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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] logograms--an ode to Hebrew

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Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

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  • From: Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>
  • To: Vadim Cherny <vadim_lv AT center-tv.net>
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] logograms--an ode to Hebrew
  • Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 19:54:57 +0000

On 23/12/2004 19:02, Vadim Cherny wrote:

...

Why would anyone be concerned in 2nd millennium BCE to conform the existing
roots to triliteral pattern? There is no evidence for such concern
whatsoever in any language.


What? Have you studied all 6500 languages? It is a regular part of acquiring loan words that their structure is adjusted to conform to that of the borrowing language. For example, in Russian the suffix -ovat' and -irovat' is used to make Russian verbs from English, German etc verbs.


...
Besides, you seemed to agree earlier that the roots bear considerable traces
of conscious construction. So not groaning.


What I accept is that the triliteral structure of Semitic languages postdates the emergence of modern man with full modern intelligence and with a fully developed language. And that these words were coined consciously. But not that they came from any committee or centralised authority, rather that they emerged in the same way as new words emerged today, from idiosyncratic usage (why, even Jim's idiosyncratic use of "paraphrase" may catch on!) which is gradually accepted by the community as a whole. Good example of this process in the recent history of English are "gay" for "homosexual" and "wicked" for "good". No committee decided on these new senses, they gradually emerged from street language. They may be marginally acceptable today, but in the next century they may be in mainstream use.

--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/



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