Re: questions about Arabic

On Tue, 20 Mar 2001 14:58:49 +0100 Christophe Grandsire
<christophe.grandsire@...> writes:
> > En réponse à Steg Belsky <draqonfayir@...>:
> > > pa`al (also known as _qal_, "simple") ~ CâCaC
> Hey, I've just realized this: in Arabic to name the different
> schemes (how to
> vocalize roots and add prefixes, suffixes and infixes to make
> different forms),
> you use the root F`L (` being `ayn) with the appropriate
> vocalization and
> affixes. For instance, the derived form n°2 has the scheme (in past
> active)
> fa``ala. But Arabic uses it also for schemes of plurals, of the
> comparative,
> etc... From what you showed me, Hebrew seems to use a similar system
> with the
> root P`L. My question is: is this way of describing schemes as
> general as in
> Arabic? And is the root P`L cognate with F`L (I would say yes at
> first glance)
> meaning "to do" in Arabic?
-

Yup, they're the same root.  However, in Hebrew P3L (i usually use {3}
for `ayin when writing roots) means "to act" or "to labor", the word used
for "to do" is 3SsH ({ss} = ssin, cognate to Arabic shin i think).  The
present-tense-verb/noun form, _po`eil_, means "laborer".  An adjective
based on the root, _pa`il_, means "active" - for instance, _pa`al,
pi`eil, vehif`il heim binyanim PE`ILIM_ = "pa`al, pi`eil, and hif`il are
ACTIVE paradigms".  The word for passive is _savil_, from SBL "to carry,
suffer" and "reflexive" is _hhozeir_ "returning".


-Stephen (Steg)
 "VLH PY 2LBHhR 2YTz'2 ~ velu `al odot hayam `od"
                 ...and as if more about the sea...
     ~ intro to "hatirdof na`arut ahhar hhamishim" by r' yehuda haleivi


> I've always found this way of describing grammar very neat (as well
> as the use
> of adjectives referring to grammatical features as "sick", "deaf",
> "concave",
> etc...).
>
> Christophe.
>
> http://rainbow.conlang.free.fr

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