2.pdf

Abstract The chapter deals with the dispersal of Proto-Uralic into reconstructible intermediate protolanguages, from which the current Uralic languages can easily be derived: Proto-Saamic, Proto-Finnic, Proto-Mordvin, Proto-Mari, Proto-Permic, Proto-Samoyedic and the three Ugric languages or language groups traditionally conflated into a subtaxon: Proto-Hungarian, Proto-Mansi, and Proto-Khanty. The Uralic intermediate protolanguages are localized and dated on the basis of loanword strata, areal linguistics, and toponymy. The chapter also discusses the prehistory of each proto-language in terms of speaker populations and their contacts with other ethnic groups, in the light of archaeological evidence of their subsistence and possible migrations. The chapter includes maps and diagrams illustrating the original speaking areas and dispersal of the intermediate protolanguages.