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I'm a member of a bulletin board entitled Scientific Whims (http://www.livejournal.com/users/scientificwhims/). Yesterday, a fellow posted a rather interesting question, which I have copied bellow. --- Does anyone here know what the names of the major continents mean, or why they were named as such? Africa Antarctica Asia Australia America and Europe (especially this one) I find it curious that Europe is the only continent not starting with "A." I also find it interesting the Europe could also be pronounced Ur-op, which brings in interesting formulations to the beginnings of Sumerian (Mesopetamian) cities, which mostly all started with "Ur."
---
So far he's gotten an explanation for:
America (from articles viewable here: http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa050498.htm and here: http://www.brainevent.com/be/WackyWeek/twwih/20020304/show_article_then_toc)
Antarctica, as it is somewhat easy to see that it is the "Anti-Arctic" region.
And someone gave the explanation of the naming of Europe as follows: "Europe was named by the Greeks [or romans?] after Europa, who fell into the mediteranian after being kidnapped by Zeus/Jupiter in the shape of a bull - something like that."
But we still don't know about Asia, Australia, or Africa.
Anyone here know?
Thanks!
Abraham Feinberg www.artlair.com/vertigoo
Abraham Feinberg www.artlair.com/vertigoo
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Here's something from a site: Africa comes from the name of the Roman province Africa, which was in the Karthago area.
America, that is parted in two - South America and North America, is called after the Italian merchant seafarer and explorer Amerigo Vespucci. The word was used the first time 1507, when the German geographer Martin Waldseemüller named the area in his work "Cosmographiae introductio".
Asia comes probably from the Assyrian word "acu", which means "in the east".
Australia finds its origin in the latin word "australis", which means "southerly". Maybe you've heard about Terra Australis (incognita), that means "(the unknown) land in south". This aims at that Australia once was an unknown, southerly placed land.
Antarctic zone is created from the Greek word "Antarktikas", that means "Right opposite of the Nordic".
And at last:
Europe, which isn't start with an A. Europe's origin is much discussed, maybe it is Greek or maybe it is Semitic. Its means is believed to be "the land of the sunset". http://www.linema.com/screenplace/continents.htmlI googled: "Names of continents" plus "etymology" Best regards, WW P.S. Thanks for a great question!
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Carpal Tunnel
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I found a number of sites that attempted to give etymologies of these words. I didn't find any worth citing. I suspect OED3 probably best source.
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Carpal Tunnel
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There's also a minority opinion going around that America was named, not after Amerigo Vespucci, but after John Americ, a Bristol fish merchant who supposedly owned the fishing rights to the sea off the shore of Labrador in the late 15th century. Web evidence is hard to find on this. Some may reject the claim out of hand on the mere evidence of memories of secondary school history classes.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Welcome Abraham! Rashi Damage sounds good, too
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Carpal Tunnel
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Welcome to the board, Abraham. We're a crazy yet loveable bunch here and I hope you enjoy visiting and contributing. After reading your "About Me" page, I suspect you'll fit right in. Do I have an answer to your question? Heck no but
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OK, It was Richard Americ (or Amerike, or even Ap Meryk) not John. He financed John Cabot's voyage and got naming rights from it, it says here. And wait'll you hear what was his coat of arms. Here's some info on the book by Peter Macdonald: http://www.petmac.co.uk/cabot.html
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Carpal Tunnel
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Welcome to the board, Abraham. We're a crazy yet loveable bunch here and I hope you enjoy visiting and contributing. After reading your "About Me" page, I suspect you'll fit right in. Ditto, Sweetie! Hey, Jazz-O---finally, somebody in your age group!
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old hand
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old hand
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Hey, Jazz-O---finally, somebody in your age group!
Whaddaya mean "finally"? Dody's been around for a while now. I keep tabs on this ya know
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Whaddaya mean "finally"? Dody's been around for a while now Oh, is she a ba--I mean, young person, too? [scampering away giggling e]
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addict
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Tell you what Jackie, guess how old I am. Older than Juliet (that I know for sure) Younger than Joan of Arc (just) Same age as Ophelia ( If you take the top end of the estimate)
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veteran
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guess how old I am.
Older than Juliet Hmmm, definitely pre-Shakespearian - 16th C?... Younger than Joan of Arc (just)...15th C... Same age as Ophelia ( If you take the top end of the estimate)...Shakespearian at the latest - 17th C That would make you about 400 years old. By 'eck, you are a baby round here, dode.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Fishona, you know how to make a person feel old! (Helen) of troy... makes me, what, 10 time older than dody?
you've got that wrong! i know i am 47-- a prime number-- perfect for me, since i am in my prime!
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veteran
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(Helen) of troy... makes me, what, 10 time older than dody? Yep! But then as Adam I'm only a few days younger than the Earth itself... Hmmm, still 7 years from my prime, too. And monumentally off-thread.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Hint -- 41 is a prime number, too!(unless you want to shave off a few years and be 37)
the thing is, if you say "i am 39" people tend to think that you aren't-- it's much to much of cliche age.. but no one expect you to chose 37 or 41 or 47 as age to stay put at. there are lots of prime numbers.. and isn't better to be 47 (a prime number) rather than 49? (a square!-- who wants to be a square?)
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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I'm 24 square roots of 2 years old, or about 11 pi years old.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Younger than Joan of Arc (just)You're 19? (Don't feel obligated to reply, esp. in public.) Warning: do not offer me Shakespeare. I would rather be called an ayleur than try to read Shakespeare.
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Carpal Tunnel
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In reply to:
I would rather be called an ayleur than try to read Shakespeare.
Nothing needs to be added to the above. It's a sterling admission!
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stranger
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Thanks!
Abraham Feinberg www.artlair.com/vertigoo
Abraham Feinberg www.artlair.com/vertigoo
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Thank you very much!
Also, I apologize for this reply being so delayed. Apparently, I forgot to check off the e-mail notification option. Oops.
Abraham Feinberg www.artlair.com/vertigoo
Abraham Feinberg www.artlair.com/vertigoo
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