Reconstruction:Latin/allo

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

Latin

Alternative forms

*alō

Etymology

Uncertain. Multiple etymologies have been proposed.

The traditional etymology is from ambulō, possibly through a contracted form *amlō or *alō used in miliary commands; however, this is problematic for several reasons.[1][2] Another etymology derives it from Gaulish *aliu, from Proto-Celtic *ɸal-. (compare Welsh elwyf (“I may go”), Cornish ellev (“I may go”), from full grade *ɸel-)[3][4] A third etymology derives it from allātus, irregular past participle of afferō, through a reflexive se afferō (“carry oneself”) (compare French s'en aller) > *se allātus est (in Classical Latin, perfective "carried oneself", but in Vulgar Latin, "carry oneself" > "go") reformed on the model of the past participle like several other Vulgar Latin verbs such as *oblitō, *ausō, and *usō.[5]

Pronunciation

(Proto-Gallo-Romance) IPA^(key): /alˈlaɾ/ (infinitive)

Verb

*allō (present infinitive *allāre, perfect active *allāvī, supine *allātum); first conjugation

I go.

Inflection

This verb is suppletive in all attested descendants, with vādō supplying the present singular, present third-person plural, and eō sometimes supplying the future and conditional.

Descendants

Franco-Provençal: alar
Friulian: lâ
Old French: aller, aler
- Middle French: aller, aler
  - French: aller
    - Haitian Creole: ale, al
- Norman: aller (Jersey), allaïr (Guernsey), allaer, (continental Normandy)
- Walloon: aler

References

1939, D. A. Paton, On the origin of aller, in Studies in French Language and Mediaeval Literature, page 301: The opinion that ambulare is the origin of aller has been and is held by so many eminent etymologists that it is with some diffidence I venture to suggest another source. [...] By these suggestions I am not attempting to prove that aller and ambler are of different origin, but only to show that such a theory is not only possible, but probable. The real and to my mind insuperable objection to ambulare as the source of aller is the phonetic question, and here we find that the supporters of ambulare, in explaining its unique development, arrive at their common conclusion by entirely different routes. Ducange would take aller as coming from ambler. Schuchardt's reasoning is as follows: – ambulare to *ammulare to *amlare to aller. [...] More recently, Meyer-Lübke's view is that ambulare was simply contracted to *allare, the contraction being particularly natural in the imperative mood. Gammillscheg also points out that ambulate, used in the army as a word of command, would easily be shortened to *alate.
1934, Eugene F. Parker, A Defense of the Etymology Allatus, Allare, Aller in PMLA, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 1026-1027: The specious supposition that ambulare might have given rise to the various verbs of "going" in the Romance languages "by distortion, as in military commands" is unsatisfactory for two reasons. First, military commands should be clear and distinct (despite one or two notorious cases which will immediately suggest themselves). Second, there is no indication that this verb ever was used in giving commands, for there appear to be no extant copies of drill regulations of the Roman expeditionary forces.
1773, Charles Vallancey, A Grammar of the Iberno-Celtic, Or Irish Language, page 84: aill, go thou [...] from hence aller the French verb, to go
1873, Louis A. Languellier, H. M. Monsanto, A pratical course with the French language, page 487: "words which [...] belong to the ancient Gallic or Celtic speech [...include] aller, to go"
1934, Eugene F. Parker, A Defense of the Etymology Allatus, Allare, Aller in PMLA, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 1025-1031

[1] 1939, D. A. Paton, On the origin of aller, in Studies in French Language and Mediaeval Literature, page 301: The opinion that ambulare is the origin of aller has been and is held by so many eminent etymologists that it is with some diffidence I venture to suggest another source. [...] By these suggestions I am not attempting to prove that aller and ambler are of different origin, but only to show that such a theory is not only possible, but probable. The real and to my mind insuperable objection to ambulare as the source of aller is the phonetic question, and here we find that the supporters of ambulare, in explaining its unique development, arrive at their common conclusion by entirely different routes. Ducange would take aller as coming from ambler. Schuchardt's reasoning is as follows: – ambulare to *ammulare to *amlare to aller. [...] More recently, Meyer-Lübke's view is that ambulare was simply contracted to *allare, the contraction being particularly natural in the imperative mood. Gammillscheg also points out that ambulate, used in the army as a word of command, would easily be shortened to *alate.

[2] 1934, Eugene F. Parker, A Defense of the Etymology Allatus, Allare, Aller in PMLA, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 1026-1027: The specious supposition that ambulare might have given rise to the various verbs of "going" in the Romance languages "by distortion, as in military commands" is unsatisfactory for two reasons. First, military commands should be clear and distinct (despite one or two notorious cases which will immediately suggest themselves). Second, there is no indication that this verb ever was used in giving commands, for there appear to be no extant copies of drill regulations of the Roman expeditionary forces.

[3] 1773, Charles Vallancey, A Grammar of the Iberno-Celtic, Or Irish Language, page 84: aill, go thou [...] from hence aller the French verb, to go

[4] 1873, Louis A. Languellier, H. M. Monsanto, A pratical course with the French language, page 487: "words which [...] belong to the ancient Gallic or Celtic speech [...include] aller, to go"

[5] 1934, Eugene F. Parker, A Defense of the Etymology Allatus, Allare, Aller in PMLA, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 1025-1031