--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, Gordon Selway <gordonselway@...>
wrote:
> I have no Romanian, and cannot comment on the way "TâTã" reached
that
> language, but there is presumably something much older behind it -
> consider the Gaelic _cioch_ 'breast', 'pap', which I'd presume is
> related in some way.
The common element is reduplication, which imediately suggests that
it is ultimately a babyish word in origin, i.e. a 'lallwort'. I
don't think a kVkV frame is likely to be otherwise related.
Parallel formations are legion - _mamma_ in Latin, Middle English,
Sweidish and Norwegian dialect _pappe_ (whence Modern English _pap_)
and you will find Spanish and Ossetian parallels in yesterday's
posting by David Watson (wtsdv).
Although such items are treacherous, they can be worked with, and
become more reliable once they lose their babyish form.
Richard.