Motke: Magdal Shams is no doubt Syro-Aramaic and it is not an Arabic name

Submitted by dhimmi no more, Nov 2, 2018 at 06:29

Very interesting

>Druz village مجدل شمس (whose Wikipedia page says name originates in Aramaic (not Arabic)).

The name is not Arabic and the reasons are:

1. Arab grammarians were aware that if you have a Masdar (verbal noun) that has a letter meem prefix then the word is more likely a loan word from Syriac, because this grammatical construct is not common in Arabic. Here is an example: Luexenberg believes that The Arabic word مسجد or Masjad (Mosque or place of prostration) it is a masdar with a meem prefix which is not common in Arabic. It is from Syriac ܡܣܓܕ which would be in Arabic سجود or Sujud not Masjad

So the word مجدل is not Arabic and it should be Magdal not Majdal where the letter Jeem should be pronounced as Geem not jeem

So what does مجدل mean? It Syriac ܡܰܓ݂ܕܰܠ or Tower (watch tower) which is not an Arabic word. Also notice that writing the word using Syriac Abgad can be read with great ease by an Arab as Magdal

2. Notice that the word شمس or Shams lacks the Arabic language definite article ال or Al which makes it either poor Arabic syntax/grammar or it is a Syriac word. And in this case it is from Syriac ܫܡܫ Shamsh
and in the process of Arabazation that last letter Syriac ܫ or Sheen becomes Arabic س

So Magdal Shams means the watch tower of the sun.

Very interesting

I don't have time today but I will get back to you about Yitgaddal

BTW the root GDL in Arabic can mean debate it also means pleat/weave and in Syriac it means pleat/weave

The word Great in Syro-Aramaic is ܪܲܒܵܐ or Rabba not gaddol and in Arabic it is عظيم or 'Azim not gaddol
However, I will get back to you with more details

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