Etimología

[droe82]

Hi. I'm new. One of the most useful things ever for me in learning language is etymology. Don't make fun of me.

[JPablo]

Hi droe82!
The derivation of words, the etymology, is definitely one of the MOST important points to fully grasp the meanings... so I don't think anyone around here is going to make fun of you for that. Rather, we will encourage you to learn it and see how that assist you to get a full conceptual understanding of the words.

I have the hard-cover edition of Joan Corominas Spanish Etymological dictionary, so I can always refer to it, and good dictionaries always give you the derivation. (I normally check it once I got familiar enough with the new term I am trying to clarify or learn for the first time...)

At any rate, in Spanish, per Moliner: etimología (del latín «etymología», del griego «etymología»)
1 f. Étimo.
2 Estudio del origen de las palabras.
And
étimo (del latín «etýmon», del griego «étymon», sentido verdadero) m. Con relación a una palabra, otra o una raíz de la cual procede.

TRUE MEANING is what «étymon» really means... So I am glad you brought the subject up!

[droe82]

Cool, yeah, totally. No, I just hoped no one made this thread already. I blame etymology for a lot of help with the "false friends" thing. Like there was an "atender"/"asistir" thing which made more sense to me with the etymology. Today I came across "mitin," which apparently comes from English. I was very proud of myself.

[JPablo]

That is excellent, man.

One thing I do not quite get here is what do you exactly mean with I blame etymology for a lot of help with the "false friends" thing.
Blame?
You mean by not knowing it?

Otherwise, cool! (Muy bien.)

[chileno]

Don't blame etymology for it, but just us, people.

I have no doubt that this war of tug and tow between Spain, England and France on the subject of grammar and who is who , and what's correct or obsolete has been going on for some time now.

[CrOtALiTo]

Chileno.

Please you light up me.
I don't know what is etymology.
I'd like to know what is that, if you can give me a exact definition of the phrase, because I have related the etymology with the change of words trough of the time.

In the old times.

Please I will be grateful with your support.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

I don't know what is etymology.

Post #2 gives the definition of etymology.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by droe82

Hi. I'm new. One of the most useful things ever for me in learning language is etymology. Don't make fun of me.

You will definitely NOT get teased for having an interest in etymology. I find it fascinating. I'm going to sign up for e-mail notifications on updates to this post so that I can read about etymology as people post to this thread.

AND, there are some people around here who are SO smart when it comes to such things, that you will often get wonderful answers that you didn't even expect to your questions. Enjoy the journey!!

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I find it fascinating.
.
.
. that you will often get wonderful answers

fascinate: Latin fascinare to affect by witchcraft, to enchant.

answer: OE. andswaru from *and- against + *swar- base of swear = to swear against, i.e. to reply

I've always wondered about that w in answer. Now I have the answer - really fascinating.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Perikles

fascinate: Latin fascinare to affect by witchcraft, to enchant.

answer: OE. andswaru from *and- against + *swar- base of swear = to swear against, i.e. to reply

I've always wondered about that w in answer. Now I have the answer - really fascinating.

You reminded me of Eddie Izzard's following routine. (one of my favorite comics)

Warning: Foul language ahead.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by chileno

You reminded me of Eddie Izzards following routine. (one of my favorite comics)

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by Perikles

fascinate: Latin fascinare to affect by witchcraft, to enchant.

answer: OE. andswaru from *and- against + *swar- base of swear = to swear against, i.e. to reply

I've always wondered about that w in answer. Now I have the answer - really fascinating.

Thanks!! You have thus proven my point!

[droe82]

Originally Posted by Perikles

answer: OE. andswaru from *and- against + *swar- base of swear = to swear against, i.e. to reply

I've always wondered about that w in answer. Now I have the answer - really fascinating.

No, totally! That's, like, what I like. It helps with all that stuff. You notice patterns you wouldn't've noticed otherwise.

Same thing with learning related languages like Spanish and English. Somewhere in the first few chapters of Cien anos de soledad, which is all the further I got before I gave up and tried 24 juegos de relajacion (it has pictures!), there's a peleton de fusilamiento. I'm sure most native English speakers know "platoon"—slightly different definition—but there's also an English(-ish) word "fusillade."

Er... that's not really a pattern, but... well... it does establish a... y'know... but yeah. Y'know?

[poli]

That is right. Learning a foreign language gives you more perspective, and may make you an amateur etimologist. Words have roots and history. English and Spanish are linked by out mutual ancient mother tongue Latin.