The unexplained link between Greek/Latin and Tamil
From: A.S.Sundar
Message: 24425
Date: 2003-07-11
Mikhail Razuvaev of Cybalist,on reading my post on `Etymology of
Greek word `Paleo'in Liguist List(14.1554 and 14.1630)invited me to
this group for further discussions.Many of the respondents to my
above postings evinced keen interest in the topic discussed and
welcomed further discussions in the matter. I intend sharing part of
my findings in this post.
1)'Urb-` in Latin(L) means `city'. In Tamil (TL) `Ur'
means `habitation',place where you live'.It is used in everyday
TL.The etymology for this word in TL is `to crawl' ie a `moving
settlement'.Originally,this could have referred to `nomadic camps'
which keeps moving from place to place.Later,when movements
declined, permanent settlements also would have acquired the same
name.It is interesting to note that in southern Iraq,there is a town
named `Ur'. Some people say that even Sumerian language had this
word, with the same meaning.I have no evidence on hand to believe
that claim.
2)`Unus' in L is `oinos' in OL or `oine' in Gk ,which means `one'.In
TL one is `onru' derived from `onn'.In spoken TL, the word `onnu' is
extensively used. Extensive usage of this word is also noticed in
Malayalam, the youngest of the Dravidian languages.
3)GK `krume' L `grumus' means `a small heap of earth'. English
word `crumb' is derived from this root word.
The TL word `kuru' means `small particles' and is
extensively used in everyday TL. Ear wax is called `Kathu
Kurumi'.This word `kurumi' compares straight with `cerumen' the
English term for `ear wax'.However the root of the Eng word is
L `cera' meaning`wax' and not `small'.'Kurunai'is `small broken
pieces of rice' in TL.Prickly heat blisters are called `Ver Kuru' in
TL.'Kurugia' is `small' used in the sense of `narrow'. `Kuruni' is a
measure of a small piece of land.`Kurumannar' is a King for small
territory.It may be observed that meanings as well as applications in
Gk and TL are exactly similar.
4)L'virilis' means `manly.'vir' is `man' `manly' here
means `masculine;capable of procreation'.The English word `virile' is
derived from this root.In TL,'viru>veeru' means vigorous; courageous
man.Compare this with `hero'.(ety.L heros) .'Veerappu' is `vigorous
determination'. `Viraippu' is `stiff' and an `erect phallus' which
was symbol of male procreative power is called `viraitha
''Viru viru'
is `vigorously fast'. It may be observed that `virile' also
means `vigorous'.
I welcome your comments in the
matter.With the limited resource data on Greek/Latin available at my
disposal,I am not able to make sure on certain doubts.I would
request Greek/Latin scholars to provide me with the equivalent
Greek/Latin words for the TL words I have used in the
discussion .Please also tell me whether the L words discussed are
morphemes or can they be broken down further,as in TL.Are there
related words in L to support its L/Gk origin?(For example,in TL for
the word `viru viru'supporting words of similar pattern are `thuru
thuru,kuru kuru,moru moru `etc)This will help me in my exploration on
the possible genetic link between these languages.
Regarding `chance resemblance' as a
possibility ,please read my suggestions on `chance resemblances' in
Linguist List 14.1630 before responding.
A.S.Sundar