Re: BITUMEN was IS PIE * DERU EXCLUSIVELY INDO-EUROPEAN ?

Ishinan wrote : Etymology of Bitumen "the Arabic word btm for bitumen
appears to be a straightforward candidate, pointing to a definite Semitic
source for the word."
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Arnaud responded :
LOL ! The root btm is an obvious recent loanword from French, that has less
than a half century of existence in Arabic. It's not even listed in LArousse
Dictionnaire an-nasil de l'arabe. You advised to look in Lisan al Arab in a
previous mail, So why don't you go get B_t_m in Lisan ! B_t_m is described
as being j_b_l : a mountain !! Arabic native word for bitumen is zift. Your
Beat-Ruhlen score : 9 / 10.
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Ishinan's comments:
If you think you can debate by rambling nonsense,
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Arnaud :
Sorry but
1 . I am not the one who first cites B_t_m then changes to b_t?_m.
2. This b_t?_m root has two meanings :
A) Terebinth tree
B) Ulcer on the leg.
Which one has a connection with bitumen ?
Who is rambling nonsense ?
Bitumen is neither a terebinth tree not an ulcer on the leg.
(As least not in my country
and I am ready to think this is a weak universal.)
Your Beat-Ruhlen ratings are still high.

Thx for providing Lisan Al Arab entry.

As regards the LAtin word "bitumen" :
According to Meillet, this word is very possibly
a good old PIE root *gwitu-
Thru either Gaulish or Osco-umbrian.

Last but not least,
Arabic zift = bitumen is very close to
Greek asph-alt which may well be a loanword
from some "near-eastern" language.
I suggest you investigate this point.

Arnaud
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Unlike you, who doesn't bother to name any sources for your assertions,
Ishinan
=======
The spit of the toad does not reach the white dove.
I always provide sources for my data.
Including pages or Web addresses
Last examples : Two this afternoon.
Arnaud
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