"Name this dog!"

"GregP" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 07:35:59 -0600, wrote:

We are considering "Sobaka" (basically, Anglicized
Russian for "dog") and "Sasha," but are still collecting suggestions.


I was told years ago that "sobaka" was a Russian
adaptation of a Tartar word while "piios" was the
original Russian word for dog.

As is our habit, Becky and I spent Christmas day with her family. About
twenty years ago, they were the host family for a Russian exchange student,
Natasha, who ended up staying here and, eventually, marrying another Russian
student. They also spent the day with us, along with their daughter who is
now whatever age it is at which children begin to speak (about a year and a
half?). Thus far, she has learned maybe a dozen words. As there were four
dogs milling about in the throng and they are all just about her height, her
attention was fixed on them pretty much throughout the day, resulting in a
nearly endless repetition of "sobaka!, sobaka!, sobaka!" Adults, fools that
we are, seem to be incapable of resisting the temptation to repeat whatever
we hear infants say. So, every time the child gleefully shouted "sobaka!",
at least one person responded in kind. I believe I have never heard a
single word repeated more in one day.

Incidentally, if this is the correct spelling of "sobaka" then it's
misleading for English speakers as to the initial vowel. Sounded more like
schwa or perhaps a short "i", as in "hit", to me.

And, if memory serves, "dog" is something of a lexical mystery. English
being a Germanic language, it should come as no surprise that it has a
cognate for the German "Hund" in "hound". The more commonly used "dog" has
no cognate in German. Evidently, no one is quite sure where the word came
from. Very unusual situation for a core word.

Wolfgang

"GregP" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 07:35:59 -0600, wrote:

We are considering "Sobaka" (basically, Anglicized
Russian for "dog") and "Sasha," but are still collecting suggestions.


I was told years ago that "sobaka" was a Russian
adaptation of a Tartar word while "piios" was the
original Russian word for dog.

As is our habit, Becky and I spent Christmas day with her family. About
twenty years ago, they were the host family for a Russian exchange student,
Natasha, who ended up staying here and, eventually, marrying another Russian
student. They also spent the day with us, along with their daughter who is
now whatever age it is at which children begin to speak (about a year and a
half?). Thus far, she has learned maybe a dozen words. As there were four
dogs milling about in the throng and they are all just about her height, her
attention was fixed on them pretty much throughout the day, resulting in a
nearly endless repetition of "sobaka!, sobaka!, sobaka!" Adults, fools that
we are, seem to be incapable of resisting the temptation to repeat whatever
we hear infants say. So, every time the child gleefully shouted "sobaka!",
at least one person responded in kind. I believe I have never heard a
single word repeated more in one day.

Incidentally, if this is the correct spelling of "sobaka" then it's
misleading for English speakers as to the initial vowel. Sounded more like
schwa or perhaps a short "i", as in "hit", to me.

And, if memory serves, "dog" is something of a lexical mystery. English
being a Germanic language, it should come as no surprise that it has a
cognate for the German "Hund" in "hound". The more commonly used "dog" has
no cognate in German. Evidently, no one is quite sure where the word came
from. Very unusual situation for a core word.

Wolfgang

On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 22:21:21 GMT, rw
wrote:

I feel pretty much the same way. I never use treats to train my dogs.
They do, however, work for many people, depending on the dog. It just
seems like a useless, too-easy shortcut to me, and I don't like the dog
expecting a goddamn treat every time he does what he's supposed to do
anyway.

I don't see it being any more of a "too-easy shortcut" than
shooting it with a sling shot.

On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 22:21:21 GMT, rw
wrote:

I feel pretty much the same way. I never use treats to train my dogs.
They do, however, work for many people, depending on the dog. It just
seems like a useless, too-easy shortcut to me, and I don't like the dog
expecting a goddamn treat every time he does what he's supposed to do
anyway.

I don't see it being any more of a "too-easy shortcut" than
shooting it with a sling shot.

Wolfgang wrote:
"GregP" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 07:35:59 -0600, wrote:

We are considering "Sobaka" (basically, Anglicized
Russian for "dog") and "Sasha," but are still collecting
suggestions.


I was told years ago that "sobaka" was a Russian
adaptation of a Tartar word while "piios" was the
original Russian word for dog.

As is our habit, Becky and I spent Christmas day with her family.
About twenty years ago, they were the host family for a Russian
exchange student, Natasha, who ended up staying here and, eventually,
marrying another Russian student. They also spent the day with us,
along with their daughter who is now whatever age it is at which
children begin to speak (about a year and a half?). Thus far, she
has learned maybe a dozen words. As there were four dogs milling
about in the throng and they are all just about her height, her
attention was fixed on them pretty much throughout the day, resulting
in a nearly endless repetition of "sobaka!, sobaka!, sobaka!"
Adults, fools that we are, seem to be incapable of resisting the
temptation to repeat whatever we hear infants say. So, every time
the child gleefully shouted "sobaka!", at least one person responded
in kind. I believe I have never heard a single word repeated more in
one day.

Incidentally, if this is the correct spelling of "sobaka" then it's
misleading for English speakers as to the initial vowel. Sounded
more like schwa or perhaps a short "i", as in "hit", to me.

And, if memory serves, "dog" is something of a lexical mystery.
English being a Germanic language, it should come as no surprise that
it has a cognate for the German "Hund" in "hound". The more commonly
used "dog" has no cognate in German. Evidently, no one is quite sure
where the word came from. Very unusual situation for a core word.

I always thought "dogs" came from the German word "dachs" as in
dachshund.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

Wolfgang wrote:
"GregP" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 07:35:59 -0600, wrote:

We are considering "Sobaka" (basically, Anglicized
Russian for "dog") and "Sasha," but are still collecting
suggestions.


I was told years ago that "sobaka" was a Russian
adaptation of a Tartar word while "piios" was the
original Russian word for dog.

As is our habit, Becky and I spent Christmas day with her family.
About twenty years ago, they were the host family for a Russian
exchange student, Natasha, who ended up staying here and, eventually,
marrying another Russian student. They also spent the day with us,
along with their daughter who is now whatever age it is at which
children begin to speak (about a year and a half?). Thus far, she
has learned maybe a dozen words. As there were four dogs milling
about in the throng and they are all just about her height, her
attention was fixed on them pretty much throughout the day, resulting
in a nearly endless repetition of "sobaka!, sobaka!, sobaka!"
Adults, fools that we are, seem to be incapable of resisting the
temptation to repeat whatever we hear infants say. So, every time
the child gleefully shouted "sobaka!", at least one person responded
in kind. I believe I have never heard a single word repeated more in
one day.

Incidentally, if this is the correct spelling of "sobaka" then it's
misleading for English speakers as to the initial vowel. Sounded
more like schwa or perhaps a short "i", as in "hit", to me.

And, if memory serves, "dog" is something of a lexical mystery.
English being a Germanic language, it should come as no surprise that
it has a cognate for the German "Hund" in "hound". The more commonly
used "dog" has no cognate in German. Evidently, no one is quite sure
where the word came from. Very unusual situation for a core word.

I always thought "dogs" came from the German word "dachs" as in
dachshund.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

Tim J. wrote:
Wolfgang wrote:
"GregP" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 07:35:59 -0600, wrote:

We are considering "Sobaka" (basically, Anglicized
Russian for "dog") and "Sasha," but are still collecting
suggestions.


I was told years ago that "sobaka" was a Russian
adaptation of a Tartar word while "piios" was the
original Russian word for dog.

As is our habit, Becky and I spent Christmas day with her family.
About twenty years ago, they were the host family for a Russian
exchange student, Natasha, who ended up staying here and, eventually,
marrying another Russian student. They also spent the day with us,
along with their daughter who is now whatever age it is at which
children begin to speak (about a year and a half?). Thus far, she
has learned maybe a dozen words. As there were four dogs milling
about in the throng and they are all just about her height, her
attention was fixed on them pretty much throughout the day, resulting
in a nearly endless repetition of "sobaka!, sobaka!, sobaka!"
Adults, fools that we are, seem to be incapable of resisting the
temptation to repeat whatever we hear infants say. So, every time
the child gleefully shouted "sobaka!", at least one person responded
in kind. I believe I have never heard a single word repeated more in
one day.

Incidentally, if this is the correct spelling of "sobaka" then it's
misleading for English speakers as to the initial vowel. Sounded
more like schwa or perhaps a short "i", as in "hit", to me.

And, if memory serves, "dog" is something of a lexical mystery.
English being a Germanic language, it should come as no surprise that
it has a cognate for the German "Hund" in "hound". The more commonly
used "dog" has no cognate in German. Evidently, no one is quite sure
where the word came from. Very unusual situation for a core word.

I always thought "dogs" came from the German word "dachs" as in
dachshund.

.. . . .but before we (yes, collectively) go off on an educational
tangent, I understand "dachs" has little relevance to the word's current
use. It wouldn't be the first time we *******ized a word out of
convenience.
--
TL,
Tim
(living in "Yankee" territory)
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

Tim J. wrote:
Wolfgang wrote:
"GregP" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 07:35:59 -0600, wrote:

We are considering "Sobaka" (basically, Anglicized
Russian for "dog") and "Sasha," but are still collecting
suggestions.


I was told years ago that "sobaka" was a Russian
adaptation of a Tartar word while "piios" was the
original Russian word for dog.

