The So-called Cuthean Words in the Samaritan Aramaic Vocabulary
In: Aramaic StudiesSearch for other papers by Abraham Tal in
Current site
Google Scholar
Abstract
The Samaritan Targum abounds in incomprehensible words, with no reasonable etymology. According to the dysphemistic name given to the new inhabitants of the Northern Kingdom in Rabbinic Judaism, scholars characterized the words in question as 'Cuthean' (cf. 2 Kgs 17). It is argued in this paper that many of these words are intentional changes that emanate from euphemistic reasons. Two ways in which the Samaritan Targum euphemizes are: (1) the use of foreign words, borrowed for this purpose, (2) intentional distortion of embarrassing words. Nevertheless, the term 'Cuthean words' might not have been coined entirely gratuitously: a small number of words might be called 'Mesopotamian', since the corresponding terms occur in Akkadian.
Purchase
Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Institutional Login
Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials
Personal login
Log in with your brill.com account
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 314 | 58 | 5 |
| Full Text Views | 74 | 3 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 41 | 4 | 0 |
The So-called Cuthean Words in the Samaritan Aramaic Vocabulary
In: Aramaic StudiesSearch for other papers by Abraham Tal in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
The Samaritan Targum abounds in incomprehensible words, with no reasonable etymology. According to the dysphemistic name given to the new inhabitants of the Northern Kingdom in Rabbinic Judaism, scholars characterized the words in question as 'Cuthean' (cf. 2 Kgs 17). It is argued in this paper that many of these words are intentional changes that emanate from euphemistic reasons. Two ways in which the Samaritan Targum euphemizes are: (1) the use of foreign words, borrowed for this purpose, (2) intentional distortion of embarrassing words. Nevertheless, the term 'Cuthean words' might not have been coined entirely gratuitously: a small number of words might be called 'Mesopotamian', since the corresponding terms occur in Akkadian.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 314 | 58 | 5 |
| Full Text Views | 74 | 3 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 41 | 4 | 0 |
