Re: [tied] Old Rus' of the many "nationes"

----- Original Message -----

From: Sergejus Tarasovas

To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 4:48 PM

Subject: RE: [tied] Old Rus' of the many "nationes"

[Sergejus Tarasovas] 

...

The absence of any direct traces of such a Baltic name for the Dnieper is a problem not solved in today's Baltistics. Until now I have been aware of the two speculations (both being rather shaky, IMO) mentioned in one of my recent messages: 1. the name was *Ne`munas (> Lith. Ne~munas, Belarusian N'oman 'Nemen'), later re-applied to today's Neman 2. the name was *Duna:j-, since an abstract river is often called Duno~jus, Dunoje~lis etc in Lithuanian folklore, but the Danube flows rather far from today's Lithuania and such a close attention asks for its explanation.
...

 

[Alexander]

I apologize in advance, if my question looks too naive.

 

Can not Dnieper/Danaper/Dnepr/Dnipro etc. be hydronymes which descend from the _Baltic_ form of the river name consisting of 2 parts: Duno~jus + East-Baltic  form of the word "water, river" (something like *apa or *opa ?) ?

Perhaps, the final "-r" could appear for the first time in the Germanic (Gothic) version and then spread widely as the most prestigious form of the word?

 

Alexander