[B-Greek] Act 27:14 TUFWNIKOS

George F Somsel gfsomsel at yahoo.com
Thu Dec 7 07:42:29 EST 2006


Considering what is stated in several dictionaries regarding the adoption of a form of TUFWN into Arabic and its subsequent transference to Indian dialects, I am wondering whether it might then have subsequently been adopted by the Chinese.  English borrowing of the term from the Chinese would then complete the circle bringing it back to the West.  You stated that Tai Fung and Dafeng is modern.  How modern?  Do you have any information regarding when this first appeared?
 
george
gfsomsel
_________



----- Original Message ----
From: CTCE <jfs at jfsanders.com>
To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Thursday, December 7, 2006 2:00:55 AM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Act 27:14 TUFWNIKOS


I am very impressed, George, with your answer to Oun Kwon's question.  This is how answers should be given to many of the questions put forth here.



>From the Chinese language side, which I am not professionally trained to answer, needs to be answered using Chinese linguistic history.  Tai Fung (Cantonese), related to Mandarin Dafeng, is modern.  The modern Chinese language is thought to be spoken in an old form beginning in the Sung Dynasty (10th century Common Era (AD).  A reconstructed form of old Chinese for the Tang Dynasty (7th century Common Era (AD) has strong backing, but a reconstructed form of archaic Chinese (Han dynasty, probably originating in the Warring States period or perhaps in the latter part of the Spring and Autumn period) (all before the common era, BC) is much more speculative.  Nevertheless, it is that pronunciation (the Archaic form) that we would need to compare with the Koine Greek (or classical) to see if there was any influence at all, from Chinese language input.  



The query by Oun Kwon is not all that out of place.  With the consolidation of the Chinese State under Qin Shi Huang and the later Hans, the Silk Road had significant economic and intellectual interface between the Chinese, The Hindus, and the Seleucids (Parthians, etc.).  There has been a case made for Pythagorias, if he himself was not Chinese, then at least he was heavily influenced by Chinese philosophy.



John Sanders

Suzhou, China


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