On Sun, Sep 12, 2010 at 03:11:05PM +0100, Bob W scripsit: [snip] > ...This sort of thing is found a lot where one language group has > replaced another. The conqueror points to some natural feature and asks > 'What is that called'. The vanquished native replies 'it is the Don' meaning > 'it's the river, you idiot'*. The mighty conqueror says 'we shall call it > the River Don'. And so it flows quietly on. > > *This is the meaning of the Ojibwe word Mississippi.
My favourite of these is Torpenhow Hill. (Tor, Pen, and How all meaning hill in a succession of languages.) -- Graydon -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
