Graeco-Latin hybrids

R A Brown skrev:
> tomhchappell wrote:
>  > --- In conlang@yahoogroups.com, Benct Philip Jonsson <bpj@M...> wrote:
> [snip]
>  >>metronymics
>  >
>  >
>  > (Matronym, not metronym, is what you meant, I'm sure.)
>
> I'm darn sure Philip meant 'metronym' - he does know Greek!
I meant what I wrote, and yes I know at least enough Greek.

>
>  > (what would a "metronym" be?
>
> What do you mean be "would be"? The word 'metronym' is perfectly good
> _English_, as a reference to any half-decent dictionary should show.
>
>  > Naming someone after how tall or heavy he/she is?
> Eh??
>
>  > Naming someone after the closest metropolis?)
>
> 'metropolis' is Greek for "MOTHER city".
Duh?  I wonder if those who write "matronym" (and
"matropolis"?) think that Ptolemaios Philometer was
so named because he brought with him a measure-stick
wherever he went?  (I'm sure he didn't!)

For those that don't know:

'mother' is /mé:te:r/,
'measure' is /métron/

in Greek.  That English transcription fails to mark
the length distinction doesn't make them the same
word, nor does it invalidate either of the two elements.



--

/BP 8^)>
--
Benct Philip Jonsson -- melroch at melroch dot se

         Solitudinem faciunt pacem appellant!
                                             (Tacitus)

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