----- Original Message -----
From: "Yigal Levin" <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il>
To: <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 3:29 AM
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] cognate alphabet
Greek, as a non-Semitic language, does not even come close. As I wrote
before, the Septuagint can be used as a witness to the text and its
interpretation, but not as a "cognate".
Generations of seminary students have wished that they were cognate, because
studying one cognate language after you've had another makes the second much
easier. If you've had Hebrew, Aramaic is a walk in the park while the
flowers are blooming and the birds are chirping (or at least, the camels
making their guttaral hiccups). In Classics programs, there is a reason why
Latin often precedes Greek, but start with either one, and the second one is
easier, at least at the beginning levels. But start with Greek and move to
Hebrew, or Hebrew and then to Greek -- it's just not the same (and I mean
that on multiple levels).
N.E. Barry Hofstetter, semper melius Latine sonat...
Classics and Bible Instructor, TAA http://www.theamericanacademy.net
(2010 Salvatori Excellence in Education Winner)
V-P of Academic Affairs, TNARS
bhofstetter AT tnars.net http://www.tnars.net