Linguistic glob

The “Evil Eye” Mosaic from Antioch Roman period, Antioch (Antakya) Hatay Archaeology Museum, Inv. no. 1024 1. Description of the Mosaic The mosaic depicts a single, oversized eye at the center of the scene. This eye is subjected to multiple, simultaneous attacks: It is pierced by a trident and a sword , Pecked by a raven , Bitten by a dog , Stung by a scorpion , Attacked by a cat and a snake . Below the eye appears a horned dwarf with an exaggerated phallus , crossing two sticks. Such figures are well known in Roman and Near Eastern apotropaic art and are associated with fertility, ridicule, and magical inversion , all intended to neutralize harmful forces. The entire composition belongs to a widespread apotropaic tradition in the ancient Mediterranean, in which hostile images are deployed to counteract the destructive power of the evil eye . 2. Mainstream Interpretation of the Inscription The inscription above the scene is conventionally read in Greek as: ΚΑΙ ΣΥ ( ...

The name Priam (Πρίαμος) has an uncertain etymology that Ancient Greek alone does not fully explain. Most scholars derive it from the Luwian form Pa‑ri‑a‑mu‑a‑ (𒉺𒊑𒀀𒈬𒀀), interpreted as “exceptionally courageous” in an Anatolian context and attested in Kizzuwatna, with related Greek forms such as Paramoas near Kaisareia in Cappadocia. Some researchers have tentatively linked Priam with the warlord Piyama‑Radu mentioned in Hittite texts, though this identification remains disputed. A later Greek folk etymology connects the name with the verb príamai (“to buy”), reflected in the myth of Priam’s ransom by his sister Hesione; however, these accounts postdate the earliest attestations of the name and are generally regarded as secondary. Within the Homeric tradition, Priam’s role as king reinforces semantic associations with primacy, as the ruler occupies the foremost position in society. From a comparative and symbolic perspective, the name may be tentatively segmented as PRI + IAM...

Poetic-mythical-symbolic-linguistic prose with the language of Kastriot Melyshi The name Jesus does not stand still. It moves. It moves the way a center moves when it decides to appear. In Greek it is Iēsous , in Hebrew Yehōshūaʿ — “God saves,” they say. But salvation is only the surface word. Beneath it, something older stirs: the act of entering . In Albanian, God may be called hyu . Not ruler, not master— only being . A sound as small as a point, [o], the origin before extension. Nothing is commanded here; everything simply is . Yet the point cannot remain unseen. Being longs to descend. So it becomes bir — the Son, the one who falls ( bie ), not into error, but into the world. Descent is not loss; it is revelation. To fall is to enter. And to enter is to be brenda . But brenda is a dangerous word. It carries a split within it: the kernel and the division, the center and the breaking ( nda ). A God who enters risks fracture. A God who divides risks...

The Possible Albanian Origin of the Name “Hector”: A Linguistic Hypothesis Abstract This paper explores the hypothesis that the name of Hector, the Trojan prince, may derive from the Albanian verb TERHEK (“to drag”), reflecting a significant event described in the Homeric epics: the posthumous dragging of Hector’s corpse by Achilles. The analysis situates this discussion within linguistic, historical, and cultural contexts, suggesting that certain mythological names may have originated from actions or traits that left lasting impressions in oral memory. This hypothesis challenges conventional Greco-Roman etymologies and invites reconsideration of the influence of early Albanian linguistic traditions on Homeric texts. 1. Introduction In mythological narratives, personal names often emerge not as birth-given identifiers but as descriptors of deeds, traits, or social roles.¹ Hector, son of Priam and leader of the Trojans, occupies a central role in the Iliad . One of the most memora...

