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Published : 28 Jun 2020, 04:42 AM
"Papa what's that?' asked the little 9-year-old boy, seeing a strange creature hopping around.
Kan- I
Ga – don't
Roo – know
Kangaroo = I don't know
Kan ga roo, was the answer of the father. This was a conversation between an aborigine Australian father and a son. I was fascinated after reading this story almost 10 years back. I went about sharing this story with many. People would listen in awe. One day, I asked my nephew Shakil, who lives in Australia, whether he knew the meaning of Kangaroo. As is normal, he answered, "It is the name of an animal in Australia." I laughed and told him the meaning. The next day he sent me a link and I was totally disappointed. Through that link, I got to know that this story was a myth. A widely held belief has it that the word kangaroo comes from an Australian Aboriginal word meaning "I don't know". Recent linguistics, however, have confirmed the existence of a word gangurru in the northeast Aboriginal language of Guugu Yimidhirr, referring to a species of kangaroo.
I was intrigued as the myth was busted but my interest in word origins grew.
The origins of human language will perhaps remain a mystery. On the other hand, the study of the origin of individual languages has been quite diligently studied for the past couple of centuries.
"Language" itself is interesting. Lingua, the Latin word for tongue breezed into old French "langage" and then evolved as "language" in English.
Word origin, in other words, etymology is the history of the original roots of the word; and it's evolution to the present state of the word based on the transition from one language to another. Sometimes the event involved also contributes to the modification. In a few cases, the meaning also changes. It is truly fascinating to see the process and helps one understand and use it properly.
Some would argue otherwise that knowing the etymology of a word does nothing for the current meaning of the word. One can use a word perfectly well knowing its formal dictionary definition, rather than knowing its origin; and that knowing the etymology might bring out confusions too.
It may occasionally be true. For example: the word "nice". Some linguists say it has developed from the Latin "necius" meaning "ignorant". Some claim it as from "nescire" (not knowing). Once, a negative term meaning "ignorant", the word "nice" evolved slowly and as it was introduced into the English language, it became positive over time. Maybe this is why it sounds so weak when we use it. Compare the three sentences and you will notice what I mean. "You look nice." In comparison, if we say: "You look wonderful." or "You are gorgeous." See the difference in emphasis?
There are many words like this in English that have unexpected and fascinating origins.
Since we are all interested in reading the news, how about knowing its etymology? Many people think that the word "news" is an acronym of the four cardinal directions: north, east, west, and south. Few take it as: Notable Events, Weather, and Sports (NEWS). Actually the word "news" is simply a plural form of "new". "News", in fact, is from the old English "niwes" or "newes" (new things). "News" is then new information. Newspapers carry news. An example of fascinating news is that the Sunday Oct 17, 1965 issue of The New York Times consisted of 946 pages, weighed 3.5kg and sold only for $0.50. What a tremendous volume!!!
But now things have changed. To minimise the paper load, we have online newspapers around the globe. bdnews24.com, a bilingual online newspaper in Bangladesh is a good example.
Sometimes the changes in language and definitions are obvious, sometimes very minute. The newest meaning of the word "mouse" shows that language change can be quickly and universally accepted. We get "mouse" from old English "mus" meaning small rodent. Though we still use it for the rodent, it is also used for the small device controlling the cursor on the monitor!
How mystifying!!!
Let's delve more into the wonderful world of word origins with a bowl of tasty vermicelli. By the way "vermicelli" is from the Italian vermis (worms) or "vermicelli" (little worms). Doesn't sound very appetising, does it? No need to panic! It's actually a delicacy made from flour and water into wormlike pasta.
Now to clothing. How about wearing a pair of comfortable jeans with a t-shirt in this heat?
Well, although "jeans" are conventionally thought to be of American origin, workers in Northern Italy were donning jeans as early as the 17th century. Later it was picked up as a fashion statement in America. Though it is supposed to have been invented by Jacob W Davis and Levi Strauss, the fabric used was first produced in Genoa in France. The French word for Genoa is Gênes, and the name "jeans" is likely a modification of the material's city of origin.
Next is for us, ladies – get ready to demolish everything. In figurative terms of course. Yes, girls, we do need to put the rouge, powder and mascara to get ready. "Rouge" is French for red, and spells danger. "Face powder" is derived from the old French "poudre" (explosive), "Mascara" is Spanish for "mask", and it comes from the Arabic "maskharah" (masked clown). So beware when a female uses rouge, powder and mascara; she is masked, armed and confident to win a battle or ready to win over hearts.
For the office-goers, one of the most used words, I guess, is "boss". It is an Americanised word taken from "baas" (master) by which the Dutch colonists used to call their masters. "Baas" sounded more democratic, so the Americans adopted it. The South Africans too used "baas" in addressing their white masters. Later in 1806, the word changed its form to "boss". I am sure our bosses do not use whips; so the next time we eulogise our bosses think again. I would much rather call my supervisor by the title like "the managing director" instead of "boss".
Talking about the office, most of us are now doing home office; as there are restrictions to maintain social distancing. Our normal life pattern has changed too.
How many of you have not been to the barber during this lockdown? Well, "barber" is derived from the Latin "barba" (beard) through the old French "barbeo". Maybe this is why the word is now gradually being replaced by the word "hairstylist".
As we are facing a pandemic with COVID-19, my curiosity arose to know the word origins of "isolation", "quarantine" and "lockdown".
Etymologically, the word "isolated" means islanded. The first permanent hospital for treating victims of the devastating plague, the so-called Black Death, was established in Venice in 1423 on a nearby island called Santa Maria di Nazaret. The reason was to isolate the patients. The word "isolated" comes from the Latin word "insula" (island). The word's evolution from Latin to English began with the Italian word "isolato" (isolated), changed into the French word "isolé", and then to the English "isolated" or "isolation".
The word "quarantine" also has its origins during the same devastating plague. It comes from the Venetian dialect form of the Italian words "quaranta giorni" (forty days). During the plague, ships were kept away from land in nearby islands for a forty-day period to stop the spread of the plague before allowing people to go on lands.
We now use the word "quarantine" to refer to the practice of restricting the movements of people or animals by concerned higher authorities for a period of fourteen days; who might look healthy but may have been exposed to an infectious disease. Knowing the word origin of such words can allow us to relate to historical events and give us hope that with the correct measures, we can overcome today's pandemic as well; and life will eventually return to a new normal.
Lockdown can be a different situation. For example, China and almost all others declared a complete lockdown of the areas affected by the coronavirus. The origin of the word "lockdown" is the old English word, "loc" which refers to fastening something, and the word "down" refers to the old English word "doun". A complete lockdown situation refers to staying at home and not leaving home, building, and areas people are living in. Perhaps that is fastening the doors closed.
Knowing the etymology of a word provides an enhanced outlook about its most effective use. It helps us understand its original meaning and how it may have metamorphosed over time. We can see the patterns and relationships between languages. It is a form of history of words crossing borders. When reading anything from the past, understanding the etymology of words is profoundly enlightening, because it clarifies meanings that may get lost or misinterpreted with the passage of time.
Word origins are sometimes complex but beautiful and entertaining. If we are equipped with a little knowledge about the origin of words, we can become great conversationalists.
Why not arm yourselves with some exciting word origins?
