"Name this dog!"

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.

"Tim J." wrote in message
...

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

Oddly (since I used to spend a lot of time on such matters), I dont recall
ever coming across this theory before. At any rate, I suspect a bit of
research will disclose that "dog" predates the development of the Dachshund
breed by a wide margin.

"Dach" is the German word for roof. It doesn't seem likely that there is
any etymological connection there. "Dachs" means badger.....hence the
Dachshund, which was bred to hunt badgers. It's conceivable that there is a
connection here, but given the long tenure of the relationship between dogs
and humans I have a hard time believing that the name of one of many prey
animals somehow got conflated with the entire of class of those used to hunt
them as well as many others.

. . . .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.

True. That happens all the time. Take, "*******ize", for example.


Wolfgang

"Tim J." wrote in message
...

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

Oddly (since I used to spend a lot of time on such matters), I dont recall
ever coming across this theory before. At any rate, I suspect a bit of
research will disclose that "dog" predates the development of the Dachshund
breed by a wide margin.

"Dach" is the German word for roof. It doesn't seem likely that there is
any etymological connection there. "Dachs" means badger.....hence the
Dachshund, which was bred to hunt badgers. It's conceivable that there is a
connection here, but given the long tenure of the relationship between dogs
and humans I have a hard time believing that the name of one of many prey
animals somehow got conflated with the entire of class of those used to hunt
them as well as many others.

. . . .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.

True. That happens all the time. Take, "*******ize", for example.


Wolfgang

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


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.


My transliteration of how I said the word at the same age is
"sabaka."

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


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.


My transliteration of how I said the word at the same age is
"sabaka."

Tim J. wrote:
Tim J. wrote:

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.

"Dog" derives from the Old English "dogca," which became the Middle
English "docca."

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

Tim J. wrote:
Tim J. wrote:

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.

"Dog" derives from the Old English "dogca," which became the Middle
English "docca."

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

On Mon, 3 Jan 2005 10:01:41 -0600, "Wolfgang"
wrote:


"Tim J." wrote in message
...

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

Oddly (since I used to spend a lot of time on such matters), I dont recall
ever coming across this theory before. At any rate, I suspect a bit of
research will disclose that "dog" predates the development of the Dachshund
breed by a wide margin.

"Dach" is the German word for roof. It doesn't seem likely that there is
any etymological connection there. "Dachs" means badger.....hence the
Dachshund, which was bred to hunt badgers. It's conceivable that there is a
connection here, but given the long tenure of the relationship between dogs
and humans I have a hard time believing that the name of one of many prey
animals somehow got conflated with the entire of class of those used to hunt
them as well as many others.

. . . .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.

True. That happens all the time. Take, "*******ize", for example.


Wolfgang

The British Isles were populated by stone age nomads long before the
Celts showed up -- maybe dog is one of their words that made it
through the linguistic gauntlet.

Peter

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Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharl...ers/index.html

On Mon, 3 Jan 2005 10:01:41 -0600, "Wolfgang"
wrote:


"Tim J." wrote in message
...

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

Oddly (since I used to spend a lot of time on such matters), I dont recall
ever coming across this theory before. At any rate, I suspect a bit of
research will disclose that "dog" predates the development of the Dachshund
breed by a wide margin.

"Dach" is the German word for roof. It doesn't seem likely that there is
any etymological connection there. "Dachs" means badger.....hence the
Dachshund, which was bred to hunt badgers. It's conceivable that there is a
connection here, but given the long tenure of the relationship between dogs
and humans I have a hard time believing that the name of one of many prey
animals somehow got conflated with the entire of class of those used to hunt
them as well as many others.

. . . .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.

True. That happens all the time. Take, "*******ize", for example.


Wolfgang

The British Isles were populated by stone age nomads long before the
Celts showed up -- maybe dog is one of their words that made it
through the linguistic gauntlet.

Peter

turn mailhot into hotmail to reply

Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharl...ers/index.html

"rw" wrote in message
nk.net...
Tim J. wrote:
Tim J. wrote:

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.

"Dog" derives from the Old English "dogca," which became the Middle
English "docca."

And thus the boy thinks he is justified in believing he has answered a
question.

"Stupid" is an interesting word. In ages to come, lexicographers will
doubtless debate hotly over the etymological connection between it and
"Barnard".

Wolfgang