Re: rex, ra_s.t.ra, nation

--- In cybalist@..., "tgpedersen" <tgpedersen@...> wrote:

> --- In cybalist@..., "S.Kalyanaraman" <kalyan97@...> wrote:
> > I understand from Bartleby etyma that the IE root reg- had
> > lengthened-grade form *re_g-, Indo-European word for a tribal

king

> > and that the root is cognate with Reichsmark, from Old High

German

> > and Latin rex, king, Sanskrit ra_ja_.
> >
> > Perhaps, historical and comparative linguistics will explain as

to

> > when the concept of 'nation' emerged in IE history.
> >
> > How is the form, ra_s.t.ra (nation) used in the R.gveda explained?
> >
> > I request help from members on bibliographical references where
> this
> > evolution of polity is discussed further. I tried to search the
> > archives of the list and could not find messages on this IE root.
> > Maybe, I have missed something.
>
> Here is, if nothing else, a storehouse perhaps related roots:
>
> http://www.angelfire.com/rant/tgpedersen/Hrg.html
>
> Particularly I like the initial quote by Benveniste: the king not

as

> ruler, but as surveyor, the guy who sets things straight (or

right).

> Be aware that this is only my opinion.

Maybe you don't like the phonetics, but you've left out (Modern?)
Hebrew sirgel 'ruler (tool, not person)' and regel, ragl- 'foot (body
part, not unit of length)'. I've left the lenition out and I need to
check the vowels. When I first saw 'sirgel' I thought of the tale
that the Romans learnt to build warships by copying a Phoenician
warship.

Richard.