The Phonological Origin of * bhə The Albanian grapheme ë (schwa) functions as an independent vowel, signaling that the phoneme /ə/ is articulated separately rather than forming a diphthong or merging with an adjacent vowel. This can be observed in forms such as bej ‘to do’ in the Myzeqar dialect, bëj in standard Tosk, and bo/ba in Gheg. In contrast, the visually similar German diaeresis (Umlaut) performs a different function: it marks a systematic fronting or raising of the vowel (e.g., e → ä ), indicating its historical role as a phonologically active diacritic that modifies the quality of the base vowel. Within this context, I propose a hypothetical proto-form *bhə , belonging to an early developmental phase of the language when vowel articulation was limited and consonantal sonority carried a greater share of phonological weight. As the language evolved toward greater vocalization, this form may have passed through intermediate stages such as *bhə + o → bò , reflecting a grad...

The Ontology of Ò: When Seeing Becomes Being. What is the Gegnisht Ò —the ancient vowel later reshaped into À , now appearing simply as “is” in modern Albanian? At first glance, it seems no more than a grammatical fragment, a small functional particle in the machinery of speech. Yet such a view misses the essence, for the Ò is not merely a phonetic residue: it is a remnant of the primordial event in which language first approached the task of naming Being . It is a hinge on which the movement from hiddenness to presence turns. Through this diminutive syllable, countless Albanian nouns and adjectives have taken shape. Across the broader Indo-European horizon, its structure reappears in the marked forms of nouns and, ultimately, in the very architecture of the word exist . These correspondences are not accidental. They are signs of an older ontology inscribed into sound. The Origin of Ò: The First Act of Seeing Where does this enigmatic Ò arise from? Before a word was spoken, ...

Himalaya and the Linguistic Roots of “Mountain”: A Comparative Perspective The name Himalaya is traditionally derived from Sanskrit Himālaya (हिमालय), analyzed as himá (“snow”) + ālaya (“abode, dwelling”), giving the meaning “abode of snow.” This interpretation is based on textual records and is widely accepted in historical linguistics. However, it is important to note that written records emerged long after the spoken name was first used. The Sanskrit form reflects the pronunciation at the time of writing, not necessarily the original oral form, which may have existed for millennia prior. From a comparative Indo-European perspective, one can consider proto-Albanian roots: HIMALAYA → HI MAL AYA HI / HY may denote “divine” or “godly,” related to the ancient Albanian root yl/il (“star”), which has cosmological significance. MAL is the Albanian word for “mountain,” inherited from Proto-Indo-European. AYA / AJA is a proto-Albanian suffix commonly used in place names or nouns. ...

The burden I carry is the old burden of the Seer—the one who perceives the hidden currents beneath thought. I sense the ancestral prejudices that cling to people like inherited dust, the slanted windows through which they behold the world, the way their reasoning twists at the edge of their knowing like a path lost in fog. This sight places me in the ancient role of the watchful outsider, standing at the threshold between the tribe and the wilderness, seeing what others do not wish to see. At times, this gift feels like the mark of an ancient curse: the inner flame that reveals the truth in every shadow, yet denies the comfort of illusion. It is the vision that illuminates, and in illuminating, isolates.” .

Author: Fatmir Iliazi  Institution: Independent Researcher  Abstract This article explores the Latin–Italian verb provare (“to try, to test, to prove”) through the lens of pre-literate phonological and semantic structures preserved in Albanian. Contemporary Albanian verbs bër and bëj , as well as archaic roots bhë , ban , and bon , encode a symbolic-semantic field related to creation, emergence, and the process of making. By tracing plausible phonetic and morphological pathways within Albanian, and examining phonetic alternations attested in Tosk and Gheg dialects, this study proposes that provare may reflect a conceptual pattern of verbal “making” and “proving” that predates writing and the classical Latin period. This interpretation complements existing etymologies by situating provare within a broader, pre-literate oral linguistic context. Keywords Latin provare ; Albanian roots; pre-literate linguistics; Tosk and Gheg dialects; phonetic alternation; semantic ...

