Mapping Indo-European Anatomical Terminology Iv: Albanian Tru ~ Trû ‘Brain’
Mapping Indo-European Anatomical Terminology Iv: Albanian Tru ~ Trû ‘Brain’
Author(s): Václav BlažekSubject(s): Language studies, Language and Literature Studies, Theoretical Linguistics, Lexis, Semantics, Historical Linguistics, Philology
Published by: Институт за български език „Проф. Любомир Андрейчин“, Българска академия на науките
Keywords: Indo-European; Albanian; etymology; anatomical terminology
Summary/Abstract: The present study analyzes an Albanian anatomical term with uncertain etymology, Tosk tru, Gheg trû ‘brain; marrow’. The existing etymologies are summarized and briefly discussed. Finally, a new etymological alternative is introduced. With regard to the most frequent semantic pattern expressing that the “brain” is found “in the head,” the Albanian anatomical term is etymologized with help of Indo-Aryan *tā́ru- ‘top of the head; palate’; Iranian *tāra- ‘forehead, top of head or mountain’, as well as *tarna- ‘crown of the head’; Anatolian *tarna- ‘head, skull’; and Tocharian B tarne ‘crown of the head’.
Journal: Балканско езикознание / Linguistique balkanique
- Issue Year: 65/2026
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 35-46
- Page Count: 12
- Language: English
- Content File-PDF
