PRASLOVENSKO ČЬRTA I SEMITSKO Ś-R-Ṭ: SEMANTIČKA KONVERGENCIJA
Željko Stanojević
Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature, Belgrade, Serbia
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0717-6184
Abstract
The Proto-Slavic noun čьrta is traditionally derived from the lexical family čersti / čьrtǫ / čьrtati and 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 importance is the Aramaic-Syriac development in which meanings associated with incision gradually expanded into the semantic 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 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 across different linguistic traditions.
The results demonstrate that both lexical families exhibit a documented semantic trajectory extending from cutting and incision toward line, mark, and graphic representation. However, the available evidence does not establish 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.
Description
This study investigates the historical-semantic relationship between the Proto-Slavic lexical family čьrta / čьrtati and the Semitic root ś-r-ṭ, one of the oldest attested Semitic roots associated with incision, cutting, marking, and the production of visible traces. Drawing upon Slavic etymological scholarship, Hebrew philology, Aramaic and Syriac lexicography, Akkadian and Arabic evidence, and comparative historical linguistics, the article examines whether the similarities between these lexical families can be explained through shared semantic developments.
Particular attention is devoted to the semantic transition from physical incision and cutting to line, mark, sign, and graphic representation. The study demonstrates that this development is independently documented within both the Slavic and Semitic traditions. Special emphasis is placed on the Syriac lexical tradition, where meanings associated with incision evolved into terms denoting text lines, graphic strokes, diacritical marks, and written signs.
In addition to Semitic and Slavic evidence, Iranian lexical material is examined as a control corpus. The inclusion of Iranian parallels allows the study to evaluate whether comparable semantic trajectories may emerge independently in unrelated linguistic environments, thereby providing an important methodological framework for assessing historical-semantic convergence.
The article does not argue for a proven genetic relationship or a demonstrable borrowing process between Proto-Slavic and Semitic forms. Rather, it proposes that the documented evidence reveals a remarkable pattern of semantic convergence centered on the conceptual sequence “cutting → incision → trace → line → sign.” This convergence contributes to broader discussions in historical semantics, comparative philology, lexical reconstruction, and the study of semantic change across language families.
Keywords
Proto-Slavic; čьrta; Semitic languages; ś-r-ṭ; historical semantics; comparative philology; semantic convergence; etymology; Hebrew; Aramaic; Syriac; Akkadian; Arabic; Iranian languages; lexical reconstruction
Research Areas
Slavic Linguistics; Semitic Studies; Hebrew Linguistics; Historical Semantics; Comparative Philology; Historical Linguistics; Etymology; Aramaic Studies; Syriac Studies; Indo-European Studies; Lexical Reconstruction; Language Contact Studies
Citation
Stanojević, Željko. 2026. Praslovensko čьrta i semitsko ś-r-ṭ: semantička konvergencija., Belgrade: Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17613/s8c71-v7m69
Availability
Academia.edu
Humanities Commons
https://works.hcommons.org/records/s8c71-v7m69
Additional Information
Language: English
Type: Research Article
Core Concepts: Proto-Slavic čьrta; Semitic ś-r-ṭ; semantic convergence; historical semantics; incision and marking; graphic signs; comparative philology; lexical reconstruction; Slavic etymology; Hebrew philology; Aramaic lexicography; Syriac linguistic tradition; semantic change; Indo-European studies