Re: Please help me bury a dead horse

From: Torsten
Message: 66752
Date: 2010-10-12

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Aydan" <xthanex@...> wrote:
>
> First, my apologies for even touching this subject again...
> I'm still trying to counter the arguments of those who insist upon a
> linguistic connection between the Hermae pillars (and Hermes) and
> the Irminsul.
>
> It's unfortunate in that I who am pretty incompetent when it comes
> to linguistics, am forced to try and explain things to those even
> less skilled than myself.
>
> I'm hoping you guys can review this and point out if I've made any
> mistakes?
>
>
>
> Regarding the etymology of OHG irmin; OE eormen; and ON jörmun:
>
> From what I gathered from our previous discussion (primarily the
> input of Piotr, Andrew, and Brian in the thread "PGmc question"),
> these terms lack a perfectly clear etymology.
> However if I understood things correctly, OHG Ir-, OE Eor-, and ON
> Jör- can only come from what are described as "conditioned variants"
> of *Er- with short *e. Thus the PGmc origin must have been
> *Airmana-/*ermana-. Is that correct ??
>
> --------
>
> Regarding the etymology of Hermes and the Hermae: (from the thread
> "Hermes again")
>
> DGK suggested the IE root *ser- 'to line up, join together, connect'
> - given in the AHDIER as *ser-(3), This then giving rise to the
> Att.-Ion. *herme: 'articulate speech'.
>
> While Marius suggested the original IE root *ser-(2) 'to flow, to
> rush, to follow'. Eventually resulting in something akin to 'the one
> that follows the paths' (the God of Travellers - the Messenger of
> Gods)
>
> I *assume* an etymology for the Hermae would be almost identical at
> least in terms of the root of the word?
>
> --------
>
> Therefore, in order to disprove the theory of Irminsul and Hermae
> being cognates, I need only prove that PGmc *Airmana-/*ermana- is
> not likely to develop out of PIE *ser-(2) or *ser-(3) ?
>
> Which leads to the million dollar question - can the PGmc
> *Airmana-/*ermana- develop out of PIE *ser-(2) or *ser-(3) ??

Phew, I got there first!
No.
I prefer small denominations, unmarked.

> As always, I greatly appreciate any help you gentlemen can provide!

You're welcome!


Torsten