Reconstruction:Proto-Polynesian/rima

This Proto-Polynesian entry contains reconstructed words and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Polynesian

**Proto-Polynesian cardinal numbers**
< 4	5	6 >
Cardinal : *rima

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *lima.

Noun

*rima

hand

Numeral

*rima

five

Notes

This term may in fact be *lima; identification is unclear due to a discontinuity in Tongan. If it were *rima, Tongan would be expected to have *ima, and if it were *lima, Tongan would be expected also to have *lima. No other Polynesian language fully distinguishes /ɾ/ and /l/. This reconstruction assumes that nima evolved out of *ima, which may have been modified to avoid confusion with a common homophone.

Descendants

Niuean: lima
Nuclear Polynesian:
- East Futuna: lima
- Eastern Polynesian:
  - Hawaiian: lima
  - Maori: rima
  - Rapa Nui: rima
  - South Marquesan: 'ima
  - Tahitian: rima
- Kapingamarangi: lima
- Niuatoputapu: lima
- Nukuoro: lima
- Samoan: lima
- Sikaiana: lima
- Tuvaluan: lima
Tongan: nima

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