05-17-2006, 02:27 AM
05-17-2006, 03:21 AM
me! I love etymology.
05-17-2006, 03:22 AM
Yay i'm not alone!
05-17-2006, 03:29 AM
I've been interested in etymology for years (my first interest was paleontology, I learned alot of prefixes and suffixes from dinosaur names).
05-17-2006, 05:38 AM
Yep, I do! It's most of the reason my vocabulary is so absurdly bloated with words I can never actually use in conversation with anyone. x_X
05-19-2006, 01:48 PM
At first I read it as entomology. Now that really bugs me!
I wish I had been taught Latin and Greek in school. It would have helped my science terminology immensely.
I wish I had been taught Latin and Greek in school. It would have helped my science terminology immensely.
10-05-2006, 08:39 PM
Some of my interests come and go, but etymology was one of them until recently.
I was particularly interested in how English vocabulary relates to that of Hebrew and Aramaic. English is not normally seen as being linked to these languages, but I have a Webster's dictionary which has these English-Hebrew/Aramaic linkages in its etymologies, and which I used to avidly read.
I was particularly interested in how English vocabulary relates to that of Hebrew and Aramaic. English is not normally seen as being linked to these languages, but I have a Webster's dictionary which has these English-Hebrew/Aramaic linkages in its etymologies, and which I used to avidly read.
10-06-2006, 01:42 PM
Amadeus_lupin Wrote:
I read some and have noticed relations between not commonly linked languages .
Welsh and Latin both use 'Pen' as in pat the top of ultimate = penultimate. Also, Penmaenmawr means large end of big rock or Big headland in Welsh
Welsh and Latin both use 'Pen' as in pat the top of ultimate = penultimate. Also, Penmaenmawr means large end of big rock or Big headland in Welsh
Ever hear of "Proto-Indo European"?
Quote:
On train with danger instructiongs I noticed the Welsh word for danger 'perygl' is quite similar to english Perilous. Maltese has the word 'Peryglo' for danger.
Both could come from the same Latin original. What is the etymology of the modern Welsh word?
10-06-2006, 01:43 PM
nyanchan Wrote:
Yes, and Latin, German and Japanese all use "-ne?" to indicate a question or a tag question
No.
10-06-2006, 01:44 PM
nyanchan Wrote:
Yeah -- I can see how that could be. Although I generally suppose all Indo-European languages to be linked in some way. Is this due to the heavy influence of Judeo-Christian culture on English speaking peoples, do you suppose?
What? I mean, really, FTW? Are you seriously asking this? The similarity is because all the Indo-European langauges are Indo-European languages. They all descended from a common linguistic population.
Please, do go study some real linguistics before speculating.
10-06-2006, 07:37 PM
nyanchan Wrote:
Yeah -- I can see how that could be. Although I generally suppose all Indo-European languages to be linked in some way. Is this due to the heavy influence of Judeo-Christian culture on English speaking peoples, do you suppose?
Not just English speaking peoples, as it's not as if English has a special relationship with the Semitic languages (inc. Hebrew, Aramaic), but on Indo-European languages in general.
Semitic languages are not Indo-European, but I do think some Semitic vocabulary has diffused into Indo-European languages. It's not just words like kibbutz, kosher and rabbi which are quite obviously directly borrowed from Hebrew; but there are also cognates in a similar fashion to how the Welsh 'pen' and 'perygl' correspond to vocabulary of Romance origin, as mentioned in this thread.
I could post some English/Hebrew and Aramaic cognates if you want.
10-10-2006, 01:55 PM
nyanchan Wrote:
Cool.
I heard that Basque, Etruscan, and possibly Finnish were all non-Indo-European languages, but not much about the Semitic languages.
I heard that Basque, Etruscan, and possibly Finnish were all non-Indo-European languages, but not much about the Semitic languages.
10-10-2006, 02:41 PM
Amadeus_lupin Wrote:
Not too good with languages but I once had this lovely little book 'The Reader's Digest book of facts' and it went on to say that there there was a common North African language which split into Phoenician, Aramaic And Hebrew. if this id correct, it would mean that many European languages (except Basque as it's apparently a special case) they all descend from semitic origins, especially the Romance languages.
It then went on to describe Phoenician giving rise to Greek, which gave rise to Etruscan which gave rise to Latin.
It then went on to describe Phoenician giving rise to Greek, which gave rise to Etruscan which gave rise to Latin.
None of the European languages are "from semitic origins", least of all the Romance languages. Likewise, Latin is not descended from Greek. Finally, Etruscan is not related to any living language.
10-11-2006, 05:46 PM
nyanchan Wrote:
Latin is not descended from Greek, but is related to Greek.
About as closely as German is related to Greek, less closely than Albanian is likely to be related to Greek.
10-19-2006, 07:47 PM
nyanchan Wrote:
I am concerned by the site listing certain dialects, like Japanese "ben", as separate languages, although it does at times explain the regional differences here. But generally a very comprehensive list. Thnx.
Funny thing about that--the difference between a "dialect" and a "language" can often boil down to what cultural prejudices one has. According to some Serbs, there is no Croat language--it's just a "dialect" of Serbian. According to some English, there is no Scots language, it's just a "dialect" of English. There is no objective standard to define "language" vs. "dialect". In general, the beneficiaries of imperialism or some form of authoritarian structure are far more likely to claim "dialect" while its victims demand "language".
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