Re: Language naming terminology

Since the subject of language/country names has come up, can anyone
solve a mystery for me?

The Russian for "Germany", if I remember correctly, is "nyemetz" (sorry
if my transliteration isn't accurate, but it's something close to that I
think). The Arabic for Austria is namsa. I assume there's some link, but
can anyone cast any light on either or both of these words?

Hebrew, by the way, likes to draw on Biblical words to name appropriate
countries, leading to Sefarad = Spain, Tsarfat = France.  I get Turkish
cable tv here in Israel, and on the news maps of Europe show some
fascinating names (Bulgaristan = Bulgaria, Yunanistan = Greece (cf
Arabic yunan = Greece, Hebrew: yavan) and a name for Albania I can't
recognize or remember).

Any explanations/comments/additions welcome!

Shaul Vardi

--- and Shana Tovah (Happy New Year) to Steg, and anyone else on the
list who may be marking the entry of 5759.