Ed wrote:
I can draw your attention to a possible supportive evidence for the original Semitic t_ in "three", namely the Arabic word t_allatun "flock of sheep", which may fit into the idea of counting 1-2-MANY, expressed here by Rick McCallister. However, take the last sentence with reserve :-)
Rick commented:
I didn't invent "1, 2, many" and I forgot where I read it but don't be surprised if somebody whacks you with your labrys and proclaims "ahhh, Arabic waHad, ithanayn, thalatha --therefore Arabic tha-, thal- must be cognate to English thr- of three and thorp. And then they say you invented that."
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Ishinan:
Unfortunately, there is no such evidence in Arabic or in any Semitic language. The reason is very straightforward: the proponent of this suggestion is confusing thallah ??? (a numerous flock of sheep) root of thll ??, with thalath ???? root of thlth ??? (three in Arabic). They are from different roots .
Below is a jpeg depicting the Arabic definition of thalla-tun, which has nothing to do with thalath. (click on the following URL)
http://www.theegyptianchronicles.com/NOSTRATIC/THALLAH.html
Just in case, for those interested, below are the various definitions of THLTH ??? (three) in Arabic.
Three, third, thirteen, thirty, three hundred etc.
A third of a portion.
Three fold.
Three men or three women.
Three cubits.
Thirtieth.
Taking the third of goods.
A property left at death had a third of it taken.
Tilling the ground three times, land turned over three times for sowing or cultivating.
The watering the see-produce on the third day.
He was, become the third of the people.
He made the people, counting himself, thirty.
He made twelve to be thirteen.
The third offspring.
Multiplying or dividing by three.
Asserting the doctrine of trinity.
Remaining three nights with one's spouse.
Tertian fever that attacks and intermits one day and attacks on the third day.
The expiatory mulct for that hominid which resembles what is intentional shall be thirds.
The loops of a camel's girth met together meaning she was, or became lean, lank in the belly.
A she camel that fills three vessels of milk.
A she-camel bringing forth her third young.
A she-camel that three of whose teats are dried up.
The offspring of adultery is the worst of the three (deeds).
The expressed juice of grapes (cooked until the quantity of 2/3 of it has gone).
A vessel in which corn that is measured therein reaches to one third of it and in the like manner in relation to beverage or wine.
The Arabic name of Tuesday being considered the third day of the week.
Anything having three angles or corners (a triangular shape, a triangle).
An acute angle, right angle and/or obtuse angle.
A three sided-pieces of land.
A projecting portion of a mound by which are placed two pieces of rock upon all which is placed the cooking pot.
A Tripod.
A certain electuary or confection of aromatics or perfumes.
"Thulthan" a name of a tree.
A slanderer of his brother because he destroys three namely himself, his brother and his prince.
A property of which a third part has been taken.
Applied to a verse of which a third has been taken away.
A rope that is composed of three strands twisted together.
A chord of the a lute composed of three twists.
A leathern water-bag made of three skins sowed together.
A garment of the kind made of sheep wool camels' hair and goats hair.
A garment made of the wool of three sheep.
A thing composed of three layers or strata.
Conventional terms in lexicology:
A word having a letter which has any of the three vowels.
A verb having its _`Ayn_ or (middle radical letter ) movent by any of the three vowels.
.
Three-pointed, having three diacritical points. As in the shiyn and Tha' letters.
A word comprising of three radical letters.
Best regards to all
Ishinan
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