Re: [tied] Religious terms , here saint

28-06-03 09:35, alex wrote:

> there has been a lot of discussion about the saint in Rom. (sfânt) being
> a contamination of Latin & Slavic, being related to sphynx, being what
> ever.

As far as I remember, the idea of dragging in the Sphynx was all yours.

> It seems the only alternative was not discussed. I have to admit, I
> ommited too this alternative.
> In his book "Karakteristik der thrakische Sprachresten", D. Deçev in the
> capitel X ( Der Indoeuropäische Halbvokal "w" make some analysis.
> I don'T agree with his way to see some things but this is an another
> story. In this capitel, he gives an interesting glosse, which is the GBN
> (Gottesbeiname) "Spintho-purenos" as deriving from Idg. < k'Wen "feiern,
> hweiligen", with cognates in avestan "spenta" ( holy), Lithuanian
> "sventas" (holly); Old Bulgarian "svetI".

You're making some progress ;-). You're prepared to accept an etymology
based on the assumption that Thracian was a Satem langaue.

> Now it happens this thrakish form is a good candidate due its form:
> Spinto > sfînt
> Thus there is no need of inventing assimilation, contamination, etc.

Straw men. No-one has "invented" any such thing. I spent some time
explaining to you that Slavic languages have both [sv] and [sf] as
regular developments of PSl. *sv [sw]. It's afact, not an invention. How
does your "good candidate" account for Romanian /sf-/?

Of

> course, the question will be " how would you like to know Alex that in
> thrakish holly has been "spintos" ?"
> Of course it is just my assumtion because of the form which appears in
> the GBN , thus in a religious aspect and the phonologic aspect which
> will explain the Rom. word.

Alex, I would be perfectly willing to allow you to discuss any aspects
of Romanian that have more general implications. But it seems to me that
you are taking advantage of my leniency and slipping back into your
habit of multiplying trifling pseudo-problems. Why don't you take such
question to the Balkanika list if they really must be duiscuseed
somewhere? I hereby announce a temporary embargo on threads starting
with "another Romanian word that Alex thinks must be Thracian". Such
threads violate my regulation against flogging dead horses. If you do
not obey, you shall be given sufficient time out to collect your
thoughts and let the other list members enjoy some well-deserved rest.

Piotr