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Document Details :

Title: '-q Interchanging in Semitic Languages
Author(s): VAINSTUB, Daniel
Journal: Ancient Near Eastern Studies
Volume: 54    Date: 2017   
Pages: 63-79
DOI: 10.2143/ANES.54.0.3206234

Abstract :
As is well known, many Semitic languages have semantically similar roots that are identical except for one radical. The differing radicals have similar sounds or belong to the same 'family' of consonants, such as the labials or the sibilants. For example, gzr, gzm, and gzl, each of which ends with a different labial, express the general meaning of cutting; while 'ls, 'lz, and 'l, each of which ends with a different sibilant, express the general meaning of happiness. The purpose of this paper is to show that this phenomenon occurs also with ' and q by revealing 18 cases of interchange between these consonants in semantically similar roots in Hebrew and other Semitic languages, especially Arabic.

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