Hypotheses of interference between Greek and the languages of Ancient Anatolia: the case of patronymics

Abstract

Abstract Following an overview of how the different languages attested in Anatolia during the Iron Age express patronymics, this paper explores the alleged interferences among the strategies found in these languages. Particular focus is placed on the possible interactions between Greek and the Anatolian languages in the use of genitive patronymics with or without a noun for ‘son’ or ‘daughter’ (following prior studies by Merlin and Pisaniello 2019 and Rutherford 2002) and on the claim of a Lydian origin for Greek patronymics in -ίδας / -ίδης (Dardano 2011), for which an internal Greek development is accepted after the inclusion of relevant data from Phrygian. All in all, very few local interactions are sustained as being valid.