Vorpommern [was Re: [tied] Fjall, pilis, polis...]

--- In cybalist@..., markodegard@... wrote:

> --- In cybalist@..., tgpedersen@... wrote:
> > --- In cybalist@..., ehlsmith@... wrote:
> > > --- In cybalist@..., "Piotr Gasiorowski" <gpiotr@...> wrote:
> > > > I think <Vor-> somehow expresses the idea of that part of
> > Pomerania
> > > being "in front" of the rest, i.e. nextto German lands.
> ..[snip]...
> > >
> > > This seems to be supported by English language historical

atlases,

> > > such as Shepherd's, which label that part of Pomerania "Hither
> > > Pomerania" and the part to the east as "Farther Pomerania".
> > >
> > > Ned Smith
> >
> > The German word is "Hinterpommern". The direction is seen in
> conquest
> > terms.
> >
> > Torsten
>
> And none of this clarifies the issue, at least in English terms. Is
> 'Mecklenburg-West Pomerania' a mistranslation? In

English, 'hinter',

> as in 'hinterland' is territory to the back, to the rear, further

away

> from the point of reference, but these words do change when you

change

> languages, often appearing as false friends.
>
> Hither-thither is here-there.

I don't think I implied that 'hinter' 'in Hinterpommern' was an
English word, and 'hither'/'thither' doesn't enter into the picture.
German contrasts 'vor'/'hinter' as 'before(spatial)'/'behind'
or 'front'/'back' if you wish. Perhaps it is a calque from Latin: Cis-
odrian vs. Trans-odrian Pommmerania.

Torsten