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ArchivesRe: Etymology of rose / rhodon
in reply to a message by Andy ;—)
Dear Cass, Andy and friends,
I am familiar with the "official" etymology (from old Persian "vrda") of the word RHODON, although most of the dictionaries do state that its
"… of uncertain origin, perhaps from old Persian 'vrda'…".
However, if we follow some basic principles of etymology when comparing two words, we’ll come to the following facts:
1. Observing history:
Latest research proves that the oldest historical recording of the word ‘rose’ is the Mycenaean word FRODON and the derivatives of it -FRODE, FRODOEN, FRODIOS, etc. - of the Linear B scripts (1500-1200 BCE) and not the Old Persian "vrda" (550-350 BCE).
2. Observing geography:
The Aeolian dialect has common characteristics with the Mycenaean dialect, from which obviously the word FRODON is borrowed. The Aeolians migrated from mainland Greece (western Macedonia and Thessaly) to the islands of NE Aegean sea (Lesbos, Tenedos etc.) and the north coast of Minor Asia around the 10th cent. BCE, when the first elements of the Aeolians (and their dialect) were found there.
3. Observing phonetics:
The Greek letter F -"digamma"- which has the sound of a soft "v" in the Aeolian dialect, would make the word sound "VRODON".
4. Observing cognation:
There are more cognate forms of the word RHODON in the Greek language than in all other languages together.
Therefore, there is not enough to justify that the word FRODON derives from "vrda", but there is enough to justify that, most possible, it’s the opposite:
FRODON-VRODON > Old Persian "vrda", Armenian "vard", etc.
*** "The cunning justifies, the silly insists, the clever admits." ***
ARISTARCHOS
I am familiar with the "official" etymology (from old Persian "vrda") of the word RHODON, although most of the dictionaries do state that its
"… of uncertain origin, perhaps from old Persian 'vrda'…".
However, if we follow some basic principles of etymology when comparing two words, we’ll come to the following facts:
1. Observing history:
Latest research proves that the oldest historical recording of the word ‘rose’ is the Mycenaean word FRODON and the derivatives of it -FRODE, FRODOEN, FRODIOS, etc. - of the Linear B scripts (1500-1200 BCE) and not the Old Persian "vrda" (550-350 BCE).
2. Observing geography:
The Aeolian dialect has common characteristics with the Mycenaean dialect, from which obviously the word FRODON is borrowed. The Aeolians migrated from mainland Greece (western Macedonia and Thessaly) to the islands of NE Aegean sea (Lesbos, Tenedos etc.) and the north coast of Minor Asia around the 10th cent. BCE, when the first elements of the Aeolians (and their dialect) were found there.
3. Observing phonetics:
The Greek letter F -"digamma"- which has the sound of a soft "v" in the Aeolian dialect, would make the word sound "VRODON".
4. Observing cognation:
There are more cognate forms of the word RHODON in the Greek language than in all other languages together.
Therefore, there is not enough to justify that the word FRODON derives from "vrda", but there is enough to justify that, most possible, it’s the opposite:
FRODON-VRODON > Old Persian "vrda", Armenian "vard", etc.
*** "The cunning justifies, the silly insists, the clever admits." ***
ARISTARCHOS
This message was edited 2/2/2006, 8:55 AM
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