[YG Conlang Archives] > [westasianconlangs group] > messages [Date Index] [Thread Index] >


[Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next]

Re: [westasianconlangs] Names of letters



> > What meaning have the names of the remaining letters?
> > G:>iMeL (G:a:Ma:L "a camel")?
> yup, i think so.

g`>imel is not connected with g`a`ma`l "a camel"

(http://bartleby.com/61/roots/S87.html:
gml 1 
  Common Semitic noun *gamal-, camel.
  camel; camelopard, from Latin, from Greek kame`los,
  from a Semitic source akin to
  Hebrew ga`ma`l, Aramaic gamla`, and Arabic jamal, camel. 
)

but it means "throwstick, boomerang",
which explains the shape of the letter.

(http://bartleby.com/61/roots/S87.html:
gml 2 
  Common Semitic noun *gaml-, throwstick.
  a. gamma, from Greek gamma, from Phoenician *gaml, throwstick (?),
  third letter of the Phoenician alphabet.
  b. gimel, from Hebrew gi^mel, gimel,
  alteration of Phoenician *gaml (see above). 
)

      P.A.