Alpha privative
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| - | The '''privative ''a''''' (also known as '''privative alpha''' or α ''privativum'') is the [[Prefix (linguistics)|prefix]] ''a-'' which expresses negation or absence (e.g. ''[[atheism|a-theism]]'', ''[[atypical|a-typical]]''). Originally described for the grammar of [[Ancient Greek]], it goes back to a [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] syllabic nasal *''n̥-'', the zero [[Indo-European ablaut|ablaut]] grade of the negation *''ne'', i.e. /n/ used as a vowel. For this reason, it appears as ''an-'' before vowel (e.g. ''[[illiteracy|an-alphabetism]]'', ''[[anesthesia|an-esthesia]]'', ''[[anarchy (word)|an-archy]]''). The same prefix appears in [[Sanskrit]], also as ''a-'', ''an-''. In [[Latin]], the cognate prefix is ''in-'', and in [[West Germanic languages]] (including English) it is ''un-'' (''on-'' in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]). In [[North Germanic languages]], the -''n''- has disappeared and [[Old Norse]] has ''ú-'' (e.g. [[Údáinsakr|ú-dáins-akr]]), [[Danish language|Danish]] and [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] have ''u-'', whereas [[Swedish language|Swedish]] uses ''o-'' (pronounced [u]), and [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] uses the etymologically related ''ó''. | + | The '''privative ''a''''' (also known as '''privative alpha''' or α ''privativum'') is the [[Prefix (linguistics)|prefix]] ''a-'' which expresses [[negation]] or [[absence]] (e.g. ''[[atheism|a-theism]]'', ''[[atypical|a-typical]]''). Originally described for the grammar of [[Ancient Greek]], it goes back to a [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] syllabic nasal *''n̥-'', the zero [[Indo-European ablaut|ablaut]] grade of the negation *''ne'', i.e. /n/ used as a vowel. For this reason, it appears as ''an-'' before vowel (e.g. ''[[illiteracy|an-alphabetism]]'', ''[[anesthesia|an-esthesia]]'', ''[[anarchy (word)|an-archy]]''). The same prefix appears in [[Sanskrit]], also as ''a-'', ''an-''. In [[Latin]], the cognate prefix is ''in-'', and in [[West Germanic languages]] (including English) it is ''un-'' (''on-'' in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]). In [[North Germanic languages]], the -''n''- has disappeared and [[Old Norse]] has ''ú-'' (e.g. [[Údáinsakr|ú-dáins-akr]]), [[Danish language|Danish]] and [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] have ''u-'', whereas [[Swedish language|Swedish]] uses ''o-'' (pronounced [u]), and [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] uses the etymologically related ''ó''. |
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 09:30, 25 November 2008
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The privative a (also known as privative alpha or α privativum) is the prefix a- which expresses negation or absence (e.g. a-theism, a-typical). Originally described for the grammar of Ancient Greek, it goes back to a Proto-Indo-European syllabic nasal *n̥-, the zero ablaut grade of the negation *ne, i.e. /n/ used as a vowel. For this reason, it appears as an- before vowel (e.g. an-alphabetism, an-esthesia, an-archy). The same prefix appears in Sanskrit, also as a-, an-. In Latin, the cognate prefix is in-, and in West Germanic languages (including English) it is un- (on- in Dutch). In North Germanic languages, the -n- has disappeared and Old Norse has ú- (e.g. ú-dáins-akr), Danish and Norwegian have u-, whereas Swedish uses o- (pronounced [u]), and Icelandic uses the etymologically related ó.
See also
