The e-grade in Tibetan Honorifics

Hill, Nathan W.

Abstract

Hill (2019a) compares Tib. mkhan ‘know’ with Chi. 見 kenH ‘see’ as evidence for the antiquity of ablaut in the Sino-Tibetan verbal system. Jacques (2020) raises objections to this comparison, which this article aims to answer. The proposed solution is that -e- grade and palatalization typical of Tibetan honorifics continue inherited present stems and that unpalatalized present -e- grades are of an analogical origin.

Citation

Hill, N. W. (2022). The e-grade in Tibetan Honorifics. Bulletin of Chinese linguistics, 15, 479-483. https://doi.org/10.30184/BCL.202212_15.0027

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 12, 2022
• Publication Date: May 15, 2022
• Deposit Date: Sep 18, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 18, 2023
• Journal: Bulletin of Chinese Linguistics
• Print ISSN: 1933-6985
• Electronic ISSN: 2405-478X
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Pages: 479-483
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.30184/BCL.202212_15.0027
• Keywords: ablaut, Sino-Tibetan, verb morphology, sound change, palatalization