Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/-yka

This Proto-Slavic 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-Slavic

Etymology

Of uncertain origin. Probably a combination of *-y +‎ *-ka. A fossilization of an older *-yja or a borrowed origin have been also proposed (see Proto-Germanic *-ungō, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *-n̥kʷ-).

Unlike *-ykъ which seems to be a mere extension of archaic masculine *-y nouns (cf. *ęzykъ (“tongue”) < Pre-Slavic *inźūˀ), *-yka appears to fulfill a genuine grammatical function.

Suffix

*-ỳka f

From verb roots in o-grade, forms instruments or representees of the referred concept (rare)
*motati (“to soar, to transfer”) → *motyka (“hoe, mattock”)
*volděti (“to rule, to wield”) → *voldyka (“sovereign”)

Declension

Declension of *-yka (hard a-stem)

	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	*-yka	*-ycě	*-yky
Accusative	*-ykǫ	*-ycě	*-yky
Genitive	*-yky	*-yku	*-ykъ
Locative	*-ycě	*-yku	-ykasъ, -ykaxъ^*
Dative	*-ycě	*-ykama	*-ykamъ
Instrumental	-ykojǫ, -ykǫ^**	*-ykama	*-ykami
Vocative	*-yko	*-ycě	*-yky

^* -asъ is the expected Balto-Slavic form but is found only in some Old Czech documents; -axъ is found everywhere else and is formed by analogy with other locative plurals in -xъ.
^** The second form occurs in languages that contract early across /j/ (e.g. Czech), while the first form occurs in languages that do not (e.g. Russian).

References

Duridinov et al. (1991) "-ъıкa" in Граматика на старобългарския език (in Bulgarian), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, page 183