E 0902          TECHNIQUE , TECNICAL

The words " technique " and " technical " are,

via French and Latin, of Greek origin .

H 0975               ן ק ת                  

Concept of root : technique

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ן ק ת

taqan ;

tiqqèn

-

to put right ;

to to install properly, make in order

Related English words

technique, technical

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ן ק ת

taqan ;

tiqqèn

-

-

-

to put right;

to install properly, make in order

t . q . n

Greek

τεχνη

tekhnè

technical ability, professio-nal skill

t  . kh n

English

technique , technical

technique , technical

t . ch n

 

 

Proto-Semitic *TAQAN --- *TÈK- Indo-European

 

 

The Greek word "tekhnè" is one of those that have conquered the modern world. Technique has its origin in Greek and many people use this word daily. And Hebrew "taqan" or the intensive form "tiqqèn" are the activities of somebody who disposes of "tekhnè" : professional skill. Certainly in Old Israel technique had not reached today’s level or place in society.

 

And also the Greeks of the classic period were more ahead than the people in Kanaan a thousand years earlier. But the basic principle of human activity is the same. And one may just consider the utter precision with which the techniques of constructing Noah's Ark and the Ark of the Covenant with the Tabernacle, two cases in which the Bible thought it necessary to talk about practical technique. The Latin words "technicus" and "techna" are somewhat artificial loans from Greek.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. This root is present in Aramaic "ת ק ן , taqen = he fixed, prepared, arranged". Arabic "atkana = he brought to perfection". Akkadian "taqānu = to be well ordered". This root probably was already used in Proto-Semitic: "*ת ק ן , T Q N".

 

Note:
  • Greek. Oddly, for this word that has become so important, no clear etymology has been established. A hypothesis for a root "* T E K T-" is prevalent, but this is based on the old word "τεκτων, tekton = artisan, worker, master", or he who makes things. The " T " would in some way have gone lost. Instead this word may rather be seen as a development on the basis of our "tekhnè". A further link is seen with the word "τεκνξν, teknon = son, child", that we would consider partly similar but unrelated.

 

Note:
  • Indo-European. In some languages we find cognates of Greek, with similarities in sound and meaning. In others it seems that related words cover only somewhat "less developed" meanings, like "to hew, to chop, to trim", that are also covered by the Old Indian cognates.

     

    Old Indian "taktsati = to make, manufacture, shape, create ( by many techniques)"; further older "taksha = to hew, carve; split; fashion; make, create; invent".

     

    Avestan tashaiti- to make, shape, create ( with instruments)".

     

    Hittite "taks- = to put together".

     

    Slavic "*tesati" and Russian "тесать, tesatj" mean "to cut, cleave, hew". But then a Czech "tesar" is a carpenter.

     

    Probably Indo-European used a combination "*T È K-" to indicate the concept of using instruments to work on material. Initially the accent may have been on the aspects of cutting and splitting, later more on those of giving form to the material, followed by creating and putting together the objects that can be the result of the work.

 

 

 

 

 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 11/12/2012 at 11.59.09