A revision of Grassmann’s law.

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to investigate the law of dissimilation of aspirates as it was originally stated by Grassmann, and as it applied in Greek. It is conceivable that changes in the science of philology, particularly with regard to newly suggested etymologies, may render necessary a restatement of some of the attendant factors, though the basic idea of the law must remain unaltered. For the accomplishment of this purpose, a list of those words which were affected by the law has been compiled. The basis for the selection has been the etymologies of Walde, in the “Etymologisches Woerterbueh der Indogermanischen Sprachen”, and of Boisacq, in the “Dictionnaire Etymologique de la Langue Grecque”. Though this will necessarily exclude several suggestions which might have more value than those of Walde or Boisacq, it is felt that a certain standardization is necessary. These words are considered in groups as they bear relation to certain aspects of Grassmann’s Law as he had it published in the “Zeitschrift fuer Vergleichende Sprachforschung” in 1863. Compound words have generally not been included in the discussion, because they are obviously not affected by the law of dissimilation of aspirates. By the term compound word is meant any word resulting from the combination of two other words, each of which has a separate existence in the Greek language. [...