The gender and number of the word "Sagat"

[Ælfscine]

Hi...

I would be interested in knowing the gender and number of the word "sagat" I am thinking that it is feminine plural or possibly feminine dual. If that is the case is the singular something like "sagah"? I'm really just guessing here.

Thank you all in advance for your help,

Ælfscine

 

[Yame]

Is it an Arabic word? If so, do you have the Arabic spelling? That would help.

 

[mahsati_janan]

I'm afraid I don't know the singular/plural forms of the word, but wikipedia offers this as the spelling in case it helps:

sājāt (صاجات)​

 

[Aniseteph]

It's the Arabic equivalent of zills. Linguistically I haven't a clue though.

 

[Ælfscine]

Arabic script for "Sagat"

Is it an Arabic word? If so, do you have the Arabic spelling? That would help.

Hi...

According to Wikipedia it is Arabic and spelt صاجات . You may require a unicode font to read this.

Thank you again,

Ælfscine

For your who are asking, "Ælfscine" (which sounds exactly like Elf Shine in Modern English) is Old English and means Elfen Beauty. The word "ælf" in Old English was broader in scope and included many magical beings such as Witches and Faeries as well as what we call Elfs today.

 

[Yame]

Thanks, mahsati. In that case it looks like a plural of a feminine word, which would make sense because we usually talk about more than one zill.

I don't speak Arabic, but I would imagine the singular word would be "sagah" as the OP presumed, in Arabic صاجة

However I can't know for sure. Hopefully an Arabic speaker can chime in.

 

[Ælfscine]

Thanks a Zillion

Thanks, mahsati. In that case it looks like a plural of a feminine word, which would make sense because we usually talk about more than one zill.

I don't speak Arabic, but I would imagine the singular word would be "sagah" as the OP presumed, in Arabic صاجة

However I can't know for sure. Hopefully an Arabic speaker can chime in.

Hi Yame...

Thanks a zillion for this information. I'm sure you are a chime-ing lady as well. (Just couldn't pass up on that! :lol: )

Later,

Ælfscine

 

[Kashmir]

I don't speak Arabic, but I would imagine the singular word would be "sagah" as the OP presumed, in Arabic صاجة

There is a word without the ta marbuta (saj) which means thin sheet of metal or baking tray. I'd guess that would be masculine?

 

[Ælfscine]

Hi...

I am wondering now if sagat could be an adjetive rather than a noun that once modified a noun in the feminine plural. In most languages I know, adjetives tend to agree in number and gender with the noun they modify. Maybe the term was originally "thin metal bells" or "thin metal cymbals" and the word for bells or cymbals were dropped over time. It could also be an Ancient Arabic word that has since dropped out of the language in the singular leaving only this specialized use of the plural. Anyway, that is a thought.

Ælfscine

 

[Yame]

Well, the Arabic language is based on root words, so "sag" meaning "thin sheet of metal" could just be the root word for many other words, like sagah/sagat.

 

[Ælfscine]

A baking tray used as a musical instrument

Well, the Arabic language is based on root words, so "sag" meaning "thin sheet of metal" could just be the root word for many other words, like sagah/sagat.

Hi...

I think I have actually heard something like a slab of sheet metal or a baking tray being used as a musical instrument played with the fingers. In French Canadian folk music two spoons tied back to back are often used as percussional instument. I have heard of a band saw being bowed to produce music in a weired yet beautiful way. The sagat may had have a similar history before they became the instuments we know today -- two simple sheets of metal struck together to form a melody. Hmmm...., interesting.

Ælfscine

 

[Aniseteph]

Well that's the history of all percussion really, isn't it? People hitting things they have lying around with something else and liking the sound. Then if they have the resouces and the inclination they redesign and adapt it so it makes better sounds and starts to be a purpose built musical instrument.