tolgs001 wrote:
> Marius wrote:
>
>> The basical meaning of "rumân" is ethnical (as proven by Istro-
>> Romanian and Aromanian equivalents). Derived meanings include
>> also `christian`, `serf`, `man (husband)`. So?
>
> That is: these extensions of semantics for the *Romanian*
> term rumân. I suppose Alex's question is whether Lat.
> romanus also had such connotations.
>
> George
Of course it hasn't. And I doubt somewhere in the Romance the term
"romanus" in the actuly form preserved in Romance ( if preserved) has
such connotations. It shows in my opinion in fact the true vector:
romanus = christian and from this one are all derivatives allowed.
I don't know any folk where people of the same folks calls themselves as
christian, serf, man, with the ethnical name.
Ever heard a german saying "mein deutscher" with such connotation as in
Romanian or at all "mein deutscher"? I never heard, in any languages a
such extension of the ethnical name . Thus, it seems the name for ethnos
was derived from that of christian . Historicaly, a such hipothesis is
not at all hasarded. If we assume ( it doesn't matter on which shore of
the Danube) the population became chrstianised in the II-III century,
then the linguistic difference combined with religious difference
between them and all the newcomers as huns, slavs, bulgars , was a
factor which created in fact the ethnic denomination. The romantic view
of one as Iorga (they called themselves Rumâni because they could not
forget the city of Rome), a such explanation has just the value of a
smile and should be let there where it is. In the roman(is)tic corner.
For avoiding some other comentars regarding "=":
"=" should be seen as "means"
alex