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Re: [HM] The origin of the word "algebra"
Posted:
Apr 23, 2001 7:50 AM
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On 20/04/01 20:45, Moshe' Machover <moshe.machover@kcl.ac.uk> wrote:
<< ....... the Arabs changed the order, apparently to facilitate
the study of calligraphy, putting letters of similar *shape*
together. >>
On 21 April, 03:19:59 Udai Venedem wrote:
<< Just a slight correction: It seems that these letters share
the same shape because they have similar vocalization. And this
argument is stronger than a random calligraphic one. >>
This "correction" seems to me mistaken. What is the phonological connection
between Ba (pronounced B) and Ta (pronounced t), which is its immediate
successor in the Arabic alphabet?
Similarly:
Gim (pronounced J in classical Arabic and most dialects and G in other
dialects), followed by H.a (pronounced as semi-rough guttural aspirate);
Ra (R) followed by Zay (Z);
Fa (F) followed by K.af (strongly articulated guttural k).
In all these cases the connection between pairs of consecutive letters
is only calligraphic.
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