Re: [tied] Re: Pliny's "Guthalus- "Richard Wordingham"

Yes, it's another famous false cognate. The language is Mbabaram (now extinct; the last living informant was discovered by Bob Dixon some time ago), and the word in question is <dOg> (with an open [O] to make it even more English-sounding). It derives from *gudaga, a well-attested word with numerous cognates (Mbabaram was one of the so-called initial-dropping Australian languages).

Piotr

----- Original Message -----
From: danjmi

To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 4:48 PM

Subject: [tied] Re: Pliny's "Guthalus- "Richard Wordingham"

Relevant to the other ongoing thread, I'm almost sure I have a book that, as a warning against false cognates, states that the word for "dog" in some Australian language is "dog" and then proceeds to show this is a regular reflex of something that looks entirely different in *Proto-something. I know I've read it; I've been looking but can't find it. Frustrating!