TIP OF THE DAY 20: Name > Etymology

MJ. Smith
MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,878
edited November 2024 in English Forum

link to next post TIP OF THE DAY 21: Name > Etymology (conclusion), Variants - Logos Forums

TOPIC: Name.Name etymology

QUESTION: What is the etymological fallacy?

ANSWER: the Logos/Verbum all search synopsis:

The etymological fallacy is a common error in linguistic analysis that assumes the origin or historical meaning of a word determines its true or current meaning[1]. This fallacy overlooks the fact that word meanings evolve over time, often becoming detached from their origins[2]. While etymology, the study of word origins and history, can be interesting, it doesn't necessarily provide insight into how a word is used or understood in a specific context or time period[3]. For example, understanding the etymology of "county" or "lasagna" doesn't enhance comprehension of these words in modern usage[4]. To avoid this fallacy, it's crucial to focus on how words are used and understood within their contemporary context, rather than relying solely on their historical roots[5].

 

QUESTION: What information does etymology actually provide?

ANSWER: from Perplexity

Etymology provides several types of information about words and language:

1. Historical origins: Etymology traces the origins and development of words over time, showing which languages they came from originally and how they entered the current language. For example, many English words have Latin, Greek, or Germanic roots.

2. Changes in meaning: It reveals how the meanings of words have shifted or expanded over time. Words often take on new meanings or connotations different from their original sense.

3. Word formation: Etymology shows how words were constructed from roots, prefixes, suffixes, and other elements. This can provide insight into the logic behind word structures.

4. Language relationships: By tracing words back to common roots, etymology demonstrates connections between related languages.

5. Cultural insights: The origins and development of words can reflect historical and cultural influences on a language.

6. Spelling clues: Understanding a word's etymology can sometimes help explain its spelling, especially for irregular words.

7. Semantic nuances: Knowing a word's origins and development can reveal subtle shades of meaning that may not be obvious from current usage alone.

However, etymology has some limitations:

- It does not always provide definitive answers about word origins, as some etymologies remain uncertain or disputed.

- The original meaning of a word is not necessarily its "true" or most important meaning today.

- Etymology cannot reliably predict current usage or spelling.

- Focusing too much on etymology can lead to the etymological fallacy - assuming a word's original meaning determines its current meaning.

Overall, while etymology offers valuable historical and linguistic insights, it should be used cautiously as just one tool for understanding language, rather than treated as the ultimate authority on word meanings or usage. Modern linguists generally view etymology as informative about word histories, but not prescriptive for current language use.Devil

 

QUESTION- How do I find the etymology of a word?

SOFTWARE: Note that the first method is identical to the first method for a name’s meaning. The second method simply changes a search term from the second method for a name’s meaning.

Method 1 Internet Hebrew scripture names only: My favorite source for the etymology of Hebrew names is Abarim Publications on the internet:

  1. Click on Why you want to study the Bible, and transcend religion (abarim-publications.com) (or enter the URL www.abarim-publications.com into your browser),
  2. On the upper left of the page, click on browse names and categories.
  3. Select the appropriate category e.g. male names, female names, peoples, divine names, other gods …)
  4. Select from the alphabetic list the desired entry.  For example, the entry for Naomi is”

The name Naomi:

Summary

Meaning

My Delight, Sweet

Etymology

From the verb נעם (naem), to be pleasant.

Related names

Via נעם (naem): Abinoam, Ahinoam, Elnaam, Naam, Naamah, Naaman, Naamathite, Nain, Naom

The name Naomi in the Bible

Naomi is the wife of Elimelech, and the mother of Mahlon and Chilion (Ruth 1:2). They live in Bethlehem but move to Moab, where Mahlon marries Ruth and Chilion marries Orpah (see Ruth 4:10). After the men die, Naomi and Ruth go to Bethlehem, where Ruth meets Boaz, marries him and becomes an ancestor of Jesus.

As Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem the local women recognize Naomi and call her by name. Naomi responds by saying to call her Mara (Ruth 1:20). Whether the women actually do that is not known but the author of the book of Ruth disregards her wish and keeps calling her Naomi.

Etymology of the name Naomi

The name Naomi is derived from the verb נעם (na'em) meaning to be pleasant, sweet, delightful, beautiful:

Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary

נעם

The verb נעם (na'em) means to be pleasant, delightful or sweet. Derived nouns נעם (no'am) and נעמן (na'aman) mean pleasantness. Adjective נעים (na'im), means pleasant. The plural noun מנעמים (man'ammim) describes "sweets" or dainties. The adjective נעים (na'im) describes a soft or pleasant sound.

The letter י (yod) upon which our name ends, may either create an adjective (sweet), a possessive form (my sweetness), or may be a remnant of יה (Yah) = יהו (Yahu) = יו (Yu), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, YHWH, or Yahweh.

Naomi meaning

For a meaning of the name Naomi, NOBSE Study Bible Name List goes with the possessive form and reads My Delight. Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Name reads Pleasantness, but adds Of The Lord, assuming that the yod is not an adjective-maker but indicative of the name YHWH.

  1. In actual practice, I have a shortcut to this site in the shortcuts section of the Application Toolbar.

Method 2: Search in books. Many Bible dictionaries include the meaning of a name in their entries. This method offers multiple opinions and multiple interpretations of how the meaning applies.

  1. Open a search panel
  2. Select a book search
  3. Search either your books or type:encyclopedia (Bible dictionaries)
  4. Use the search argument “etymology INTERSECTS headword:Naomi” where Naomi is replaced by whatever name you are interested in. Note that the headword parameter assures that the word meaning must be in an entry on Naomi.
  5. Run the search.
  6. Review the results noting the name/s meaning any other useful information.

 

QUESTION: What information can be gleaned from the etymology that are useful for the study of names?

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

When examining the etymology and history of Biblical names, we can infer several things about the cultural and ethnic awareness of parents who chose such names:

  1. Linguistic knowledge: Biblical names often have meanings in their original languages (usually Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek). This suggests parents had some familiarity with these languages and their religious significance.
  2. Theological awareness: The meanings of Biblical names frequently relate to God or religious concepts, indicating parents were aware of and valued these theological ideas.
  3. Biblical narrative familiarity: Many Biblical names are associated with specific characters and stories, suggesting parents had knowledge of these biblical narratives.
  4. Cultural exchange and adaptation: The use of names from different cultures within the Bible (e.g., Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian) reflects awareness of how cultural ideas spread and were adapted.
  5. Linguistic variations: Biblical names often have variants in different languages, which might indicate a more global or multicultural perspective among those using these names.
  6. Religious and cultural identity: Choosing a specific Biblical name could indicate a desire to connect the child to a particular religious or cultural heritage.
  7. Historical consciousness: The use of certain names over time reflects changing religious and cultural trends within the Biblical narrative.
  8. Symbolic meaning: Biblical names often carry symbolic meanings beyond their literal translations, suggesting awareness of deeper cultural and religious connotations.
  9. Political awareness: Some Biblical names reflect awareness of political situations or power dynamics of the time.
  10. Strategic cultural navigation: The choice of names sometimes indicates a strategic approach to cultural navigation, balancing maintaining identity with functioning in broader society.

In summary, the etymology and history of Biblical names suggest that parents choosing these names often had awareness of languages, religious traditions, biblical narratives, and possibly the name's journey through different cultures and historical periods. This choice might reflect not just religious affiliations, but also a broader cultural and linguistic awareness within the context of the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world.[7]


[1] Robert J. Cara, “Word-Study Fallacies / Words of Caution,” Tabletalk Magazine, January 2014: Hermeneutical Fallacies (Sanford, FL: Ligonier Ministries, Inc., 2014), 13. and Todd J. Murphy, Pocket Dictionary for the Study of Biblical Hebrew, The IVP Pocket Reference Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 70. and Matthew S. DeMoss, Pocket Dictionary for the Study of New Testament Greek (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 53.

[2] Matthew S. DeMoss, Pocket Dictionary for the Study of New Testament Greek (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 53.

[3] Robert J. Cara, “Word-Study Fallacies / Words of Caution,” Tabletalk Magazine, January 2014: Hermeneutical Fallacies (Sanford, FL: Ligonier Ministries, Inc., 2014), 13. and Robert L. Plummer, Daily Dose of Greek: Transcripts (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2021)

[4] Ibid.

[5] Robert J. Cara, “Word-Study Fallacies / Words of Caution,” Tabletalk Magazine, January 2014: Hermeneutical Fallacies (Sanford, FL: Ligonier Ministries, Inc., 2014), 13. and Robert L. Plummer, Daily Dose of Greek: Transcripts (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2021)and Scot McKnight, Introducing New Testament Interpretation, vol. 1, Guides to New Testament Exegesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1989), 110.

Devil https://rucforsk.ruc.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/67599073/On_the_limits_of_etymology_FINAL.pdf and https://www.merriam-webster.com/help/faq-etymology and https://www.languagetrainers.com.au/blog/etymology-the-history-of-words/ and https://vocabularyluau.com/7-reasons-etymology-is-important-for-teachers/ and https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/an-introduction-to-etymology-eight-great-word-origins and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology and https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-etymology-of-words.html and https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1316&context=jbms and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8724158/

[7] Note Preplexity gave no references because it had been asked to generalize the answer it had given for Esther.

Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

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