𐰴𐰀

an interrogative pronoun, used independently and in the formation of interrogative and indefinite expressions

The interrogative pronoun ka- appears to have formed an oblique stem kan- by means of an old pronominal -n- element. This resembles the irregular alternation found in the demonstrative pronouns bu ‘this’ : mun- and ol ‘that’ : an-. The -n- should not be understood as an ordinary derivational suffix, but as a formative used to create an oblique pronominal stem to which case and adverbial suffixes could be attached. Thus, forms such as kanda ‘where?’ and kandın ‘whence?’ can be analysed as declinations kan- + -DA (locative case) and kan- + -DIn (ablative case).