Evolution from biconsonantal to triconsonantal root within Afro-Asiatic languages

[Maakhri2024]

This example elegantly demonstrates the evolution from biconsonantal to triconsonantal root structures within Afro-Asiatic languages. While the majority of these languages predominantly exhibit triconsonantal roots, some retain biconsonantal roots, reflecting a historical shift in morphological complexity.

Triconsonantal Root: Hebrew

In Hebrew, the verb נָהַג ( nahag ) derives from the triconsonantal root ( n-h-g ) and encompasses meanings such as:
- to lead or guide ,
- to drive .

Biconsonantal Root : Somali
Conversely, in Somali, a Cushitic language, the verb ( hag ) originates from the
biconsonantal root ( h-g ) and carries similar meanings:
- to lead or guide ,
- to drive .

you can see the Somali has retained the older biconsonantal form ( hg : hag ) ,
While the Hebrew has evolved into triconstantal form ( nhg : nahag נהג ) .

The Somali language retains the ancient biconsonantal root system, wherein lexical items are derived from roots consisting of two consonants.
For instance, the root ( hg ) yields the verb ( hag , meaning " to lead, guide , drive " ) .
This structure is characteristic of Cushitic languages, to which Somali belongs.

In contrast, Hebrew (also Arabic ), a Semitic language, has predominantly evolved to a triconsonantal root system.
A representative example is the root : nhg ( נ־ה־ג ) , from which the verb nahag ( נהג ) is derived, meaning " to lead, guide , drive ".

This shift from biconsonantal to triconsonantal roots marks a significant morphological divergence between the two languages.

in Somali language we say : la hag ( waa la hagay ) or ( soo hag ) or ( is hag ) .
*l- " la " is causative prefix .
Causative prefix : added to the beginning of a verb stem, indicates that the action is caused or done by someone or something .

From Proto-Afroasiatic. Compare Egyptian n, Proto-Berber *n (whence Central Atlas Tamazight ⵏ (n) and Kabyle n), Somali -lá (“with, in company with”) and -leh (“with, owning”).
1. for , to .
​

la → na ,

l hg ( la hag ) → n hg ( na hag ) → nahag ( נהג ) .

נ + הג = נהג​

Keep in mind that the Somali language is much more archaic than Arabic / Hebrew and other Semitic languages.
Just because a language has ancient written records doesn't mean it has retained older forms or structures; it may have evolved over time despite these older written records.​

@TheLand ,
@Midas

more to come soon !!!!!

 

[Maakhri2024]

Another example :

In Hebrew , Aramaic and Syriac the verb שדר ( shider / shaadar ) derives from the triconsonantal root ( sh-d-r) which means :
- to send .

Conversely, in Somali, the verb ( dir ) originates from the biconsonantal root
( d-r ) and carries similar meaning:
- to send .

in Somali language we say : la dir ( waa la diray ) or loo dir ( waa loo diray ) or soo dir ( waa soo diray ) / ( ii soo dir ) or sii dir (wuu sii diray) or is ( is dir ) .

*l- ( la , loo , ... ) and *s- ( soo , sii , is ,... ) is causative prefix .

Causative prefix : added to the beginning of a verb stem, indicates that the action is caused or done by someone or something .

la → ša ,
this letter ( š ) pronounced : sh .
l dr ( la dir ) / soo dir → š dr ( š dir ) → šider / shider ( שדר ) .

ש + דר ← שדר​

more to come soon !!!!!

Aramaic Verb שדר ( shaadar ) : to send .

Arabic س - د - ر : سدر ( s-d-r ) :
Sense of letting go cognate with Hebrew שִׁדֵּר " sh-d-r " : (shider , “ to send, to dispatch, to broadcast ” ) via Jewish Babylonian Aramaic root ש־ד־ר ( sh-d-r ) means : to send .

Classical Syriac :
From the root ܫ ܕ ܪ ( sh-d-r) related to sending; compare Arabic سَدَرَ (sadara), Hebrew שִׁדֵּר (šider).
ܫܕܪ ( sh-d-r ) pronounced : (shaadar) :-
1- to send, send out, dispatch.
2- to send back .
3- to dismiss, release, let go .
4- to throw .
5- (with ܒܬܪ (bāṯar)) to send for, summon.
6- to relegate.
7- (with ܢܘܪܐ (nūrā, “fire”)) to set on fire.

@TheLand ,
@Midas

 

[TheLand]

Another example :

In Hebrew , Aramaic and Syriac the verb שדר ( shider / shaadar ) derives from the triconsonantal root ( sh-d-r) which means :
- to send .

Conversely, in Somali, the verb ( dir ) originates from the biconsonantal root
( d-r ) and carries similar meaning:
- to send .

in Somali language we say : la dir ( waa la diray ) or loo dir ( waa loo diray ) or soo dir ( waa soo diray ) / ( ii soo dir ) or sii dir (wuu sii diray) or is ( is dir ) .

*l- ( la , loo , ... ) and *s- ( soo , sii , is ,... ) is causative prefix .

Causative prefix : added to the beginning of a verb stem, indicates that the action is caused or done by someone or something .

la → ša ,
this letter ( š ) pronounced : sh .
l dr ( la dir ) / soo dir → š dr ( š dir ) → šider / shider ( שדר ) .

ש + דר ← שדר​

more to come soon !!!!!









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@TheLand ,
@Midas

Are you trying to say L shifted to S or Sh here?