Praha and limns

[Michael Denner]

Charles,

I have a strange, cross-language example of place names expressing limnality
that also involves slavdom: PALE, as in the area wherein Jews were forced to
live in Poland/Russia (please don't let that geographic simplification
explode into another nationality debate!!)). From Latin PALUS (eventually IE
root *pag-), like PALIsade, i.e., a cordoned off area, one marked off with
POLes.

Perhaps the word Poland itself derives from this root. Anyone know? POLONIA
in Latin, right?


best,
mad
<|><|><|><|><|><|><|>
Michael A. Denner
Russian Studies Department
Campus Unit 8361
Stetson University
DeLand, FL 32720
904.822.7265


-----Original Message-----
From: Slavic & East European Languages and Literature list
[mailto:SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU]On Behalf Of Charles Price
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 1:11 PM
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU
Subject: Etymology of Prague?


I am not 100pc sure, but I think that the name PRAHA
derives from the Czech PRAH (threshold). What I do not
know is how this name was conferred on the city and
why it acquired a final -A, and feminine gender.

If the "threshold" derivation is correct, then this
coincides with the country name UKRAINA ("Edge"), and
also chimes with Russia's discussion of itself as an
intermediary between Eastern and Western cultures
(Evraistvo-Eurasianism). Can anyone think of other
Slavic place names expressing liminality?

Regards,
Charles Price

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