The Evolution of Algic Verbal Stem Structure: New Evidence from Yurok

The Algic language family consists of the Algonquian language family and its relatives Wiyot and Yurok, two native languages of northwestern California. In this paper, I will use internal reconstruction to propose an account of the evolution of verbal stem structure in the early prehistory of Yurok; the earliest stages in this development probably occurred in Proto-Algic. Thus, while the evidence adduced here is exclusively from Yurok, I will suggest that the account has ramifications for our understanding of the Algonquian languages (and Wiyot). I begin with a brief description of Algonquian word structure. Algonquian words contain “initials” (roots) as well as “medial” and “final” suffixes, described as follows by Bloomfield (1946: 104): “Final suffixes appear at the end of the stem; ... we can distinguish between abstract finals, which merely determine the form-class ..., and concrete finals, which add some more palpable meaning ... [T]he final suffix is often preceded by a medial suffix ... Medial suffixes have concrete meaning.” Given in (1) is the scheme of Nishnaabemwin word structure, along the same lines, presented by Valentine (2001: 333).