THE LINGUISTIC EVOLUTION OF INDO-EUROPEAN RIVER NAMES
Keywords:
Hydronyms, Proto-Indo-European roots, river names,etymology Celtic toponymy, phonological chang,lenition, ā-mutation (ā-affection).Abstract
This article explores the etymology and linguistic development of river names (hydronyms) from Ancient Greek ποταμός (potamós) through Celtic and Old English contexts across Northern England and Continental Europe. Using Proto-Indo-European roots such as kweth₂- (‘foam, seethe’) and *is-/eis- (‘to move swiftly’), the study traces how primary lexical elements evolved into complex hydronyms reflecting physical characteristics and cultural interactions.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation .
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
