Angst
Rambling and inconsistent
Lol, Russia navigable by boats. Talking about precolonization.
The Name of Your Country
- Thread starter Veles
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Is that absoultely 100% correct etymology? Because I've seen it explained as derived from Slovene, just like other Baltic neighbours, Scandinavians and Germans, derived thier word for Slavs - 'Vends' from it.
Actually, there are no other historic precedents when a country is named after such a silly thing as 'rowmen' or 'boats' or, in fact, after any activity or object, rather than a tribe name
As far as I know, Venelainen is how Slavs where called, rather than the land they were colonizing. There must have been some earlier Finnic names for the land around Ilmen, Peipsi and Neva, not Venaja or Ruotsi.
It's 'Ruotsi' that's supposed to be derived from boats and rowmen.
What precolonization?
In Eastern Europe there was a pra-Slavic tribe called in Latin "Venedi", (English name "Vistula veneti", in Russian "Венеды"). I wonder if these words have the same root.
Tani Coyote
Son of Huehuecoyotl
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My inner geographer dislikes America's name. United Statesian sounds weird, and we hardly have a monopoly on being a United States, and America technically refers to the whole New World.
We could roll with Columbia, but that'd conflict with Colombia.
As such, we are probably one of the most screwed in terms of nation name. Even the Soviet Union - which would be similar in terms of not really having a geographic location attached to it - could call its people "Soviets."
We could roll with Columbia, but that'd conflict with Colombia.
As such, we are probably one of the most screwed in terms of nation name. Even the Soviet Union - which would be similar in terms of not really having a geographic location attached to it - could call its people "Soviets."
Traitorfish
The Tighnahulish Kid
Did they every actually do that? "Soviet" just means "council"- it's only to foreigners that it has any specifically Bolshevik connotations- so it seems like it would be as awkward to Russian-speaking ears as calling the inhabitants of the US "States" would be to English-speaking ears.
Optical
The Fall of the Eleventh
Am now calling my country New Sjælland. New Land of Soul is way more awesome than New Sealand!
True dat.
When they call people 'Soviets' in the movies it sounds uber stupid.
Teh Soviets are coming!
Also, lol @ "Russian-speaking ears" and "English-speaking ears"
Tani Coyote
Son of Huehuecoyotl
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I wouldn't know, but I know in English parlance calling them the Soviets was the common term if one didn't want to say Russians. I suppose it was more inclusive.
I imagine the Soviet citizens would have probably called themselves by whatever ethnic group or SSR they resided in, with the whole idea being socialism unifying the nationalities tying them together, but I wouldn't know. :S
The term "Russians" (Russkie) was used more often, but in Russian language it means ethnicity rather than nationality. "Soviet people" or "Soviet citizens" were also widely used.
The use of Советский народ - Sovetsky narod (literally, 'the people of councils') was strongly encouraged, but didn't really stuck, despite all the 70 years propaganda.
"Sovetsky narod" sounds too pompous, it was more suitable for official speeches or diplomatic memorandums. People used to say "Sovetskie lyudi", which literally means the Soviet people. I can't think of the other better term which was used by people to name any or all the citizens of the Soviet Union, not just Russians, Ukrainians, Kazakhs, etc.
Phrossack
Armored Fish and Armored Men
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Most St. Louisans pronounce it "Mih-ZUR-ee", but many others inexplicably pronounce it "Mih-ZUR-uh". A local columnist once half-jokingly suggested that, since St. Louisan politicians pretend to be rural farmers, the rest of the state tends to lean further right politically, etc., St. Louis and some of the surrounding areas should secede, join Illinois, and rename the city to West East St. Louis. Missouri could then become Mizurruh.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_a0e88b8e-56b5-5ac6-aa5e-4b8d706dce3a.html
Well, "vene=boat" is 100% certain, but of course there is no way to know for sure whether "Venemaa" is derived from that or something else - I do not think there is an universally accepted explanation.
I was just reminded of this etymology since you mentioned rivers and rowmen.
gangleri2001
Garbage day!!!
Catalonia's ethymology is unknown. Perhaps it comes from Gotland or Gothia but nobody knows with certainity.
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