Galindian language
Template:Short descriptionThe term Galindian is sometimes ascribed to two separate Baltic languages, both of which were peripheral dialects:
- a West Baltic language referred to as West Galindian;
- a Baltic language previously spoken in Mozhaysk region (present day Russia), referred to as East Galindian or Golyad<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>
Name
There are three proposed etymologies for the denomination Galindian:<ref name="Dini">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
- Proto-Baltic Template:Lang meaning 'outsider' (Template:Langx 'wall; border').<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> This is supported by the etymology of the common Old Russian term for the Galindians Template:Lang Template:Lang > Proto-Slavic Template:Lang > Proto-Baltic Template:Lang); the Proto-Slavic *ę denotes a nasal e (/ẽ/)
- It is derived from the root Template:Lang found in Baltic hydronyms;<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and
- The name means 'the powerful ones' (Template:Langx 'power, strength') and also Celtic languages (Template:Langx 'strength', Template:Langx 'power', Galli, Gallia).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Proposed relation
Golyad and West Galindian have been proposed by scientists to have had a common origin that is based on two ancient authors using the common name of Galindian for both of them.Template:R<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In order to prove this hypothesis, they investigate common features between Prussian/West Galindian and Golyad.Template:R
Marija Gimbutas suggested that both the Golyads and West Galindians name could both originate from the word for end or borderland in Lithuanian (Template:Lang) and Latvian (Template:Lang).<ref name="The Balts (Ancient Peoples and Places)"/> There has also been a suggestion that the West Galindians' name could come from the Prussian word for death (Template:Lang).<ref name="Bojtar">Template:Cite book</ref> This name could have come from the Golyad being the furthest Baltic tribe in the east.<ref name="The Balts (Ancient Peoples and Places)">Template:Cite book</ref>
Some theories that propose a relationship between West Galindian and Golyad are that the West Galindians migrated from their homeland in Prussia towards the Protva basin.<ref name="Bojtar"/> People believe this migration would have been one in the Migration Period and would have occurred between the 5th and 7th centuries.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In this theory, another group who also migrated West during this period, the Goths, are believed to have also inspired the language and culture of the Golyads.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Another theory is that the Golyads were West Galindians that were captured during wars with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Russian duchies, but this is unlikely as local Slavs wouldn't have replaced their own names for regions with names from their POWs.<ref name="Bojtar"/>
West Galindian
Template:Infobox language West Galindian is the poorly attested extinct Baltic language of the Galindians previously spoken in what is today northeastern Poland and thought to have been a dialect of Old Prussian,Template:R or a Western Baltic language similar to Old Prussian.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> There are no extant writings in Galindian.
Phonology
Consonants
Vowels
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