R: Re: etymology of Belarus

[Edil Legno]

Dear Jules,
Your theory is very interesting,but I can't agree with some definitions:You
are right  while saying that:
bala = swamp = boloto (in russian).But it has nothing to do with "belyi".In
westslavic languages as slovak and czech there's "blato" for swamp,and there
was a law of open syllable in russian language,that's why we find "boloto "
and "moloko" in russian language and "blato, and mliko and mlieko in czech
and slovak languages. There's a famous lake in Ungheria ,which is called
"Balaton" - it's name has the origin in slavic language ,in czech and slovak
languages we can find sometimes denomination "Blatenskè jazero,jezero" -
that is for Balaton.Meaning "blato"=swamp.This lake's foundations are really
full of swamp.
You are right  - Baltic  is greyish.As for me,the origin of "Belarus" are in
"bala" and"Rus" -meaning the
territory full of swamp (bala),which pronunciation changed into "belarus
"(cheredovaniem glasnych a-e) and doesn't mean "white" but  "swampy".Does my
theory seem very revolutionary? Yours sincerely
Katarina Peitlova.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jules Levin <jflevin at UCRAC1.UCR.EDU>
To: <SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2000 2:53 AM
Subject: Re: etymology of Belarus


> This may be a more complex question than many believe.
> Consider that the Belarusians may be Slavicized balts, i.e., there is a
> great Baltic substratum.  This is still an ongoing process along the
> Lith/Pol/BR border.
>          Lith. baltas = 'white', Slav belyi
> This region also has a lot of swamps,
>         Lith bala = 'swamp', ESlav boloto.  Note that the latter must be
from
> *balto, cf. Lith. "white" above.
> Note also the curious complementarity of the Lith and Slav terms above.
> Of course the term Baltic itself is designates the usual greyish color of
> the B. sea.
> So, the Belarusians live in a "baltic", "marshy" "white-sea-ish" land.
The
> hair-color may be a secondary explanation that evolved after the toponym
> became an ethnym...
> Jules Levin
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
>   options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
>                 http://members.home.net/lists/seelangs/
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                http://members.home.net/lists/seelangs/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------