From: Piotr Gasiorowski
Message: 42744
Date: 2006-01-03
>A nice theory, but in Georgia (Caucasus, not US) the father is called
> "mama" or "baba" is the first sound a soothed baby produces
> when seeing food approaching.
>
> The practical, unromantic Romans interpreted this utterance
> as "now "it" is hungry, now "it" wants food".
>
> Then of course, this might be applied to the person providing
> this breast. And this person is not necessarily the birthgiving
> mother, especially not in higher social layers.
> "Amma" is the term for wetnurse in many languages.
>
> "Dada" comes a bit later, when the baby is learning to master
> its tongue and can then be interpreted as an identification of
> the bearded member of the household, traditionally not taking part
> in the feeding process, but merely being a fun(ny) person appearing
> now and then when the baby itself is happy and funny.