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#35982 08/12/01 04:32 PM
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i dunno-- but even molocules exhibit 'hand" ness with most, but not all twisting or turning in a single direction.. so it not just living thing.. we really live in a right hand universe..


#35983 08/12/01 06:20 PM
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How did "handedness" evolve?
Unsure if my above question was contrary to AWAD etiquette, as not really being a linguistic question. If improper, please advise.


#35984 08/12/01 10:20 PM
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How did right-handedness come to be the most common condition? A previous post stated ( though citation not given) that God was right-handed So it figures that Adam was right handed. Maybe Eve too. Unless the rib used to create her was from Adam's left side.. I remember somewhere in the Bible the statement that the "righteous" would in heaven "sit on the right hand of God." There must be a big empty space on His left hand, since the unrighteous do not get past the Pearly Gates..( I do not mean to suggest that no lefties were allowed on His right side. The Bible didn't discuss that, as far as I recall.)

Psalms 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand

I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness ….
For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41:10, 18)



#35985 08/13/01 01:12 AM
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#35986 08/13/01 08:11 AM
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> The dextral world is built on sinistral cells. That's right. Nice one Max

> There must be a big empty space on His left hand

But Bill, surely you've heard of the Holy Trinity. The (albeit abstract) place to the left of The Father is reserved for 'the Holy Ghost' or 'the Spirit' - at least that's how I always thought of it.


#35987 08/13/01 11:44 AM
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place to the left of The Father is reserved for 'the Holy Ghost' or 'the Spirit'

... so proving He must be left handed - cheers!


#35988 08/13/01 12:42 PM
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In reply to:

I thought there might be an etymological connection between "left" and "levo", but my dictionary does not confirm this.I think a better dictionary might.




I would guess you are correct- Levo is "left" in Slovene. Slovenija is a Slavic nation which was once deep in the Roman Empire (the upper right-hand corner of Italy including Trieste (Trst) was a part of Slovenija until the mid 20th century), and a living etymological museum. The Latin "sum" lives on as "sem", in some dialects even closer, the ancient "we two", lost in every other Indo-European language, is still in daily use, etc. As you move further away from the center of the Roman world, the sound shifts and such get busy, "levo" is already "ljevo" in neighboring Croatia.

The question of word origins is unfortunately often politically tainted, but linguists should at least be able to suggest the idea of a common origin without raising too many hackles. (Good luck! )

Just googled this one, and no surprise-

Destrer, Dextrer
[OF. destrier, fr. L. dextra on the right side. The squire led his master's horse beside him, on his right hand. Skeat.]

Slovene- desno, right, right-hand side, etc.

Dex- Des is hardly a far-fetched sound shift, but I can't think of any examples in English. Anyone?

-CB

PS. If you're into European traveling, languages, cultures that have retained their language against all odds, and nice people, not to mention good drinking, Slovenija is up there with Ireland and Wales.














#35989 08/13/01 02:46 PM
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I read yesterday that the keyboard we use highly favors the left-handed among us. Not only does the left hand do 56 percent of the typing, but the right hand's most dominant fingers are left on the infrequent J and K keys. I realize this doesn't even the scales, but it is interesting. Wonder if any studies indicate quicker typing from the Sinistrous.


#35990 08/13/01 02:52 PM
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> left hand... 56 percent

and think how skewed it would be if the right thumb didn't type all of those spaces!


#35991 08/13/01 03:02 PM
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Brandon notes: the keyboard we use highly favors the left-handed among us

Way I heard it, the keyboard was originally designed to be inconvenient. The designers were afraid folks would type too fast for the mechanics of the old typewriters from which the keyboard was inherited.

Jammin' them keys.


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