DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14160276
title: Protosemitic Root Derivations

description: The dataset provided here culminated in a directed network graph (gexf), and is the result of a guided research seminar on Semitic Philology by Adam Anderson on behalf of Jason Moser, who at the time was a Ph.D. candidate at UC Berkeley in the spring of 2019. The primary focus of the resulting network graph was to show potential pathways for comparative linguistics within the Semitic languages, a branch of the Afro-asiatic language family, based on commonly shared roots and their etymologies. 

When we concluded this study in 2019, the results were by no means finalized or conclusive, which means that many of the proposed root derivations in the graph are only a working hypothesis, and that there is a higher likelihood for inaccuracies that need to be corrected and supervised by specialists in each of these languages. We move ahead with a novel dataset publication, in order to put the results of this work in Wikidata lexemes, which in turn will allow for the scholarly curation and emendation to take place with attributions.

Our use of the term Protosemitic is more in line with Common-Semitic, thereby expressing a working hypothesis for the original Protosemitic roots and lemmas and the most likely related roots in different Semitic languages. Whether a root is inherited from Semitic, borrowed from another language, a Wanderwort or loanword, we don't claim to know. That said, we are fairly certain that the majority of the data shared in this version are based on true roots, which can be substantiated in the list sources. While there is a longstanding series of dictionaries for Akkadian verbal roots (e.g. AHw, CDA, CAD, etc.), the nominal roots have yet to receive the same attention. We therefore consulted a list of sources and datasets, both published and unpublished, including John Huehnergard’s Semitic Philology 140 syllabus from 2008, which we include below. The next version of this dataset will include Q-item ids and references for the etymology claims in Wikidata.

In preparation for the publication of this dataset in Wikidata, we worked closely with Timo Homburg, who helped formulate the claims and RDF tripple statements and uploaded the dataset as well. We would like to thank Timo for extending his time and skillsets to help make this data more accessible.

Datasets:

Network graph file: protosemitic_3996.gexf

Semitic Root Derivations: SemiticRootDerivations.csv

Network Properties for the Nodes:

* Statistics generated in Gephi





Id = Hexadecimal with the first three letters corresponding to the source language (e.g. GEZ000018 is the 18th root in Ge’ez in our dataset)




Label




Lang_source




In-Degree*




Out-Degree*




Degree*




Weighted In-Degree*




Weighted Out-Degree*




Eccentricity*




Closeness Centrality*




Harmonic Closeness Centrality*




Betweenness Centrality*




Bridging Coefficient*




Bridging Centrality*




Authority*




Hub*




Modularity Class*




PageRank*




Component ID*




Strongly-Connected ID*



Network Properties for the Edges:





Source = source ID




Target = target ID




Type = directed edges




Id = simple integer count




Label = blank




Interval = blank




Weight = 1 (if unmerged), or 2 (if merged)




Lang_source = (proto-)Semitic




Entry_source = lemma for (proto-)Semitic language (e.g. format: lemma[gloss]POS)




Lang_target = Semitic language (e.g. geez = Ge’ez)




Entry_target = lexeme for Semitic language (e.g. format: lemma[gloss]POS)



Semitic Root Derivations:





lang_from = source language (e.g. (proto-)Semitic)




entry_from_id = unique ID (hexadecimal) for source language lemma




entry_from = lemma for the source language




PS-root = root derived from Protosemitic




PS_Lid = Wikidata lexeme ID for the Protosemitic root (when applicable)




lang_to = target language (e.g. geez)




entry_to_id = unique ID (hexadecimal) for target language lemma




entry_to = lemma for the target language




Akk_root = most likely Akkadian root




Akk_Lid = Wikidata lexeme ID for the Akkadian root (when applicable)



List of sources consulted:





Bennett, P. R. Comparative Semitic Linguistics. A Manual, 1998.




Bergstrasser, G. Introduction to the Semitic Languages, 2 ed. 1983.




Brockelmann, C. Review of Essai comparatif sur le vocabularie et la phonétique du Chamito-Sémitique, by M. Cohen (BiOr 7, 58-61), 1950.




