The Word for ‘One’ in Proto-Semitic
Traditionally, scholars have reconstructed *waḥad or some variant thereof as the word for ‘one’ in Proto-Semitic. In this paper, I argue that *'ast- is a better candidate because it is attested as a number in both East and West Semitic. *waḥad, by contrast, was most likely an adjective meaning...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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Published: |
Oxford University Press
[2014]
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In: |
Journal of Semitic studies
Year: 2014, Volume: 59, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-13 |
IxTheo Classification: | AG Religious life; material religion BH Judaism BJ Islam |
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Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (doi) |
Summary: | Traditionally, scholars have reconstructed *waḥad or some variant thereof as the word for ‘one’ in Proto-Semitic. In this paper, I argue that *'ast- is a better candidate because it is attested as a number in both East and West Semitic. *waḥad, by contrast, was most likely an adjective meaning ‘lone’ as in Akkadian. Along the way, I will review some methodological criteria that may prove useful in the ongoing effort to reconstruct Proto-Semitic. |
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ISSN: | 1477-8556 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of Semitic studies
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1093/jss/fgt032 |