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The Origins of Latin *asper: A Critical Examination

The Latin term *asper has long been debated among linguists, with traditional views linking it to Proto-Indo-European roots. However, a closer analysis reveals compelling evidence suggesting Albanian language origins.

Traditional View
Vladimir Orel (1998) and K. Topalli (2017) propose that "ashper" of Albanian comes from *asper of Latin, connecting it to:
1. Ancient Greek ἀσπίς (aspís, “shield”)
2. Hittite ḫasp- (“to cut”)

Alternative Perspective
Contrary to traditional views, evidence points to Albanian roots:
1. "a pres" (to cut) [rtc: apres> aspre>ashpre>ashper]
2. Or "a s'bër">a sper>a shper>ashper (unmake, undo), b>p.

Etymological Reevaluation
Linguists have also mistakenly linked "harsh" of English to "hair," overlooking semantic discrepancies. Harsh shares roots with *asper, exhibiting:
1. Rotation of words during usage
2. Drop of "p" during usage of the word.
Semantic Analysis
No logical connection exists between asper of Latin and rough, or "hair" and "harsh."
 
Albanian provides clarity:
1. The verb "pres" (to cut).
2. Adjective form of the verb to do  "bēr" (to do, to make)
2. Negative prepositions 's' and 'as'.
Key Implications
1. Albanian influence on Latin and English 
2. Phonetic evolution: b > p.

Sources
1. Orel, V. E. (1998). Albanian Etymological Dictionary. Brill.
2. Topalli, K. (2017). Etymological Dictionary of the Albanian Language. Jozef.

Conclusion
Reassessing *asper's etymology reveals Albanian roots, challenging traditional views. Further research is essential to explore Albanian language origins, Proto-Indo-European connections and etymological debates.

Future Research Directions
1. Investigating Albanian's impact on Latin
2. Comparative analysis of Indo-European languages
3. Etymological studies of related terms (e.g., "harsh," "ashpër")

References

Orel, V. E. (1998). Albanian Etymological Dictionary. Brill.
Topalli, K. (2017). Etymological Dictionary of the Albanian Language. Jozef.
De Vaan, Michiel (2008) “asper”, in Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 58
“asper”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon.
“asper”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
asper in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
Carl Meißner, Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book‎[1], London: Macmillan and Co. 
“asper”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898), Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
“asper”, in William Smith, editor (1848), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, London: John Murray

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