>George, > > Please consider the following. > > /aRBa\ (ארבע) "four" from RBa\ (רבע) "to spread out in all four directions, > quadrate, inundate, lie down, copulate." > > /eTsBa\ (אצבע) "(reacher, dipper =>) finger" from TsBha\ (צבע) meaning "(to > reach) to dip or dye s.th >
I don't know if you e-speak e-spanish, but the dissolution of consonantal clusters is a known linguistic phenomenon that has also operated in Semitic languages. Note the vocalization of shtayim, that appears to reflect another dialectical form eshtayim. This phenomenon deals with an additional 'alef' of course. In both of the first examples this creats a 'four-root', and the secondary nature of the alef is fairly clear. > /eChaD (אחד) one from ChaDaD (חדד) meaning "sharpened or pointed." Probably not applicable or directly cognate. > > /aKhaL (אכל) "to consume, eat" from KaLaH (כלה) meaning "to consume." actually, kalah means it was finished, not 'to consume'. 'to consume' requires the pi`el killah 'he finished something, consumed something'. So again, different roots and a more forced etymology. > > /aChaZ (אחז) "to take hold or apprehend" from ChaZaH (חזה). 'chest' or 'see'? Either way I don't see a direct historical etymology. > > /aKhaPh (אכף) "to force compel" from KaPhaH (כפה) "to bend, bring under one's > control." This one is more interesting. > > /aBhaD (אבד) "to be lost" from BaD (בד) "alone (piece, singular, unique, > special)" I wouldn't go there. We have several words that go back to b.d.d. > > /ePheS (אפס) "nothing, none, zero" from PaSaS (פסס) "to vanish." > this one is interesting. > /eKaR (איכר) "(digger =>) farmer" from KaRaH > (כרה) "to dig." This last one is interesting, too. In general, it has long been known that dialects within the language and in cognate languages often develop and blur the 'weak roots'. w/y in pe, `ayin, or lamed position, and the kfulim `ayin-`ayin. Occasionally he and alef join in with the dialect merging. (e.g., roots h.l.k. and y.l.k 'walk'. We even have n.q.H and l.q.H 'take'.) -- Randall Buth, PhD www.biblicallanguagecenter.com Biblical Language Center Learn Easily - Progress Further - Remember for Life _______________________________________________ b-hebrew mailing list [email protected] http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew
