| Author |
Message |
Gerrit
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:29 pm
Post subject: Animals |
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Hi all,
The word 'Wildebeest' is obviously Afrikaans, i.e. old Dutch. But the modern
Dutch name fot that animal is 'Gnu', which is Bantu.
Even stranger, the word 'Meerkat', also Afrikaans, I suppose, in English
denotes an animal that the Dutch call a 'Stokstaartje' = stiff tail, while
the Dutch usage of 'Meerkat' refers to a certain species of African monkey
Any explantation?
Gerrit
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Guest
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| Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:50 pm
Post subject: Re: Animals |
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Gerrit wrote:
| Quote: | Hi all,
The word 'Wildebeest' is obviously Afrikaans, i.e. old Dutch. But the modern
Dutch name fot that animal is 'Gnu', which is Bantu.
Even stranger, the word 'Meerkat', also Afrikaans, I suppose, in English
denotes an animal that the Dutch call a 'Stokstaartje' = stiff tail, while
the Dutch usage of 'Meerkat' refers to a certain species of African monkey
Any explantation?
|
The idea that languages and word meanings are created by
linguists is just wrong. Words acquire meanings and usage
through popular acceptance. There is no logic to the process.
GFH |
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ray o'hara
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:22 pm
Post subject: Re: Animals |
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"Gerrit" <ghtijink@wanadoo.nl> wrote in message
news:4326c67a$0$3895$dbd41001@news.wanadoo.nl...
| Quote: | Hi all,
The word 'Wildebeest' is obviously Afrikaans, i.e. old Dutch. But the
modern
Dutch name fot that animal is 'Gnu', which is Bantu.
Even stranger, the word 'Meerkat', also Afrikaans, I suppose, in English
denotes an animal that the Dutch call a 'Stokstaartje' = stiff tail, while
the Dutch usage of 'Meerkat' refers to a certain species of African monkey
Any explantation?
Gerrit
|
Dutch isn't English.
>
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