GENEALOGY-DNA-L Archives

Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2006-09 > 1157249813


From: "Lawrence Mayka" <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] [GENEALOGY-DNA] More on Chinese mummies
Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2006 21:16:53 -0500
In-Reply-To: <44FA3884.8080903@hargray.com>


> From:
> [mailto:] On Behalf Of Dale
> E. Reddick
> Central Anatolian Galitia is further afield from the Gaulish

Sorry, but you're still spelling it wrong. It's GALATIA.

> Also, there are those -very- interesting similarities and possible
> common origins mentioned in discussions of that Slavic Galicia.

Here is a somewhat better discussion:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halych
---
Historians formerly believed it was of Celtic origin, relating it to many
similar place names found across Europe, such as Galaţi in Romania, Gaul in
France, and Galicia in Spain.[citation needed] Another version postulates
"hals", salt to be present in the root of Halych, as salt trage was a
significant economical factor in the medieval history of Halych.[citation
needed] Max Vasmer and modern Slavists generally agree that the name
represents an adjective derived from the East Slavic word for jackdaw,
halka. Consequently, this bird is featured in the town's coat of arms.
---

My only difficulty with this explanation is the reference to Max Vasmer as a
'Slavist', which sounds highly partisan. In fact, Vasmer was ethnically
German and worked in Germany for most of his career. His specialty, though,
was indeed the etymology of Slavic words:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Vasmer
---
Nevertheless, Vasmer persevered in his work, which was finally published in
four volumes by Heidelberg University in 1950-58 as Russisches
Etymologisches Wörterbuch.
...
It is the most authoritative source for Slavic-languages etymology to this
day.
---

Nevertheless, I agree that we should keep an open mind to new evidence,
regardless of whom it 'favors'.


This thread: