An Aslian origin for the word gibbon

This article examines the etymology of the word gibbon, which is not yet clear. The article presents a phonemic analysis using the ALINE algorithm which suggests that the root word is Northern Aslian kbɔɲ, used by Menraq communities in the heart of Peninsular Malaysia. This article reviews morpholog...

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Main Author: Teckwyn Lim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3 2020-06-01
Series:Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/4291
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author Teckwyn Lim
author_facet Teckwyn Lim
author_sort Teckwyn Lim
collection DOAJ
description This article examines the etymology of the word gibbon, which is not yet clear. The article presents a phonemic analysis using the ALINE algorithm which suggests that the root word is Northern Aslian kbɔɲ, used by Menraq communities in the heart of Peninsular Malaysia. This article reviews morphological, ethno-geographical, semantic, historical and linguistic evidence that supports this hypothesis. The article proposes Malay as an intermediary, noting that several other Aslian words entered European languages via Malay.
format Article
id doaj-art-1b8aebe35d96418eb8d3d3efcbbb1aa9
institution DOAJ
issn 1951-6215
language English
publishDate 2020-06-01
publisher Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3
record_format Article
series Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology
spelling doaj-art-1b8aebe35d96418eb8d3d3efcbbb1aa92025-08-20T03:08:06ZengUniversité Jean Moulin - Lyon 3Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology1951-62152020-06-011510.4000/lexis.4291An Aslian origin for the word gibbonTeckwyn LimThis article examines the etymology of the word gibbon, which is not yet clear. The article presents a phonemic analysis using the ALINE algorithm which suggests that the root word is Northern Aslian kbɔɲ, used by Menraq communities in the heart of Peninsular Malaysia. This article reviews morphological, ethno-geographical, semantic, historical and linguistic evidence that supports this hypothesis. The article proposes Malay as an intermediary, noting that several other Aslian words entered European languages via Malay.https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/4291morphological analysisloanwordsanimal namesAustroasiaticMalay
spellingShingle Teckwyn Lim
An Aslian origin for the word gibbon
Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology
morphological analysis
loanwords
animal names
Austroasiatic
Malay
title An Aslian origin for the word gibbon
title_full An Aslian origin for the word gibbon
title_fullStr An Aslian origin for the word gibbon
title_full_unstemmed An Aslian origin for the word gibbon
title_short An Aslian origin for the word gibbon
title_sort aslian origin for the word gibbon
topic morphological analysis
loanwords
animal names
Austroasiatic
Malay
url https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/4291
work_keys_str_mv AT teckwynlim anaslianoriginforthewordgibbon
AT teckwynlim aslianoriginforthewordgibbon