Recognition: 2d Aorist

Stephen C. Carlson scarlson at mindspring.com
Mon Jul 6 11:42:48 EDT 1998


At 09:57 PM 7/6/98 -0400, Jonathan Robie wrote:
>Two questions: (1) does the 2d Aorist ALWAYS have a different stem from the
>aorist, or are there verbs for which the stems are identical? (2) are there
>some useful heuristics for finding the verb if I don't recognize it, or
>should I just use an analytical lexicon at this point?

You may find the discussion in Smyth, sections 546-553, to be helpful.  There
are a variety of rules that may be applied to create the second aorist form,
e.g. the "weak stem" (ELIPON < LEIPW), reduplication (HGAGON < AGW), syncope
(EPTOMHN < PETOMAI), A for E (ETRAPON < TREPW), metathesis (EDRAKON <
DERKOMAI),
most of which seem to derive from the Indo-European *E/*O/*zero ablaut vowel
gradation system.

Stephen Carlson
Stephen C. Carlson                        mailto:scarlson at mindspring.com
Synoptic Problem Home Page   http://www.mindspring.com/~scarlson/synopt/
"Poetry speaks of aspirations, and songs chant the words."  Shujing 2.35



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