r   

rat

rattan sp.

rattan

rattan sp.

reach across

Dempwolff (1938) proposed *sulaŋ ‘to reach across’ based on this comparison plus Javanese sulaŋ ‘impart, communicate’. However, I am unable to find the latter entry in either Pigeaud (1938) or Horne (1974), and the remaining forms are insufficient to propose a reconstruction with confidence.

ready, prepared

Based on forms in Toba Batak and Javanese Dempwolff (1938) posited *sikep ‘ready, prepared’. However, the Karo Batak form shows that Proto-Batak had *siŋkeb, which is phonologically incompatible with the forms in Old Javanese, Javanese, Balinese and Sasak, leaving either a comparison with relatively little time-depth, or a loan distribution.

rear, back, behind

Aklanon, Hiligaynon, Palawan Batak, Cebuano, Maranao and Sundanese, Old Javanese, Javanese, Balinese form two distinct low-level cognate sets. The similarity of these sets to one another and to Nias furi is attributed to chance.

red

Kenyah and Puluwat are due to chance. Most others appear to reflect *baRah 'ember' or *baReq 'abscess, inflammation'.

red

redden

The Toba Batak word is borrowed from Malay; the similarity of the Javanese form is due to chance.

repeat, reiterate

rejoice

This comparison was proposed by Geraghty (1990:73), who reconstructed *taReRe ‘rejoice’, based on data from only four specific languages: Palauan merrós ‘to crow (rooster)’, Tolai rore ‘to rejoice, be happy, as when joining in a dance’, Nggela ulele ‘triumphant, rejoicing’, and the Sa'a form given here. However, of these only Sa'a alele regularly reflects *taReRe, and the claim that Central Pacific languages reflect Proto-Central Pacific *taē has not been confirmed through independent checking of published sources on Rotuman, Fijian or any Polynesian language.

relationship between the sexes

Dempwolff (1938) used this comparison to propose *kucup ‘relationship between the sexes’, but it contains nothing to distinguish it from a chance resemblance.

repeat, reiterate

replenishment, restoration

Dempwolff (1938) posited *sapin ‘replenishment, restoration’ on the basis of these two terms, but there is no obvious connection between them, and the Tagalog form is better assigned to PPh *sapin ‘lining, insulation, padding’.

resounding:   dull resounding sound

Probably convergent innovation from a common root *-beŋ₃ 'dull resounding sound'.

replenishment, restoration

Dempwolff (1938) posited *sapin ‘replenishment, restoration’ on the basis of these two terms, but there is no obvious connection between them, and the Tagalog form is better assigned to PPh *sapin ‘lining, insulation, padding’.

result:   yield, result

Chance. Dempwolff (1934-38) cited Toba Batak adi with the German gloss Ruhm ('glory, renown, fame'), but his source (Warneck 1906) actually gives adi 'ruhen' ('to rest').

retreat

return

rice:   growth stage of rice

ridge:   edge, ridge

rim:   edge, rim, flat container

This is an example of a type of comparison that is unfortunately rather common in Dempwolff (1938), namely one in which the semantics of forms that would allow a higher-level reconstruction are extremely forced and artificial (the Ngaju Dayak and Javanese forms, which are semantically compatible, cannot safely support a reconstruction, given the longstanding Javanese influence on Banjarese and Ngaju Dayak). Unlike most of the chance resemblances for which Dempwolff proposed PAn reconstructions this one also shows an unacknowledged phonological irregularity, since he cites Fijian i-tabi ‘flat basket’, while Capell (1968) instead gives tabe ‘to hold or carry with the hands under’, i-tabe ‘a small oval basket without handles’.

rind:   peeling, rind

Chance. For an alternative etymological connection for Cebuano paflut cf. POc *paro. For an alternative view of the Cebuano:Malay comparison which is now rejected cf. Blust (1970).

rind or peeling

rinse wash off

Apparently a chance resemblance. Dempwolff (1938) posited ‘Uraustronesisch’ *lu[s]aw ‘to rinse off’ (ausspülen).

rip:   tear, rip

rise (of smoke)

rise (of smoke)

rising to a point

Dempwolff (1938) reconstructed ‘Uraustronesisch’ *tanzak ‘kind of ship’s sail’ (Name eines Seiles an Schiffen), but no convincing comparison in fact exists.

ritual

The Old Javanese and Balinese forms appear to be borrowed from Sanskrit. The resemblance of the remaining items is attributed to chance.

roll into balls

On the basis of this comparison Dempwolff (1938) posited Uraustronesisch *pulu(rR) ‘roll into a ball’ (zusammenballen). However, the divergent semantics of the Ngaju Dayak and Toba Batak forms makes it hard to justify a plausible etymology, and the resemblance of the Malay and Javanese forms is best considered to be a product of borrowing from Malay.

roll together into a ball

This is one of many comparisons in Dempwolff (1938) that appear convincing at first sight, but which unravel on closer inspection. His gloss of ‘Zusammenballen’ [make into a ball] seems to be chosen solely from Toba Batak, and completely lacks any kind of comparative support.

roof:   flat roof

Chance. Other comparisons such as *buŋbuŋ(-an) 'ridge pole show clearly that the house in WMP society had a sloping roof.

roof covering

roomy:   loose sparse roomy

A product of chance. Dempwolff (1938) posited ‘Uraustronesisch’ *luga(r) ‘sparse, not dense’ (undicht).

rotten

round (holes)

Chance. Despite the striking formal and semantic similarity of these forms the correspondences are irregular (Kadazan Dusun o points to *e, Tiruray u to *u). The Tiruray form shows irregularities associated with Danaw loans, but a cognate word is yet to be identified in a Danaw language (or, for that matter, any other language).

round dance

Chance. Dempwolff (1938) reconstructed ‘Uraustronesisch’ *Ta(r)ik ‘round dance’ (Reigen), but nothing of the kind appears to be justified.

row

Based on this comparison Dempwolff (1938) posited ‘Uraustronesich’ *tarap ‘row’.

rub, scour

Chance. Dempwolff (1938) compared these forms to Tagalog ulós 'wound caused by a pointed instrument; act of striking with a speaŕ and Javanese urus 'affair, matter; to handle, take care of; administer a laxative' under a proposed etymon *ujus.

rub, scrub

rub, scrub

The similarity of Pangasinan, Kapampangan, Tagalog is attributed to borrowing from Tagalog. The similarity of these forms to Puyuma, Paiwan and to Itbayaten is regarded as a product of chance.

rubbish

rubbish

Dempwolff (1938) proposed *sa(rR)əp ‘refuse, garbage’. However, further supporting evidence has not been found, and the status of this form remains in doubt.

rule-governed:   orderly rule-governed

Dempwolff (1938) reconstructed ‘Uraustronesisch’ *tataR ‘rule’, adding Fijian i-tata ‘order, command’, a form that I am unable to find in any modern dictionary.