GD 1104          SPAN(T)

H 0857                ן ו פ ס ; ן פ ס

Concept of root : roof-structure

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

; ן פ ס

ן ו פ ס

saphan;

sippun

to board up, cover;

 inner roof, ceiling

Related English words

spannan, OE

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ן פ ס ;

-

ן ו פ ס

-

saphan;

-

sippun

-

to board up, cover ;

inner roof, ceiling

s . p . n

Middle Dutch

span

span

rafter, truss

s p . n

Dutch

spant

spant

rafter, truss

s p . n t

 

 

Proto-Semitic *SAPAN --- *SPĂN- Proto-Germanic

 

 

In this case we find a Dutch root making visible the common origin of Indo European and Hebrew. This is not the sole example !

 

There are identical or very similar words in English and German and also in Dutch and Nordic tongues, but they have quite different meanings.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Germanic. In our comments on this list we often remark how in Germanic languages a letter T may be added, and often is added, without really changing the meaning or message of a root. The words of this entry give us a clear example. The T was added after Middle Dutch to the word "span" and is now always present in Modern Dutch "spant ".

     

    This word is mostly used with regard to the construction of roofs, or better inner roofs . The function of the (couples of) rafters, that in Dutch are called "spanten", is in English expressed by the verb "to span", that is "to extend over", like a bridge over a river. There are more concepts for which English "span" is used.

     

    In older languages one sees Old English "spannan = to join, link, fasten, attach" and "spann, sponn", Old High German "spanan" and Old Norse "spann". Proto-Germanic probably had "*SP Ă N-.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic . This root is found in Phoenician "מ ס פ נ ת א, maspaneta = "her roof". Aramaic "ס פ ן , sephan = he covered, overlaid" and Akkadian "sapānu = to cover, overwhelm". This root probably was present in Proto-Semitic: "*ס פ ן , S P N".

 

 

 

 

 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 28/11/2012 at 10.29.25