From: Mark Odegard
Message: 1059
Date: 2000-01-22
By the way, for those interested, "Slovenia" is a term invented only in the late 19th century. "Carniolan"(Krainer) and "Windisch" were used before 1848 by the Austro-Hungarians, for political reasons. In 1848 the term "Slovene" officially replaced the aformentioned. "Windisch" is sometimes still in use in Austria (for its Slovene minority). The term derives from the designation "Wenden"(Vend ?(Engl.), still used for the Slavic Sorbians of Germany), which again derives from "Veneter"(Venetians), a name used for the people in the region not of Germanic origin.Sorry if this has gotten too long, and wasn`t really on a main-topic of discussion.
This is not entirely off-topic. Getting familiar with European geography, and with the various ethno-linguistic groups is a part of IE studies. At least, its more on-topic than we've been lately. We have not really discussed the Sorbians of Germany, and am interested in how they get called 'Wenden'.I am fond of these old European geographical names. Carniola, Styria, Istria, Carinthia. They bring up all sorts of lush Franz-Joseph-era associations, romantically populated by Gypsy barons and merry widows. Of late, I'm enamored of Livonia and Ostrobothnia. These geographic place names are as exotic and faraway for me as is probably Iowa is for the Europeans reading this.
As for "Windisch", "Wenden", etc, "Vend", are we speaking of Vandals? The kings of Sweden used to style themselves as King of the Swedes, Goths and Wends.
I'm forget where we put the Vandals, but I think they are classed as East Germanic, along with the Ostogoths and Visigoths. But I might be wrong.
Mark.