Re: Etymology of "Woman" Comic

--- In conlang@yahoogroups.com, Steg Belsky <draqonfayir@J...> wrote:
Heyall,

>check out this Qwantz Dinosaur comic:
>http://www.qwantz.com/index.pl?comic=551
>It's relevant to a discussion we had a few months ago where if i
>remember correctly i suggested using the male/female pair "werewolf"
>and "wifewolf" ;) .
The dinosaur has the etymology of "woman" correct, but not his
etymology of "man."  According to the AHD, "human" and "man are not
related etymologically.

"man" is from a PIE root *man- meaning "a man."  Derivations include
man & its compounds, Alemanni, mensch, minx, and muzhik.

"human" is from a PIE root *dhghem- meaning "earth."  Derivations
include brideGROOM, autochthonous, chameleon, humble, homage,
hominid, human, zemstvo, and zamindar.

It appears that the dinosaur didn't check his AHD before expounding
on the subject.  This is how folk etymologies begin.

P.S. I really like "wifewolf," but I would rather spell
it "wifwolf."  It appears as though the second "e" in werewolf is
epenthetic.  It doesn't appear in "wergeld" nor in the Frankish form
of the word, "werwulf," which became loup-garou.  I don't think it's
necessary in wifwolf.

Charlie
http://wiki.frath.net/user:caeruleancentaur

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