ḫarkīna-⁽ⁱ⁾

‘to chant (vel sim.)’

Language: Palaic
Grammar: verb
ID: 763

1. Individual Anatolian Languages

1.1 Palaic

ḫarkīna-⁽ⁱ⁾

‘to chant (vel sim.)’

1.1.1Transmission

This lexeme is found in a Palaic hymn that is part of the ritual for the disappearing deity.

[D.S.]

1.1.2Forms

3sg. pret. ind. act.	ḫar-ki-i-na-š(=)	KUB 32.18 iv 10’	(CTH 752, OS or MS)
	[ḫar-ki-i-n]a-š(=)	KUB 32.16 iv^? 4’	(CTH 752, OS)

The word sequence ḫar-ki-i-na-ša-a-pa-i-ia-ti is analyzed here as ḫarkīnaš=āpa=ya=ti, i.e. with the subject ^LÚmayanz(a) watḫalaš ^dzaparwatašaš dislocated to the left. Differently, Carruba 1970a:55 analyzed it instead as ḫarkīnašā=pa=iyati, which makes the last element of the clitic chain, i.e. =iyati, awkward. Moreover, the morphology of ḫarkīnašā would be quite problematic; see below.

[D.S.]

1.1.3Graphic Features

Checked against the photographs in the Konkordanz.

[D.S.]

1.1.4Meaning

The verb ḫarkīna-⁽ⁱ⁾ can be analyzed either as a formation in -īna-⁽ⁱ⁾ derived from a root verb or a derivative in -na-⁽ⁱ⁾ derived from the adjective *ḫarki- equating etymologically Hitt. ḫarki- ‘white, bright’ (HW (2nd ed.) Ḫ:307-314). The action of the verb represents the song performed by the young man, the chanter of Zaparwa. The direct object expressed by the demonstrative pronoun -āpa refer to the words of the hymn sung by the young man. Therefore, the meaning ‘to chant’ is expected from a contextual perspective, which may have evolved from the semantics of ‘to make bright, to make clear’ (Sasseville 2021a:533-535).

[D.S.]

2. Reconstruction

2.1Reconstruction

An etymological connection between Pal. ḫarkīna-⁽ⁱ⁾ ‘to chant (vel sim.)’ and Hitt. ḫarki-/-ay- ‘white, bright’ is suggested by Sasseville 2021a:533-535. This would speak for the Proto-Anatolian reconstruction of a proterokinetic adjectival i-stem *HÉrK-i-/Hr̥K-Éi̯- ‘white, bright’. The quality of the root final velar cannot be decided based on Hittite and Palaic only. For further derivatives of this adjective in Hittite see HEG A-H:177, HED H:170f., EDHIL:307.

[D.S.]

3. Proto-Indo-European

3.1Semantic Reconstruction

While formally the adjective PAnat. *Hérg̑i‑/*Hr̥g̑éi̯- ‘white, bright’ matches Core IE *h₂r̥g̑i° (attested only in the zerograde in compounds), the Core IE adjective shows the additional meaning ‘fast, swift’. On the alleged relationship of ‘bright’ and ‘swift’, cf. Root etymology. Due to the semantic mismatch between the notions ‘white, bright’ and ‘fast, swift’, which are both safely attested, it may be recommendable to reconstruct only one meaning for the PIE pre-from: while ‘fast, swift’ may be a parallel but likely independent inner-Greek and inner-Indo-Iranian development, ‘white, bright’ is continued in Anatolian as well and may thus be reconstructed for the PIE predecessor. However, cf. the objections raised against the reconstruction below sub Morphological reconstruction.

