Alpha privative: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Prefix expressing negation or absence}} | {{Short description|Prefix expressing negation or absence}} | ||
An '''alpha [[privative]]''' or, rarely,<ref>[https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=alpha+privative%2Cprivative+a%2C+privative+alpha&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Calpha%20privative%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cprivative%20a%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cprivative%20alpha%3B%2Cc0 Ngram Viewer]</ref> '''privative a''' (from [[Latin]] | An '''alpha [[privative]]''' or, rarely,<ref>[https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=alpha+privative%2Cprivative+a%2C+privative+alpha&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Calpha%20privative%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cprivative%20a%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cprivative%20alpha%3B%2Cc0 Ngram Viewer]</ref> '''privative a''' (from [[Latin]] {{lang|la|alpha prīvātīvum}}, from [[Ancient Greek]] {{lang|grc|α στερητικόν}}) is the [[prefix]] ''a-'' or ''an-'' (before vowels) that is used in [[Indo-European languages]] such as [[Sanskrit]] and [[Greek language|Greek]] and in words borrowed therefrom to express negation or absence, for example the English words of Greek origin ''[[wiktionary:atypical|atypical]]'', ''[[wiktionary:anesthetic|anesthetic]]'', and ''[[wiktionary:analgesic|analgesic]]'', as well as the English word of Sanskrit origin ''[[ahimsa]]'' (''ahinsa''). | ||
It is derived from a [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] syllabic nasal | It is derived from a [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] syllabic nasal {{lang|ine-x-proto|n̥-}}, the zero [[Indo-European ablaut|ablaut]] grade of the negation {{lang|ine-x-proto|ne}}, i.e. /n/ used as a vowel. For this reason, it usually appears as {{lang|grc-Latn|an-}} before vowels (e.g. ''[[illiteracy|an-alphabetism]]'', ''[[anesthesia|an-esthesia]]'', ''[[anarchy (word)|an-archy]]'').<ref name="LSJ">{{LSJ|a)1|ἀ|ref}}</ref> It shares the same root with the Greek prefix {{lang|grc-Latn|nē-}} or {{lang|grc-Latn|ne-}}, in Greek {{lang|grc|νη-}} or {{lang|grc|νε-}}, that is also privative (e.g. {{lang|grc-Latn|[[nepenthe|ne-penthe]]}}).<ref name="LSJ1">{{LSJ|nh1|νη|ref}}</ref> | ||
It is not to be confused with, among other things, an [[copulative a|alpha copulative]] (e.g. ''[[wiktionary:ἀδελφός#Ancient Greek|a-delphós]]'') or the prefix | It is not to be confused with, among other things, an [[copulative a|alpha copulative]] (e.g. ''[[wiktionary:ἀδελφός#Ancient Greek|a-delphós]]'') or the prefix {{lang|grc-Latn|an-}} (i.e. the preposition {{lang|grc-Latn|aná}} with [[wiktionary:ecthlipsis|ecthlipsis]] or [[elision]] of its final vowel before a following vowel; e.g. {{lang|grc-Latn|[[anode|an-ode]]}}). | ||
==Cognates== | ==Cognates== | ||
===Sanskrit=== | ===Sanskrit=== | ||
The same prefix appears in [[Sanskrit]], also as | The same prefix appears in [[Sanskrit]], also as '''{{lang|sa-Latn|a-}}''' before consonants; and '''{{lang|sa-Latn|an-}}''' before vowels (written {{script|devi|अ}} and {{script|devi|अन्}}, respectively in [[Devanagari]]). | ||
===Latin=== | ===Latin=== | ||
In [[Latin]], the [[cognate]] prefix is | In [[Latin]], the [[cognate]] prefix is {{lang|la|in-}}, which leaves its traces in English words like ''[[wiktionary:invisible|invisible]]'' and ''[[wiktionary:inaccessible|inaccessible]]'', and in its [[Assimilation (phonology)|assimilated]] form in words like ''irresistible'', ''irrelevant'', ''irresponsible'', ''illegitimate'', ''illegal,'' ''illiterate''. The [[preposition]]al prefix {{lang|la|in-}} is unrelated. | ||
===Germanic languages=== | ===Germanic languages=== | ||
In English and other [[West Germanic languages]], the cognate is ''un-'' (or ''on-''). | In English and other [[West Germanic languages]], the cognate is ''un-'' (or ''on-''). | ||
In [[North Germanic languages]], the -''n''- has disappeared and [[Old Norse]] has | In [[North Germanic languages]], the -''n''- has disappeared and [[Old Norse]] has {{lang|non|ú-}} (e.g. {{lang|non|[[Údáinsakr|ú-dáins-akr]]}}), [[Danish language|Danish]] and [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] have {{lang|no|u-}}, whereas [[Swedish language|Swedish]] uses {{lang|sv|o-}} (pronounced [u]), and [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] and [[Faroese language|Faroese]] use the related {{wikt-lang|is|ó-}}. | ||
