Linguistic Society of America

A Note on Author(s): Ralph Marcus Reviewed work(s): Source: Language, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Sep., 1932), pp. 216-217 Published by: Linguistic Society of America Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/409654 . Accessed: 28/01/2012 05:23
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MISCELLANEA

Like Kock, Heusler uses the symbol h for x. Heusler's assumption that the assimilation of *-xt to -tt resulted only in the geminated consonant, but not in compensative lengthening of the preceding vowel, can be correct only if we accept his contention that dtta was derived directly from *dxta, for the vowel in *-dxta was already long. But like Kock, Heusler does not tell us why PN *dxt5 should become *dxta. Both Kock and Heusler have, in my opinion, overlooked the vital phase of this problem, viz. the fact that the spirant x, before it became assimilated to the following -t, must first have been reduced to a mere Therefore dtta could not have breathing4 (h), i.e., *-xt > *-ht > -tt. been derived directly from *dxta or *axtau (as Heusler and Kock maintain) but from an intermediate stage with the breathing, i.e., -ht-. Now, the breathing (h) required less time for pronunciation' than did the spirant (x); hence the preceding vowel was lengthened6 in compensation for the time lost in the reduction of the spirant to the breathing, i.e., *axto> *-dhta > dtta. The vowel was not lengthened before the spirant x (as Kock and Heusler maintain) but before the breathing h. In other cases of assimilation of spirant to stop no such reduction in time element can be assumed as in *-xt > *-ht > -tt (cf. -bt > -tt, *glaft > glatt; -fb > bb, *af-binde > abbinde, etc.).
ALBERTMOREY STURTEVANT

NOTE ON Kapcptov

In LANGUAGE6. 279 ff. Professor Preveden, in an article designed to show that Church Slavonic korabz is not derived from Greek Kaipapov, writes:
But even Kapt&/Lov (Stephanus-Didot 4.956; Du Cange2 1.589) apart from occasional interpolations, does not appear sooner than in the texts of the 8th century (Pope Zachary's Gr. Dialogues, etc.). This is just as we would expect it,
since the diminutive

derived.

can appear only after K paflos from which it is KapOhLOV

This statement is subject to correction. Kapad4tovin the meaning of 'small boat' appears as a Greek loan word in the Ecclesiastical Hissory of John Bishop of Ephesus, written in Syriac in the second half of
4 Wherever x was lost, it first became a breathing; cf. Heusler ?167. 5 As is shown by the fact that the spirant first became a breathing before it was lost. 6 Thus it is possible that before a single h the preceding vowel had already begun to be lengthened before the h finally disappeared; thus *sdx > *sdh > sd.

MISCELLANEA

217

the 6th century. In John's account of the joint reign of Justinus and Tiberius (574-578 A. D.) he describes the latter's extravagance in the following words (ed. Jessie Payne Margoliouth, Semitic Study Series XIII, Leiden 1909: 14): 'So that even when he was on the sea in a darman (Gr. bpb'wv),from all sides hastened qarabhiy?(Gr. Kapa~pta with Syriac plural ending), and to all of them he threw largesses.' In this one sentence occur two Greek loan words denoting boats. There can be no question of the derivation or meaning of either. If, could be used in a Syriac work of the 6th century, we then, Kapd~tLOv must assume its common use in Greek in the 5th century, and, in accordance with Professor's Preveden's own reasoning, assume the use of in a still earlier period. Kapapos
RALPH MARCUS

Two NAVAHO PUNS

It is a well known fact, often stressed by Boas, that the American Indians do not go in for riddles and proverbs. What few exceptions have been found serve only to emphasize the rule. If to riddles and proverbs we add puns, as it seems we have a right to do, it begins to appear likely that the American Indian has a generalized lack of interest in light verbal fancy. There is plenty of metaphor in his rituals, there is considerable etymologizing ad hoc in his legends, and his oratory is famous, but the zest in quick, irresponsible reinterpretation of familiar words or phrases which lies at the bottom of the pleasure that we experience in the telling of riddles, proverbs, and puns seems strangely unIndian, whatever may be the reason. Yet puns are not entirely absent, as the two following Navaho examples show. They were collected in the summer of 1929 at Crystal, New Mexico. In a council held some time ago the leader of one of the two contending parties said,' xdct'-' ndhano"d'" 'You people decide on one thing!' A cripple who was present whispered to one near by, ndcidi"'d"''Pick me up!' The latter, catching on at once, picked up the cripple and, holding him in his arms, asked, xd-dic ndh~rc'd-' 'Where am I to put him down?' Everybody laughed. This is said to be a favorite anecdote among the Navaho and depends for its point on the double meaning of the verb n6-hd-ni- . .. -'da', which may mean either 'to decide on the matter' or 'to put him down'.
1 Grave accent (a) represents low tone, acute (d) high tone, circumflex (d) falling tone.