The lexical origin of traditional measure and eeight units in the colloquial of Hebron District

Abstract

A considerable number of traditional terms to denote units of measurement and weight are used in the colloquial of Hebron district. This terminology has been essentially used by people living in that area to measure quantities, to perform commercial transactions (including bartering and trading with money), to distribute agricultural and animal products, and in the buying and selling of land. This paper will provide an ethnographic and comparative lexical study of each term for the units of measurement. The ethnographic section will provide a definition of each unit in terms of its numerical value, and the measured materials or objects. The comparative lexical section will trace the etymology, meaning, and the appearance of each term in the ancient Semitic and non-Semitic languages that were predominant in the area of study. This study is an attempt, firstly, to document these units as it has become apparent that many of them are dying out as they were being replaced with the modern metric and imperial systems. Secondly, it attempts to trace the lexical origins of these terms, since it has also become apparent that many of these units have counterparts, and sometimes even originated in the ancient Semitic and non-Semitic languages.