THE RELATIVITY OF GEOGRAPHIC TERMS A RE-INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEM OF UPPER AND LOWER ARAM
In different languages, or dialects of the same language spoken in different regions, words originally meaning ‘above/upper’ as opposed to ‘below/lower’ serve as terms for different cardinal directions, depending on the topographical character of the region (highland versus lowland). Thus, in the Ak...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2003
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| In: |
Journal of Semitic studies
Year: 2003, Volume: 48, Issue: 2, Pages: 259-285 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | In different languages, or dialects of the same language spoken in different regions, words originally meaning ‘above/upper’ as opposed to ‘below/lower’ serve as terms for different cardinal directions, depending on the topographical character of the region (highland versus lowland). Thus, in the Akkadian of Nuzi elēnu (literally ‘above’) indicates ‘East’, while in the Aramaic of the Mandaeans mulia ‘upper’ means ‘North’. Considering the topography of Egypt and Syria and the broad context in which the terms occur, two conclusions follow: (1) In Egyptian Aramaic ' lyh (literally ‘upper’) indicates ‘South’, and th&05B4;tyh (literally ‘lower’) indicates ‘North’. (2) ‘ ly ’ rm = α&05F4;νω Σνρíα = Southern Syria (Lebanon Mountains), and th&05B4;t ' rm = κα&05F3;τω Σνρíα = Northern Syria ('ans&05B4;ariyā and Antioch). |
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| ISSN: | 1477-8556 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of Semitic studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1093/jss/48.2.259 |