In most hunting cultures, the bear has always been referred to as "the
brown one" or some such denotation. If you name what animal you are going
after, he doesn't hear that you are coming to hunt him and therefore spoil your
hunt by coming to get what you got. VERY old hunting taboo that goes back
in Hindo-European, 6-8000 years. In practice, it probably goes back even
further. The same thing happened in Latin, where they no longer referred
to the wolf as Vulpos, but Lupos.
pam
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002
13:45
Subject: Re: [norse_course] Digest Number
355
Haukur wrote regarding the Old Norse word for bear:
>
The general word is 'björn';
> thought to be derived from the same stem
as 'brown'
> with the original IE-stem (lat. ursus) being lost
>
due to a taboo.
I'm subscribed to the digest, so this may have
been
asked and answered, but I'm curious about the taboo
you mentioned.
Can you describe more about this
or point me to some writings? It sounds
like a cultural
aspect of the Norse I would like to know more
about.
Cheers,
Mike
__________________________________________________
Do
You Yahoo!?
LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience
http://launch.yahoo.com
------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Free $5 Love
Reading
Risk Free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/3PCXaC/PfREAA/Ey.GAA/GP4qlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Sumir
hafa kvæði...
...aðrir spakmæli.
- Keth
Homepage: http://www.hi.is/~haukurth/norse/
To
unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
norse_course-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Your
use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/