3.1.1Root etymology

The root under investigation is an adjectival root reconstructable as *h₂erg̑- ‘white, bright; fast, swift’. However, any connection of the semantic spheres ‘light, bright’ (Core IE and Anat.) and ‘fast, swift’ (only Ved. and Gk.) is hard to substantiate.In modern times, it is wellknown that light speed is the highest possible velocity, and thus ‘light’ and ‘high speed’ nowadays are closely related concepts. Needless to say, this was not the case in antiquity, even less in PIE times. Also the link between ‘light (in color)’ and ‘light (in weight)’, which might function as an intermediary step from ‘light, bright’ to ‘fast’ (cf. CLICS² and also Buck 1949a:966–969 on a big amont of words for ‘fast’), has to be abandoned. The typological parallels are in fact mainly based on the accidental homonymy of Engl. light ‘light (in weight)’ (EDPG:339) and light ‘light (in color)’ (EDPG:333).A natural phenomenon resembling both qualities may be seen in the quick outburst of a flash of lightning. However, on the one hand, “Core IE” *h₂erg̑- ‘fast, swift’ does not denote ‘quick’, i.e. ‘having a high speed during a short period of time (like a flash)’, but ‘fast’ as an inherent quality of animals (e.g., horses, dogs) and humans. On the other hand, PIE *h₂erg̑- ‘white, bright’ as a color term characterizes entities like wool, bread, sheep, etc. (cf., e.g., HW (2nd ed.) Ḫ:307 for Hittite). These objects are by no means ‘gleaming’ or ‘glistening’, let alone ‘flashing’.
Taking together the caveats presented here, it may be methodologically safest to exclude the meaning ‘fast, swift’ from this lemma and to reconstruct only PIE *h₂erg̑- ‘white, bright’.Cf., e.g., KEWA I:121. Differently, EWAia I:254 and probably also EDG:126 opt for the change ‘white, bright’ > ‘fast, swift’; GEW I:133, DELG:104 suppose a common source of the meanings ‘white’ and ‘swift’. However, none of these dictionaries mentioned adduces evidence or examples for such a change or origin. According to LfgrE I:1205f. (with lit.), however, the meaning ‘fast, swift’ may be the result of secondary reinterpretation of inherited and reinterpreted formulae in Vedic and Greek (or already in Core IE).

3.2Morphological Reconstruction

Phonologically, PAnat. *Hérg̑‑i‑/*Hr̥g̑‑éi̯- ‘white, bright’ and Core IE *h₂r̥g̑i° ‘white, bright’ (as well as Core IE *h₂r̥g̑i° ‘fast, swift’, but cf. above on the semantics) might well belong together. However, since the root PIE *h₂erg̑- ‘white, bright’ is a Caland-root, Core IE *h₂r̥g̑i° is expected to appear primarily as a first compound member and not as a standalone adjective.On this *i, cf. the analysis of Pinault 2018a.Therefore, the adjective PAnat. *Hérg̑‑i‑/*Hr̥g̑‑éi̯- ‘white, bright’ has to be interpreted either as a secondarily reanalyzed compound member or as an independent formation derived from an acrostatic abstract PIE *h₂órg̑‑i‑/*h₂érg̑‑i- (or PAnat. *Hórg̑‑i‑/*Hérg̑‑i‑) ‘brightness’. For the time being, PAnat. *Hérg̑‑i‑/*Hr̥g̑‑éi̯- ‘white, bright’ is thus neither equated with Core IE *h₂r̥g̑i° ‘white, bright’ nor traced back to PIE.

3.2.1Root etymology

The laryngeal in the onset of the root underlying PAnat. *Hérg̑‑i‑/*Hr̥g̑‑éi̯- ‘white, bright’ has to be reconstructed as *h₂- based on the a‑colored reflexes in various language families, cf., e.g., PItal. *arg‑. The palatovelar PIE *‑g̑- in the coda is clearly reflected as *‑g- in the centum languages (< *‑g̑- or *‑g‑, cf. Gk. ἀργ‑) and as *‑g̑- in the satem languages (< *‑g̑‑, cf. YAv. ǝrǝz‑). Regarding the position of the root’s nucleus, most evidence is ambiguous between zero grade (*h₂r̥g̑‑) and full grade I (*h₂erg̑‑).The only possible evidence for full grade II (*h₂reg̑‑) may be Ved. rajatá- ‘whitish, silvery’ (RV+) which could also be interpreted as an irregular vṛddhi-formation, cf. EWAia II:425f. (followed by NIL:321 n. 20).However, Ved. árjuna- ‘shining, white’ is the only formation unequivocally reflecting full grade I, viz. *h₂érg̑‑u‑no‑. Thus, the root under investigation is reconstructed as PIE *h₂erg̑- ‘white, bright’.

[A.O.]

