Arabic-L:LING:Maltese 'hospital'

[Dilworth Parkinson]

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Arabic-L: Sat 26 Jan 2008
Moderator: Dilworth Parkinson <dilworth_parkinson at byu.edu>
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1) Subject:Maltese 'hospital'

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1)
Date: 26 Jan 2008
From:"Slavomír Čéplö" <bulbulthegreat at gmail.com>
Subject:Maltese 'hospital'

Dear all,

according to Dionisius Agius's "Siculo Arabic" (Kegan Paul
International, London & New York 1996), p. 321, this is an example of
liquid alternation (shifting by assimilation) attested in Siculo
Arabic (Classical Arabic 'zajala' = 'to bring forth young' > Siculo
Arabic 'zajar'), Arabic borrowings in Spanish (Classical Arabic
'al-saTl' = 'bucket' > Spanish 'acetre') and Maltese (Classical Arabic
'faatir' = 'tepid, lukewarm' > Maltese 'fietel'). Apparently in
Maltese, this shift can also be observed in Romance borrowings, such
as the one in question, i.e. Sicilian 'spedali' > Maltese 'sptar'.
Note that standard Italian word for 'hospital' is 'ospedale'.
It is quite interesting to hear that the same word can also be found
in Tunisian and Moroccan Arabic. Are we talking about borrowings or
common development? And, more interestingly, do you know of any other
examples of this liquid alteration?

bulbul

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2)
Date: 26 Jan 2008
From:Samia Montasser <montasser at un.org>
Subject:Maltese 'hospital'

Dear colleagues,
Among some Egyptians (mainly uneducated older generations) the word
"esbetalia" is used to refer to "hospital" as well.

Samia S. Montasser
Coordinator
Arabic Language
The United Nations

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