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This is just a repost, Okunini (Dr.) Obadeli, Okunini, (Dr.) Sandro, sn.i Kwadwo, and other scholars. This is only a preliminary operation of the comparative linguistic method.

The historical etymology of the adjective feminine singular collective noun -kmt- by utilizing the Negro-Egyptian Coptic dialects and text

Greetings,
Comparative – Negro Egyptian linguistics family and members. I would like to discuss some small important details regarding the historical etymology of the term ‘kmt’ meaning Blacks (Dr. Diop 1974) in its proper Negro Egyptian spectrum. When determining the true historical etymology of a term we must then apply the linguistic comparative method and evaluate already established cognates. First, let us exactly know what etymology is.

Hock and Joseph stated:
“The study of the origin of words is known as ETYMOLOGY. The first part of this word comes from Greek étymon ‘true sense of a word’, so that etymology is the study of the true, original, forms of words” (Hock and Joseph 2009: 281)

Now, we then can discuss the linguistic methodology that would be proper and scientific for figuring out meanings of terms as they changed through time by applying the historical-comparative method and observing the semantic scope of cognates. So, we will go back, to Hock and Joseph’s statements that clarify how this can be done.

Hock and Joseph stated:
” …etymology is in a real sense the basis of historical linguistics, for establishing the origin of a word is crucial to understanding the changes it has undergone and the factors that have influenced its development.” (Hock and Joseph: 281)

Hock and Joseph stated:
“Without a well-worked out account of how ‘bead’ could shift from the meaning of ‘prayer’ to ‘small roundish glass or ceramic object’, we could not really establish its etymology, nor could we be sure about the effects of sound changes such as Grimm’s law in Germanic without positing etymologies for various lexical items that connect them with cognate words in other languages” (Hock and Joseph 2009: 282).

Basically, to properly evaluate the true sense or meaning of a word through time scientifically one must have a method. The historical linguistic method applies the first Germanic sound -shift (Grimm’s Law) in establishing cognates by sound correspondences. As we evaluate the meanings of already established cognates we can know for sure the exact true sense of a term from its development through time.

Let us examine a linguistic example of observing COGNATES established by sound correspondences from Professor Dimmendaal.

(1) Cognate set between (so-called Bantu) for bilabials (Dimmendaal 2011: 15-16)

—- >Bobangi ___Kinyarwanda___Luba-Kasai___Zulu

(1) bal ————> bar—————-> bal———> bal = count
(2) bāl————-> X —————-> bal———> bal-el = shine

(3) bab-ọl ——-> bab—————-> bab——–> X = singe
(4) banza——–> baandza———> banza—–> bandla = courtyard
(5) bɔl————> bor—————–> bol———-> bol = become rotten

As we observed above in Dimmendaal’s examples we find potential cognates established on the basis of sound correspondences or systematic regularity of the C1 – initial bilabial [b] in a phonological relationship and we also observed form and meaning. All of these cognates appearing in these African language comparative examples have an exact meaning. Through time and space, meanings of cognates can also undergo historical changes, but space will not allow here to explain intrafield metonymic and metaphoric changes even paradigmatic alterations, (see: Dimmendaal 2011: 119).

When examining the etymology of one of the paradigmatic alterations of <> as an adjective-noun we must utilize the historical linguistic methodology as seen above (1). Here, we would then began with the scientifically RELATED and DESCENDED Negro – Egyptian Coptic dialects. These same Coptic dialects were the key to the decipherment of Medew Neter (Ancient Egyptian) see section 3.2 The decipherment of Ancient Egyptian, Hock and Joseph 2009: 94). We will evaluate the Coptic dialects of Sahidic, Fayyumic, and Bohairic according to ( Crum 1939: 110a) which can be observed abbreviated as “S=Sahidic Coptic, B= Bohairic Coptic, and F= Fayyumic Coptic in Crum’s dictionary. When examining the Negro-Egyptian Coptic dialects we have established cognates in form and meaning. In Coptic, the grammatical operations are also identified as all adjectives can be nouns, masculine and feminine, also plural. In Coptic <> ‘black’ as an adjective can be masculine or feminine, singular or plural as we will observe below. We also added Demotic-Egyptian (Chicago Demotic Dictionary).

(2) Cognate set between theNegro- Egyptian languages (Coptic dialects, Demotic)

Medew NeTer ______Demotic ____Sahidic______Bohairic______Fayyumic

*kem————–>*kem———-> kam———> xemi:———> kem = Black

*komom———>*kom———> kmom——-> xmom——–> kmam = Be Black

*kemit————>*kemi———->kamaui:— > xemi———-> kemi = Blacks, Black person
*kemit————>*ke:mi———> ke:me——> xe:mi———> ke:mi = Black Soil (dark arable soil)

*kermi——–——> X————> xe:mi———> xe:mi = charcoal, ashes, coal place

What is completely astonishing is the fact that the term ‘kmt’ can be observed in its complete etymological sense by observing cognates in the Negro-Egyptian languages (2). In its entire historical evolution, the term remains and can be reflexed in related Black African Negro Egyptian – languages like Nubian Dongolawi, SW Dinka, Dogon Tommo So, Kikongo, Igbo, Wolof, Twi, and Yoruba, and Kiswahili. To mention, we can observe the Coptic text. We can observe the Song of Solomon 1:5 in Coptic text. Below I attached a Coptic text that may be of your interest, or, you may already have a better translation for me. What is your translation? This is the Coptic Songs of Solomon 1:5 where the Coptic Sahidic adjective [keme:] is being used in context to describe a person with black skin. Would like Okunini Kambon to chime in for extra data or correction, Thanks.

Netjer Neb Coptic translation: Coptic Song of Solomon 1:5, ⲕⲁⲙⲏ = Black

Coptic: Ⲁⲛⲟk ⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩⲕⲁⲙⲏ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲛⲉⲥⲱⲉⲓ
Neter Neb translation: I’m ‘Black’ yet, Beautiful
source: https://www.jstor.org/stable/43077429?seq=12