<!-- not IE: | <!-- not IE: | ||
===Turkic languages=== | ===Turkic languages=== | ||
In Turkic languages, the counterpart of the privative ''a/an'' is a marker | In Turkic languages, the counterpart of the privative ''a/an'' is a marker {{lang|tr|-ma}}, agglutinated to the verbal stem.<ref>{{cite book |title=Old Turkic Dictionary |place=Leningrad |publisher=Science |year=1969 |page=657 }}</ref> | ||
--> | --> | ||
==Homonym== | ==Homonym== | ||
The prefix {{lang|grc|ἁ-}} | The prefix {{lang|grc|ἁ-}} {{lang|grc-Latn|ha-}} (also {{lang|grc|ἀ}}- {{lang|grc-Latn|a-}} from [[psilosis]]), [[copulative a]], is nearly [[homonym]]ous with privative {{lang|grc-Latn|a}}, but originates from Proto-Indo-European {{lang|ine-x-proto|sm̥}}.<ref name="LSJ" /> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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[[Category:Indo-European linguistics]] | [[Category:Indo-European linguistics]] | ||
[[Category:Greek language]] | [[Category:Greek language]] | ||
{{ie-lang-stub}} | {{ie-lang-stub}} | ||
Latest revision as of 16:04, 23 September 2025
Template:Short description An alpha privative or, rarely,[1] privative a (from Latin Script error: No such module "Lang"., from Ancient Greek Script error: No such module "Lang".) is the prefix a- or an- (before vowels) that is used in Indo-European languages such as Sanskrit and Greek and in words borrowed therefrom to express negation or absence, for example the English words of Greek origin atypical, anesthetic, and analgesic, as well as the English word of Sanskrit origin ahimsa (ahinsa).
It is derived from a Proto-Indo-European syllabic nasal Script error: No such module "Lang"., the zero ablaut grade of the negation Script error: No such module "Lang"., i.e. /n/ used as a vowel. For this reason, it usually appears as Script error: No such module "Lang". before vowels (e.g. an-alphabetism, an-esthesia, an-archy).[2] It shares the same root with the Greek prefix Script error: No such module "Lang". or Script error: No such module "Lang"., in Greek Script error: No such module "Lang". or Script error: No such module "Lang"., that is also privative (e.g. Script error: No such module "Lang".).[3]
It is not to be confused with, among other things, an alpha copulative (e.g. a-delphós) or the prefix Script error: No such module "Lang". (i.e. the preposition Script error: No such module "Lang". with ecthlipsis or elision of its final vowel before a following vowel; e.g. Script error: No such module "Lang".).
Cognates
Sanskrit
The same prefix appears in Sanskrit, also as Script error: No such module "Lang". before consonants; and Script error: No such module "Lang". before vowels (written <templatestyles src="Script/styles.css" />अTemplate:Script/doc/id-unk and <templatestyles src="Script/styles.css" />अन्Template:Script/doc/id-unk, respectively in Devanagari).
Latin
In Latin, the cognate prefix is Script error: No such module "Lang"., which leaves its traces in English words like invisible and inaccessible, and in its assimilated form in words like irresistible, irrelevant, irresponsible, illegitimate, illegal, illiterate. The prepositional prefix Script error: No such module "Lang". is unrelated.
Germanic languages
In English and other West Germanic languages, the cognate is un- (or on-).
In North Germanic languages, the -n- has disappeared and Old Norse has Script error: No such module "Lang". (e.g. Script error: No such module "Lang".), Danish and Norwegian have Script error: No such module "Lang"., whereas Swedish uses Script error: No such module "Lang". (pronounced [u]), and Icelandic and Faroese use the related Template:Wikt-lang.
Homonym
The prefix Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "Lang". (also Script error: No such module "Lang".- Script error: No such module "Lang". from psilosis), copulative a, is nearly homonymous with privative Script error: No such module "Lang"., but originates from Proto-Indo-European Script error: No such module "Lang"..[2]
See also
Template:Sister project Template:Sister project
References
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