As is our habit, Becky and I spent Christmas day with her family.
About twenty years ago, they were the host family for a Russian
exchange student, Natasha, who ended up staying here and, eventually,
marrying another Russian student. They also spent the day with us,
along with their daughter who is now whatever age it is at which
children begin to speak (about a year and a half?). Thus far, she
has learned maybe a dozen words. As there were four dogs milling
about in the throng and they are all just about her height, her
attention was fixed on them pretty much throughout the day, resulting
in a nearly endless repetition of "sobaka!, sobaka!, sobaka!"
Adults, fools that we are, seem to be incapable of resisting the
temptation to repeat whatever we hear infants say. So, every time
the child gleefully shouted "sobaka!", at least one person responded
in kind. I believe I have never heard a single word repeated more in
one day.

Incidentally, if this is the correct spelling of "sobaka" then it's
misleading for English speakers as to the initial vowel. Sounded
more like schwa or perhaps a short "i", as in "hit", to me.

And, if memory serves, "dog" is something of a lexical mystery.
English being a Germanic language, it should come as no surprise that
it has a cognate for the German "Hund" in "hound". The more commonly
used "dog" has no cognate in German. Evidently, no one is quite sure
where the word came from. Very unusual situation for a core word.

I always thought "dogs" came from the German word "dachs" as in
dachshund.

.. . . .but before we (yes, collectively) go off on an educational
tangent, I understand "dachs" has little relevance to the word's current
use. It wouldn't be the first time we *******ized a word out of
convenience.
--
TL,
Tim
(living in "Yankee" territory)
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

Tim J. wrote:
Wolfgang wrote:
"GregP" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 07:35:59 -0600, wrote:

We are considering "Sobaka" (basically, Anglicized
Russian for "dog") and "Sasha," but are still collecting
suggestions.


I was told years ago that "sobaka" was a Russian
adaptation of a Tartar word while "piios" was the
original Russian word for dog.

As is our habit, Becky and I spent Christmas day with her family.
About twenty years ago, they were the host family for a Russian
exchange student, Natasha, who ended up staying here and, eventually,
marrying another Russian student. They also spent the day with us,
along with their daughter who is now whatever age it is at which
children begin to speak (about a year and a half?). Thus far, she
has learned maybe a dozen words. As there were four dogs milling
about in the throng and they are all just about her height, her
attention was fixed on them pretty much throughout the day, resulting
in a nearly endless repetition of "sobaka!, sobaka!, sobaka!"
Adults, fools that we are, seem to be incapable of resisting the
temptation to repeat whatever we hear infants say. So, every time
the child gleefully shouted "sobaka!", at least one person responded
in kind. I believe I have never heard a single word repeated more in
one day.

Incidentally, if this is the correct spelling of "sobaka" then it's
misleading for English speakers as to the initial vowel. Sounded
more like schwa or perhaps a short "i", as in "hit", to me.

And, if memory serves, "dog" is something of a lexical mystery.
English being a Germanic language, it should come as no surprise that
it has a cognate for the German "Hund" in "hound". The more commonly
used "dog" has no cognate in German. Evidently, no one is quite sure
where the word came from. Very unusual situation for a core word.

I always thought "dogs" came from the German word "dachs" as in
dachshund.

.. . . .but before we (yes, collectively) go off on an educational
tangent, I understand "dachs" has little relevance to the word's current
use. It wouldn't be the first time we *******ized a word out of
convenience.
--
TL,
Tim
(living in "Yankee" territory)
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

On Mon, 3 Jan 2005 09:11:14 -0600, "Wolfgang" wrote:


"GregP" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 07:35:59 -0600, wrote:

We are considering "Sobaka" (basically, Anglicized
Russian for "dog") and "Sasha," but are still collecting suggestions.


I was told years ago that "sobaka" was a Russian
adaptation of a Tartar word while "piios" was the
original Russian word for dog.

As is our habit, Becky and I spent Christmas day with her family. About
twenty years ago, they were the host family for a Russian exchange student,
Natasha, who ended up staying here and, eventually, marrying another Russian
student. They also spent the day with us, along with their daughter who is
now whatever age it is at which children begin to speak (about a year and a
half?). Thus far, she has learned maybe a dozen words. As there were four
dogs milling about in the throng and they are all just about her height, her
attention was fixed on them pretty much throughout the day, resulting in a
nearly endless repetition of "sobaka!, sobaka!, sobaka!" Adults, fools that
we are, seem to be incapable of resisting the temptation to repeat whatever
we hear infants say. So, every time the child gleefully shouted "sobaka!",
at least one person responded in kind. I believe I have never heard a
single word repeated more in one day.

Incidentally, if this is the correct spelling of "sobaka" then it's
misleading for English speakers as to the initial vowel. Sounded more like
schwa or perhaps a short "i", as in "hit", to me.

In Cyrillic, it looks more like "cobaKa" (search for the actual word on
google), and yes, "sobaka" is the "preferred" Anglicized spelling, AFAIK
- but I guess like many east-west "translations," spelling is in the eye
of the beholder - look at all the variations of such as that of the
Libyan leader's last name, for example.

As an aside, I've wondered if the Russian "cobaKa"/"sobaka" is where the
"Star Wars" character "Chewbaka" (sp?) got its name.