Cohen, E. Sentential Complementation in Akkadian (JAOS 122, 803-806), 2000.




Cunchillos, J.-L. A Concordance of Ugaritic Words. Versiùn espaûola, 2003.




Cunchillos, J.-L. The Texts of the Ugaritic Data Bank, 2003.




del Olmo Lete, G. & Sanmartín, J. A Dictionary of the Ugaritic Language (HdO 112), 2015.




Demeke, G. Origin of Amharic (Afroasiatic Studies 3), 2014.




Deutscher, G. & Kouwenberg, N.J.C. The Akkadian Language in its Semitic Context, (PIHANS 106), 2006.




Fox, J. Semitic Noun Patterns (HVSS 52), 2013.




Goetze, A. Sequence of Two Short Syllables in Akkadian (OrNS 16, 233-238), 1946.




Gordon, C. H. Ugaritic Textbook (OA 38), 1965.




Grebaut, Sylvain - Les Pluriels Brises des Formations Trilitteres Qetl, Qatl, Qatal. Cahiers Pour l'Enseignement, 1947.




Hospers, J. H. ed. A Basic Bibliography for the Study of the Semitic Languages, Vol. 1, 1973.




Huehnergard, J. (North-)West Semitic Dialectology, 2008.




Huehnergard, J. & Woods, C. Akkadian and Eblaite (CEWAL 218-280) 2004.




Huehnergard, J. Afro-Asiatic (CEWAL 138-159), 2004.




Huehnergard, J. Analogical Change Handout, 2008.




Huehnergard, J. Semitic Languages (CANE 4, 2117-34), 1995,




Huehnergard, J. Semitic Philology 140 (Unpublished Course Outline), 2008.




Huehnergard, J. Trees and Waves: On the Classification of the Semitic Languages, 2008 (preprint).




Knudsen, E. - Stress in Akkadian (JCS 32, 3-16), 1980.




Kogan and Krebernik (eds.). Etymological Dictionary of Akkadian, 2000.




Kouwenberg, N.J.C. - Reflections on the Gt-Stem in Akkadian (ZA 95, 77-103) 2005.




Krebernik, M. & Streck, M.P. Der Irrealis im Altbabylonischen (JBVO 5, 51-78), 2001.




Lambdin, T. O. Introduction to Classical Ethiopic (Ge'ez) (HSS 24), 1978.




Leslau's Geez Dictionary also has comparative notes for etymological purposes.




Lipinski, E. Glossary of Selected Linguistic Terms (OLA 80, 575-592), 1997.




Mankowski, P. V. Akkadian Loanwords in Biblical Hebrew (HVSS 47), 2000.




Meyer, W. R. Zum Terminativ-Adverbialis im Akkadischen, die Modaladverbien auf -ish (OrNS 64 3, 161-186), 1995.




Militarev, A. & Kogan, L. Semitic Etymological Dictionary, Vol. I: Anatomy of Man and Animals (AOAT 278/1), 2000.




Militarev, A. & Kogan, L. Semitic Etymological Dictionary, Vol. II: Animal Names (AOAT 278/2), 2005.




Moscati, S. et al. An Introduction to the Comparative Grammar of the Semitic Languages (PLO NS 6), 1964.




Pennachietti, F. Un articolo prepositivo in neosudarabico (RSO 44, 285-293), 1969.




Schniedewind, W.M. & Hunt, J.H. A Primer on Ugaritic, 2007.




Soden, Wolfram von - Untersuchungen zur Babylonische Metrik, Teil 1 (ZA 71, 161-204), 1982; Teil 2 (ZA 74, 213-284), 1984.




von Soden, W. Akkadisches Handwörterbuch (AHw). This dictionary has comparative notes, and an English version can be found in the Concise Dictionary of Akkadian (CDA)




Weninger, Stefan, ed. - The Semitic Languages, An International Handbook (HSK 36), 2011.




Whiting, R. M. The Dual Personal Pronouns in Akkadian (JNES 31, 331-337), 1972.