It is remarkable that all these are connected with the
negative and, in the languages we are familiar with, with the
inferential particles; as well as in some cases with the adverbs
of time[1]. The feeling which produced the relationship with
the first is probably the wish to suggest what one does not
believe to be the case as the point to be examined, and thus
dare a denial. When I say, Is it not so? I call upon the
person addressed to deny my opinion, if he can, putting the
negative pointedly before him. Perhaps it may be worth
while to remark a case, not mentioned by Grimm, of the connection in Greek between the words which ask a question and denote an inference, I mean that of (
Greek characters) and (Greek characters); take
for instance the following line of the Alcestis:
στυγῶ δικαίως ἐν κακοῖς ἀφιγμένον;
if we write it in the usual way, interrogatively, and translate
(Greek characters) "nonne," the sense will be the same as if we omit the
question, and understand it as strongly affirmative. Hence
it is, I conceive, that Porson says in his Præf. ad Hecub.
p. x, "in hisce interrogandi formulis negantem particulam
pro arbitrio addunt vel omittunt Tragici." Not that it was
originally immaterial whether the negative was inserted or
not, but that to ask a question negatively is equivalent to
an assertion. The case was originally parallel to that of
οὐκοῦν and οἴκουν; "apud veteres Atticos utraque particula semper propriam suam significationem servat. Ego ubique (Greek characters) scribo, adhibita, prout opus est, vel omissa
interrogatione [2]. So that perhaps the passage in the Œdipus
Tyrannus might be pointed thus,
ἆρ᾽ οὐχὶ πᾶς ἄναγνος;
The first clause asserting directly, the second interrogatively.
When therefore we are told[3] to translate (Greek characters) by " nonne,"
it might not have been amiss to have accounted for this ap-
- ↑ Compare nam, (
Greek characters), (Greek characters), num, nunc, nun, (Greek characters), and the usage of (Greek characters) and tandem in questions.
- ↑ Elmsley ad Heraclid. 256.
- ↑ Monk ad Alcest. 351. cf. Hermann ad Vig. 292. 295. Porson had formerly corrected the line quoted above, ἆρ᾽ οὐ τὸν ξένον, κ. τ. λ. Adversaria, 222.