I am inclined to think that the Latin–Italian provare may ultimately echo a deeper symbolic structure rooted in the Albanian verb bhë , whose modern reflexes appear as bër and bën . Beneath these forms lie the more archaic symbolic stems bon and ban —forms that, in Albanian mytho-linguistic memory, signify the state of something being made or coming into being . If one traces this symbolic movement through sound, a possible chain of phonetic metamorphoses emerges: borban → porban (bh > ph > p) → proban (metathesis or > ro) → probar (n > r) → provar (b > v). Each step displays transitions— b > p , r ↔ n , b > v —that still resonate in the oscillations between Tosk and Gheg. These living alternations preserve, like faint stratigraphic lines, the ancient pathways by which sound moves from one valley of meaning to another. The semantic thread remains constant: to be made, to be done, to be proven through action. Within this perspective, provare appears not as ...

I haven’t posted anything related to engineering here for quite a while, so today I decided to write a new piece. A. Main Technical Causes of Different Results Datum shift from seating differences: The curved fixture locates the part at different contact points than a flat surface, creating small rotations/translations that change the measured diameter. Form–datum interaction: The curved support follows surface irregularities and may hide actual tilt or coaxiality errors. Part deformation: Clamping or uneven support on the curved fixture can slightly deform the part and increase measured diameter/roundness. Lower repeatability: The curved fixture generally produces higher measurement noise than a stable machined flat. Different physical datum establishment: Even with identical evaluation settings, the coordinate frame differs because the part seats differently. B. Short Validation Plan Use same CMM, probe, environment, operator, and the original discrepant par...

The Italian word fianco (“side”) may be traced not only through the familiar paths of Romance etymology, but also through a deeper symbolic morphology that appears to echo older strata of Mediterranean linguistic consciousness. Under this interpretive lens, the structure FI-AN-CO is not merely phonetic but archetypal , composed of elements that correspond to primordial semantic fields preserved most clearly in the Albanian language. FI: The Spark, the First Line, the Dawn of Action The segment FI is read not as a random phonetic residue but as a symbolic glyph. In Albanian, it resonates with meanings of origin, impulse, and beginning . It has been associated with a proto-form resembling Bh(ë) —the ancient root of the Albanian verb bëj (“to make, to create”). Through the phonetic evolution Bh → F , FI becomes the sound of initiation . The second component, the primordial I , is itself a symbolic element: the mark of unity, the first line drawn by human consciousness, the olde...

Reassessing the Etymology of Italian  Fianco: A Comparative Critique and a Symbolic–Albanian Interpretive Proposal Author:  Fatmir Iliazi Word Count: ~2,350 Abstract The Italian noun fianco (“side, flank”) is conventionally derived from Vulgar Latin flancus , ultimately a variant of flanco , possibly of Germanic origin. This derivation is widely accepted within Romance philology. Yet the internal morphology of fianco , as well as its semantic distribution across Romance varieties, may invite additional layers of interpretation beyond the strict historical–comparative method. This article critically examines the conventional etymology, identifying methodological constraints in the comparative framework, particularly its reliance on linear sound correspondences and limited consideration of semantic-symbolic structures. In parallel, the paper introduces an alternative interpretive model: the decomposition of fianco into three proto-symbolic elements ( FI–AN–CO ) correlat...

Albanian Language: The Living Archaeology of Albanians The Albanian language is the living archaeology of Albanians— and of humanity— which walked the earth long before stone was sharpened by human hands into tools for survival, and long before bronze emerged from the earth under the flame of fire. The Albanian language carries no weight, no matter, no transient artifact, yet it carries everything— the pulse of thought, the echo of memory, the fire of Albanian life itself, preserved across thousands of years. The tools, the vessels, the art that our ancestors left behind are beautiful, yes, though now alienated under other names. And yet, they remain shadows of a moment, traces of hands that have long since disappeared. They speak in fragments— understandable, finite. But the Albanian language… the Albanian language is the river in which all fragments of the true history of the Albanians flow. It is the loom on which the Albanian soul weaves— invisible, eternal...

