Proto-Slavic čьrta and Semitic ś-r-ṭ: Semantic Convergence
Keywords:
historical semantics, semantic convergence, ancient hebrew, aramaic, syriac, comparative philology, slavic etymologyAbstract
Abstract
The Proto-Slavic noun čьrta is traditionally derived from the lexical family čersti / čьrtǫ / čьrtati and is ultimately connected with the Proto-Indo-European root (s)ker- ‘to cut, carve’. At the same time, the Semitic root ś-r-ṭ is attested in Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, Akkadian, and Arabic with meanings related to cutting, incising, scratching, and leaving a visible mark. Of particular significance is the Aramaic-Syriac semantic development in which meanings associated with incision gradually expanded into the domains of line, stroke, text line, graphic mark, and written sign.
This study examines the degree of formal, semantic, chronological, and historical correspondence between the Proto-Slavic lexical family čьrta / čьrtati and the Semitic root ś-r-ṭ. The analysis combines comparative philology, historical semantics, and the critical evaluation of linguistic evidence. In addition to Slavic and Semitic material, Iranian evidence is employed as a control corpus in order to assess whether comparable semantic developments may arise independently in different linguistic traditions.
The results demonstrate that both lexical families exhibit a documented semantic trajectory extending from cutting and incision to line, mark, and graphic representation. However, the available evidence does not establish either a direct etymological relationship or a demonstrable borrowing process between the Semitic and Proto-Slavic forms. Instead, the data support the existence of a noteworthy pattern of semantic convergence whose broader historical significance warrants further comparative investigation.
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Academic Editor: Prof. Dr. Francka Premk, Institute for the Slovene Language Fran Ramovš, ZRC SAZU, Slovenia. Article Type: Research Article. Peer Review: Double-Blind Peer Review. Researched June 2010. Revised April 2026. Received: 22 April 2026. Accepted: 20 June 2026. Published 21 June 2026. DOI https://doi.org/10.67469/EHJ2026.1.1.5
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