Wiktionary:About Proto-Polynesian
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This is a Wiktionary policy, guideline or common practices page. Specifically it is a policy think tank, working to develop a formal policy. |
| Policies – Entries: CFI - EL - NORM - NPOV - QUOTE - REDIR - DELETE. Languages: LT - AXX. Others: BLOCK - BOTS - VOTES. |
- Reconstruction: All Proto-Polynesian terms are hypothetical, even if they are obviously correct, and thus must be made as subpages of Reconstruction:Proto-Polynesian. All pages must begin with
{{reconstructed}}, which serves as a disclaimer, and the headword should begin with a * to denote that.
- Etymologies: When possible, there should be an etymology section that either mentions a non-Polynesian Austronesian word that is etymologically related, or that links to the relevant term in Proto-Malayo-Polynesian, from which all non-innovated terms are theoretically derived.
- Format: Simply follow the format at a well-developed page like *wai. Proper nouns should be labeled as such and start with capital letters, but they should be categorised as nouns.
- Consonants: The consonants used should be: p, t, k, q, m, n, ŋ, f, s, h, r, l, and w. The letter ŋ represents ng/g; the letter q represents the glottal stop ( ' / ʻ).
- Vowels: The vowels used should be: a, e, i o, and u. There is still scholarly debate about stress, long vowels, and accenture in Proto-Polynesian. Do not mark the vowels in any way. However, stress and accenture can be discussed in the Notes section, and can be given in the 'Pronunciation' section where appropriate.
- Notes: Any term that is unsure should be marked as such in the Notes section, although it often becomes clear by examining the most diagnostic Polynesian languages in conjunction, which are Tongan, Maori, and Rapa Nui. Any term that consists of distinguishable parts or has other miscellaneous linguistic information attached to it should have this explained in the notes.
- Subdivisions: Terms which do not have attested reflexes in Tongan or Niuean need to be marked as Proto-Nuclear-Polynesian. Further divisions are documented at the Wikipedia article.
- Sources: