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Why ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ Sound So Similar in So Many Languages: Linguistic Coincidence?
The Atlantic ^ | 10/16/2015 | JOHN MCWHORTER

Posted on 10/16/2015 7:54:15 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

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1 posted on 10/16/2015 7:54:15 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I thought dog in Chinese is called dinner.


2 posted on 10/16/2015 7:57:22 AM PDT by Wilderness Conservative
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To: Wilderness Conservative

NOPE. Not even close :)


3 posted on 10/16/2015 7:58:09 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: Wilderness Conservative

Not sure. I know rat in Chinese is pronounced “chicken” though.


4 posted on 10/16/2015 7:59:38 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: SeekAndFind

Like “potato” and “batata”...

Big whoop...


5 posted on 10/16/2015 8:01:25 AM PDT by Redbob (#BlackCoffeeMatters)
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To: SeekAndFind

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that “mama” is similar in many languages. Picture what a baby’s mouth does when nursing. It’s not much of a stretch to see how the infant would vocalize “ma-ma” when it wants to nurse. In fact, the word in Spanish for “nurse” is mamar.


6 posted on 10/16/2015 8:02:45 AM PDT by DeFault User
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To: DeFault User

Heather has two mamas


7 posted on 10/16/2015 8:04:06 AM PDT by Scrambler Bob (Using 4th keyboard due to wearing out the "/" and "s" on the previous 3)
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To: SeekAndFind
The majority of Chinese were so food-deprived that they HAD to eat ANYTHING. That's why their sauces have always been so thick. Put enough hot sauce on rat and no one knows WHAT they're eating.
The French developed sauces as well, to disguise old/rotten food.

I've always liked Japanese food as it's hallmark is FRESH, fresh, fresh, as in sashimi, almost raw. It is FLASHED in hot and then cold water.

Their hot pots are cooked right on the table where one adds the fresh veggies and then fresh, raw meat.
One can always see and smell what they are about to eat.

8 posted on 10/16/2015 8:04:48 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: cloudmountain

The British went overseas and conquered the world to get away from their own cooking.


9 posted on 10/16/2015 8:05:45 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: Scrambler Bob
Heather has two mamas

Sick, innit?
Those "mamas" will have a reckoning someday, with their Maker.

10 posted on 10/16/2015 8:05:47 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: DeFault User

The Latin word for “breast” is “mamma”, furthermore.


11 posted on 10/16/2015 8:06:20 AM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: DeFault User

RE: I don’t think it’s a coincidence that “mama” is similar in many languages. Picture what a baby’s mouth does when nursing.

Well, the first babble that came out from my daughter’s mouth was Da-Da.


12 posted on 10/16/2015 8:06:40 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
In Arabic:

mother: ummi [literally my mother]
father: baba

I saw a LITTLE girl talking to her "baba." He was SO patient with her and you could tell that he adored his little "bint." [bint = girl]

13 posted on 10/16/2015 8:08:26 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: SeekAndFind
The British went overseas and conquered the world to get away from their own cooking.

GOOD ONE!
Heehee.

14 posted on 10/16/2015 8:10:11 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: DeFault User

like mmmmmmmmmmm


15 posted on 10/16/2015 8:10:33 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: SeekAndFind

HEhehe. Last night on Chopped they were in London and all the cooks were from there. There wasn’t one item they made that looked the least bit appetizing.


16 posted on 10/16/2015 8:11:52 AM PDT by uncitizen (Trump: Saying what we are all thinking)
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To: SeekAndFind

Except that in Japanese ‘father’ is ‘chichi,’ pronounced “chee-chee,” though the more formal word is ‘oto-san’ (oh-TOE-sahn). Mother, BTW, is ‘haha’ or obaa-san.


17 posted on 10/16/2015 8:12:45 AM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: SeekAndFind

Turkish word for dog is köpek. Cat is kedi (sounds a lot like kitty). (My) Mom and Dad is annem ve babam.


18 posted on 10/16/2015 8:13:05 AM PDT by demshateGod (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
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To: Olog-hai
The Latin word for “breast” is “mamma"

Yep, that takes it back over 2000 years.

19 posted on 10/16/2015 8:15:51 AM PDT by DeFault User
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To: uncitizen

I love British food especially the biryanis, vindaloos and kormas.


20 posted on 10/16/2015 8:16:19 AM PDT by posterchild
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