Re: That old Odin scenario ...

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, Piotr Gasiorowski <gpiotr@...> wrote:

> As for *ne^mU, there are two
> etymologies around: from BSl. *me:mas 'mute, stammering' (Latv. me:ms
> 'mute') with dissimilation, of *ne- + some form of *h1em- 'take' in the
> sense 'comprehend' (frequent in Slavic), which would make
> 'incomprehensible' rather than 'mute' the original meaning of *ne^mU --
> which makes sense, given that the Germanic neighbours of the Slavs
> probably talked a lot if the number of loans is anything to go by.

Given the final comment, 'incomprehensible' or 'non-comprehending'?
I.e. not that the Germancs spoke gibberish, but that they couldn't
understand plain Slavic.

Richard?