4. Transmission

Ved. ṛjī‑ká- ‘having a gleaming appearance, foam’ (RV, in compounds)
?Ved. personal name ṛjí‑śvan- ‘having swift dogs’, etc. (RV)
EWAia I:251, KEWA I:120, Grassmann 1996a:279

Gk. ἀργι‑όδων ‘having white teeth’, etc. (Il.+)
?Gk. ἀργί‑πους ‘having swift feet’, etc. (Il.+)
GEW I:132f., DELG:104f., EDG:126, LSJ:235

PIE
Core IE n. *h₂r̥g̑‑n̥t‑o- ‘silver’,Some (e.g., EIEC:518, EDPC:41) reconstruct full grade of the root, viz. *h₂erg̑‑n̥t‑o‑, which is, however, at least debatable.cf. YAv. ǝrǝzata- n. ‘silver’ (Bartholomae 1904:352), ?Arm. arcat‘ ‘silver; money’ (Bible+) (EDAIL:138f., Olsen 1999a:868), Lat. argentum ‘silver; money’ (Liv.Andr.+), Falisc. arcentelom ‘silver coin (vel sim.)’, Osc. abl. sg. aragetud (ST Cm 6,7), arage[ (TB Pocc.185.5) ‘money’ (WH I:66, EM:45f., EDLIL:53, OLD²:183, Untermann 2000a:116f., Bakkum 2009a:180), Gaul. place name arganto-magos, Celtib. personal name arkanta, OIr. argat ‘silver; money’, etc. (EDPC:41)
NIL:317f., 320f. n. 16, EIEC:518, 641

Core IE adj. *h₂r̥g̑‑ró- ‘white, bright; swift’, cf. Ved. ṛjrá- ‘reddish, gleaming white; swift’ (RV) (EWAia I:253f., KEWA I:121, Grassmann 1996a:280),Cf. also the PIIr. personal name attested in Ved. m. ṛjrā́śva- and YAv. m. ǝrǝzrāspa- ‘having swift horses’.?Gk. ἀργός ‘white, gleaming; fast’ (Il.+), Myc. cow’s name po‑da‑ko(=qe) /podargos(=k^u̯)e/ ‘having white/swift feet’, etc. (GEW I:132f., GEW III:37, DELG:104f., EDG:126, LSJ:236, LfgrE I:1205–1207, DMic II:132f.)The sequence Gk. *‑ργρ- is said to have been dissimilated to ‑ργ- in ἀργός, cf., e.g., GEW I:132. Vine 2011b, however, is arguing ultimately in favor of a simple o‑stem in the case of Greek, viz. PGk. *arg‑ó‑.
NIL:318

Indo-Iranian
Ved. árjuna- ‘shining, white’ (RV+)
EWAia I:116, KEWA I:50f., Grassmann 1996a:112f.

?Armenian
Arm. arcowi ‘eagle’ (Bible+)From PIE *h₂r̥g̑i‑pi̯ó- ‘eagle’, which is continued also in IIr. (as an epithet of the eagle) and maybe in Gk., cf. NIL:317, 318f. n. 4.
EDAIL:139–141, Olsen 1999a:439, NIL:319 n. 6

Messapic
Messap. argorian (LW from Gk. ἀργύριον ‘silver coin’)
GEW I:134, GEW III:37, EIEC:518

Italic
Lat. arguere ‘to make clear, declare’ (Plaut.+),On Hitt. arkuu̯ae‑^zi ‘to make a plea’ as a possible cognate of Lat. arguere, cf. the literature in NIL:319 n. 9 and EDHIL:205f. However, the Hittite verb shows, other than the Latin, the reflex of o‑grade in the root.argūtus ‘clever; producing clear/sharp sounds’ (Naev.+)
WH I:66f., EM:46, EDLIL:53, NIL:319 n. 9, OLD²:184f.

?Germanic
Goth. *airkns ‘holy’ (hapax, 2.C 8.8), OHG erchan ‘genuine, right’, etc.
EDPG:—, GED:18, EWAhd II:1140–1142

Tocharian
PToch. *ārkwäi ‘white’, cf. TochA ārki, TochB ārkwi
DTB²:52f., Carling 2009a:45, NIL:319 n. 10