Pre-Greek: Phonology, Morphology, Lexicon

By Robert Beekes and Robert S.P. Beekes

Before the arrival of the Indo-European Greeks in the area around the Aegean Sea, a non-Indo-European language was spoken there which was eventually replaced by Greek. Although no written texts exist in this Pre-Greek language, Robert Beekes shows that we can reconstruct elements of its phonology and morphology on the basis of the substantial amount of Pre-Greek vocabulary which was absorbed by Greek. In addition to the general characteristics of Pre-Greek, Beekes provides a complete overview of the evidence, comprising over 1100 Greek etyma which are certainly of Pre-Greek origin. The book thus opens a window on the first Pre-Indo-European language of prehistoric Europe to have left a trace in history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9004279385
• ISBN13: 9789004279384
• Release Date: August 2014
• Publisher: Brill
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.6" x 9.2"