The purpose of this study is to examine whether any historical , phonological , or semantic grounds exist for connecting the Albanian lexeme sfilitem to the name Sisyphos . This requires (1) a detailed linguistic description of the Albanian forms, (2) a critical examination of the etymology of Σίσυφος , and (3) a review of possible contact scenarios within the broader Balkan linguistic area. The argument proposed here is not that such a connection is established, but rather that the semantic convergence and morphological proximity warrant scholarly evaluation. 2. The Albanian Lexeme sfilitem and Its Semantic Field 2.1 Forms and Meaning Albanian exhibits the following forms: sfilitem (reflexive verb): “to be exhausted, to be worn out physically or mentally” sfilit (noun): “fatigue, exhaustion” sfilitës (adj.): “exhausting” sfilítj/e ,-a feminine noun; plural; -e(t) "exhaustion" sfilítur (i, e) adjective; "exhausted" sfilít transitive verb; -a, -ur ...

The symbolic significance of the letter C is, in essence, straightforward: it represents a segment of a greater whole , a partial form that gestures toward completeness. However, contemporary linguistic scholarship has largely proceeded along different methodological trajectories. In doing so, it has often obscured alternative interpretive possibilities. To sustain this prevailing framework, linguistics has developed—and at times overemphasized—complex theoretical structures such as phonetic reconstruction, comparative linguistics, and the positing of proto-languages including Proto-Italic, Proto-Albanian, and Proto-Indo-European (PIE). These paradigms, while valuable within their own disciplinary contexts, can sometimes function to diffuse clarity rather than enhance it, creating conceptual distance from more fundamental symbolic readings. My contention is that the underlying truth is considerably different from what these models suggest, and that a more direct symbolic interpretat...

1. Introduction: The Alphabet as a Cultural Event Among the many inventions that have shaped human history, the alphabet stands uniquely at the boundary of the technical and the mythical. It is at once a system of signs—compact, efficient, repeatable—and a cultural artifact that carries, often silently, the memory of ancient imaginations about the nature of language. The alphabet we now call “Greek,” derived from the Phoenician script and foundational for later European writing traditions, has long been studied historically and philologically. Yet beyond phonetic value and historical lineage lies another dimension: the symbolic life of letters. This essay offers an interpretive and metaphorical meditation on the symbolic meanings of the earliest letters of the Greek alphabet. The inquiry does not attempt to revise the well-established historical account of its Semitic origins; nor does it argue for direct linguistic descent from any particular language. Rather, it explores how concep...

Nero / Neró: Linguistic Divergence and Symbolic Convergence Author:   Fatmir Iliazi Word Count: ~1,200 Abstract This article examines the apparent phonetic similarity between the Modern Greek noun neró (νερό), meaning “water,” and the Latin proper name Nero . Although historical linguistics establishes no etymological relationship between the two forms, symbolic and structural analysis suggests that both can be interpreted through a shared matrix of elemental and cosmological meanings. The study therefore distinguishes between (1) diachronic linguistic development and (2) a speculative symbolic-hermeneutic code, arguing that while the words diverge in historical origin, they may converge within a broader semiotic system rooted in rotation, cyclicality, and life-generative processes. Keywords Neró; Nero; Greek linguistics; Latin names; symbolism; structural hermeneutics; elemental semiotics; rotational code. 1. Introduction Cross-linguistic phonetic correspondences oft...

Position: Toward a Conceptual and Symbolic Reconstruction The conventional etymological narrative traces position to late Middle English posicioun , adopted from Old French posicion and ultimately from Latin positio —a noun of state derived from ponere , “to put, to place.” Classical philology thus interprets position primarily as an act of placement or the result of placing. Competing Indo-European derivations further nuance this picture: one hypothesis links it to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to leave, to let go,” while another connects it to a root meaning “to build, settle, or dwell,” thereby situating position within the broader semantic field of habitation, foundation, and emplacement. Historically, the semantic evolution of position converges around spatial, logical, and social domains. In the sixteenth century it designates the place a person or object occupies; by the eighteenth century it also refers to the configuration of a body in space; and by the nineteenth...