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What are the origins of the word semetic? When I hear someone call another person (theoretically) anti-semetic I wonder where the word semetic originated can anyone enlighten me?
Semitic Main Entry: Se·mit·ic Pronunciation: s&-'mi-tik also -'me- Function: adjective Etymology: German semitisch, from Semit, Semite Semite, probably from New Latin Semita, from Late Latin Semitic Shem 1 : of, relating to, or constituting a subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic language family that includes Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, and Amharic 2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Semites 3 : JEWISHPosts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Anti-semetic is not an ideal word, becuase the word semetic refers only to linguistics. Jews and Arabs are not Semetic, they speak semetic languages, or at least used to.
Posts: 1332 | Registered: Apr 2005
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This is just from memory, but according to Judeo-Christian tradition, Noah had three sons, named Ham, Shem and Japheth. After the flood, Ham went south into Africa, Japheth went north into Europe (interestingly, the father of the Gods in Greek mythology is named "Iapetus", which some people think is an example of cultural myth-blending... [I just made that term up; I don't know what Joseph Campbell would call it]) and Shem stayed in the mideast region of Asia. The descendents of Shem were called "Shemites", a name which was eventually changed to "Semites" and applied specifically to the Israelite portion of his lineage.
Again, that's just from memory. I don't have time to do a whole lot of research right now. If anyone finds any flaws with this story, let me know.
quote:interestingly, the father of the Gods in Greek mythology is named "Iapetus", which some people think is an example of cultural myth-blending...
I'm not familiar with any myth that names Iapetus as the father of the gods. What's your source on that? Apollodorus names him as a son of Uranus and Gaia and brother to the father of the gods, Cronus. Also according to Apollodorus he marries Asia (his brother Oceanus's daughter) and fathers a number of well known Titans, including Atlas and Promethius. Hesiod states that he married a different daughter of Oceanus, but I *think* that he also has Iapetus as the father of Prometheus.
His being the father of Prometheus is important because through Prometheus the Greeks saw him as the ancestor of the human race, which I suspect is what you're thinking of.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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I have already embraced my pinheadedness, so can I please beg you for the love of all that is holy or unholy depending on your preference, please stop misspelling semitic. At least fix it in the thread title. Thank you in advance. <:-)
Posts: 2010 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Right on, Noemon. Like I said, this was all based upon some memories of stuff I studied over a decade ago, so if you want a source, consider it cited. I guess it was the brother of the father of the gods, father of Promethius...that does sound right now that you mention it. Thanks for improving the accuracy of the tale. I'll make a note of it.
quote:Anti-semetic is not an ideal word, becuase the word semetic refers only to linguistics. Jews and Arabs are not Semetic, they speak semetic languages, or at least used to.
Well, no, not really. Semitic does still refer to the people and not just the language, though I don't think it's used very much anymore. And in fact, Afro-Asiatic is often used as the term for the language family to avoid any racial associations. Arabs and Jews (and Berbers and a few other smaller groups) still do speak Semitic languages.
quote:The descendents of Shem were called "Shemites", a name which was eventually changed to "Semites."
Actually, it's just because Hebrew had a sh sound but no s sound, while Greek and Latin had a s sound but no sh sound.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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Hebrew possesses both a sh sound and a s sound. I am fairly certain even Yemenite Hebrew (thought to be the closest in pronunciation to ancient Hebrew) has both sounds -- as well as the th sound that modern Hebrew lacks.
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I guess it was the brother of the father of the gods, father of Promethius...that does sound right now that you mention it. Thanks for improving the accuracy of the tale. I'll make a note of it. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
