Rouran language

In the Rouran language world, there is a wealth of information and opinions that can be overwhelming for those seeking to better understand this topic. From different perspectives and approaches, Rouran language has been the subject of debate and discussion throughout history, and its relevance in today's society continues to be a topic of great interest. In this article, we will explore the multiple facets of Rouran language, with the aim of offering a complete and enriching vision of this very relevant topic. From its origin to its impact today, we will embark on a journey of discovery to better understand Rouran language and its relationship with the world around us.

Rouran
Ruanruan, Ruan-ruan, Juan-juan
Native toRouran Khaganate
RegionMongolia and northern China
Era4th century AD – 6th century AD
Language codes
ISO 639-3None (mis)
GlottologNone

Rouran (Chinese: 柔然), also called Ruanruan, Ruan-ruan or Juan-juan (Chinese: 蠕蠕), is an unclassified extinct language of Mongolia and northern China, spoken in the Rouran Khaganate from the 4th to the 6th centuries AD, considered a likely early precursor to Mongolic.

Peter A. Boodberg claimed in 1935 that the Rouran language was Mongolic by analysing Chinese transcriptions of Rouran names. Atwood (2013) notes that Rourans calqued the Sogdian word pūr "son" into their language as *kʻobun (Chinese transliteration: 去汾 MC *kʰɨʌH-bɨun > Mandarin qùfén); which, according to Atwood, is cognate with Middle Mongol kö'ün "son". Alexander Vovin noted that Old Turkic had borrowed some words from an unknown non-Altaic language that might have been Rouran, arguing that if so, the language would be non-Altaic, unrelated to its neighbours and possibly a language isolate, though evidence was scant. In 2019, with the emergence of new evidence through the analysis of the Brāhmī Bugut and Khüis Tolgoi, Vovin changed his view, suggesting Rouran was, in fact, a Mongolic language, close but not identical to Middle Mongolian.

Phonology

Features of Rouran included:

  • no mid vowels
  • presence of initial l-
  • final consonantal cluster -nd unusual for any "Altaic" languages

Morphology

Rouran had the feminine gender suffix -tu-.

Lexicon

Rouran vocabulary included:

  • küskü – 'rat'
  • ud – 'ox'
  • luu – 'dragon' < Middle Chinese luŋ – 'dragon'
  • yund – 'horse' < Old Turkic: 𐰖𐰆𐰣𐱃, romanized: yunt - 'horse'
  • laγzïn – 'pig'
  • qaγan – 'emperor'
  • qan – 'khan'
  • qaγatun – 'empress'
  • qatun – 'khan's wife'
  • aq – 'dung'
  • and – 'oath' < Old Turkic: 𐰦, romanized: ant 'oath'
  • beg – 'elder'
  • bitig – 'inscription' < Old Turkic: 𐰋𐰃𐱅𐰏, romanized: bitig 'inscription, book'
  • bod – 'people' < Old Turkic: 𐰉𐰆𐰑, romanized: bod 'clan, tribe, kin'
  • drö – 'law'
  • küǰü – 'strength' < Old Turkic: 𐰚𐰇𐰲, romanized: küč 'strength, power'
  • ordu – 'camp'
  • tal- – 'to plunder'
  • törö – 'to be born'
  • türǖg – 'Turk'

References

  1. ^ a b c Vovin, Alexander (2019). "A Sketch of the Earliest Mongolic Language: the Brāhmī Bugut and Khüis Tolgoi Inscriptions". International Journal of Eurasian Linguistics. 1 (1): 162–197. doi:10.1163/25898833-12340008. ISSN 2589-8825. S2CID 198833565.
  2. ^ a b c d e Vovin, Alexander (3–5 December 2010). "Once Again on the Ruanruan Language". Ötüken'den İstanbul'a Türkçenin 1290 Yılı (720–2010) Sempozyumu From Ötüken to Istanbul, 1290 Years of Turkish (720–2010).
  3. ^ Christopher P., Atwood (2013). "Some Early Inner Asian Terms Related to the Imperial Family and the Comitatus". Central Asiatic Journal. 56. Harrassowitz Verlag: 49–86.
  4. ^ Vovin, Alexander (2004). "Some thoughts on the origins of the old Turkic 12-year animal cycle". Central Asiatic Journal. 48 (1): 118–132. ISSN 0008-9192.
  5. ^ Clauson, Gerard (1972). "yunt". An Etymological Dictionary of pre-thirteenth-century Turkish. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 946.
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