The Tri-consonantal Root in Semitic Languages: Origin, Structure, and Function in Light of the Anthropological Theory of Writing

This article analyzes the phenomenon of the tri-consonantal root in Semitic languages. It examines the history of the study of triconsonantalism, beginning with the Arabic grammatical school of the 8th century and the discovery by Judah Hayyuj in the 11th century. Various theories of the origin of the tri-consonantal root are analyzed: the theory of original triconsonantalism, the theory of biconsonantal origin, the concept of grammatical classes, and C. Ehret's theory of verbal extensions. Special attention is paid to the relationship between bi-consonantal and tri-consonantal roots in diachronic perspective. Based on the anthropological theory of the alphabet developed by the author in previous works, a new view is proposed on the nature of the tri-consonantal root as a result of the adaptation of Semitic languages to abjad writing. It is shown that the requirement of three consonants in writing is connected with the need to resolve homonymy in the absence of written vowels. Third consonants are considered as phonetic extenders added to original bi-consonantal roots to ensure readability. A parallel is drawn between extenders in Semitic languages and suffixes in Indo-European languages, demonstrating different developmental paths depending on the presence or absence of vowels in writing.