ἅλς

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Thu, 08/05/2021 - 14:03

Word-form

ἀλαλάζω

Transliteration (Word)

alalazō

English translation (word)

to cry, to shout aloud

Transliteration (Etymon)

als

English translation (etymon)

sea

Author

Choeroboscus

Century

9 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Epimerismi in Psalmos, p. 37

Ed.

T. Gaisford, Georgii Choerobosci epimerismi in Psalmos, vol. 3, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1842: 1-192.

Quotation

Ἀλαλάζω, παρὰ τὸ λῶ, τὸ λαλῶ, λαλάζω, καὶ ἀλαλάζω μετὰ τοῦ ἐπιτατικοῦ Α, ἢ ἐκ τοῦ ΑΛΑ ὃ σημαίνει τὸν θόρυβον.

Translation (En)

Alalazō "to shout", from "to want", lalō "to talk", lalazō, and alalazō, with an intensive a, or from ala, which means the noise.

Comment

The problem is here to understand the second etymology given by Choeroboscus: what is exactly the meaning of ΑΛΑ? The notice of the Etym. Magnum gives a more accurate explanation: ἄλς, "sea", because of the incessant sounds of the waves, can have the meaning of θόρυβος, "noise", and so can be the etymon of άλαλάζω. This may be the expanded version of the Choeroboscus' thinking. Alternatively, [ala] is simply an onomatopoeic cry referring to noise, and has nothing to do with "sea".

Parallels

These are parallels for ἀλαλή, but including references to ἀλαλάζω: Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 55 (Ἀλάλη: Ὁ θόρυβος καὶ ἡ ἄναρθρος φωνή. Παρὰ τὴν ἅλα τὴν ἀεὶ ἠχοῦσαν, ἅλη· καὶ διπλασιασμῷ ἀλάλη. Ἐξ οὗ ἀλαλάζω, καὶ ἀλάλαγμα); Etym. Symeonis, vol.1, p. 250, l. 22 (ἀλαλή· ὁ θόρυβος· παρὰ τὴν ἅλα, τὴν ἀεὶ ἠχοῦσαν, ἀλή καὶ ἐν διπλασιασμῷ ἀλαλή, ἐξ οὗ ἀλαλάζω καὶ ἀλάλαγμα καὶ ἀλαλητός (Δ 436))

Modern etymology

Denominative verb from ἀλαλά, military interjection

Persistence in Modern Greek

Αλαλάζω is still used in Modern Greek to designate 'to let out a scream', mostly of joy or excitment. Words "αλαλαγμός" and "αλαλητό" are also used today in the sense of 'non comprehensible cries of joy/excitement'.

Entry By

Margelidon