Idiom question

[A. Vine]

Beverly Flanigan wrote:
>
>   The basic problem in this country, of course,
> is that non-rural people no longer know the difference between cows,
> heifers, bulls, and steers!

I don't think that is the "problem".  The term "cow" is the generic term for the
animal, regardless of sexual status.  If you say "heifer", you're only talking
about a female cow.  If you say "bull" or "steer", you're only talking about a
male cow (with a difference in sterility).  But if you say "cow", you're not
specifying the sex.

>
> >So many Western perceptions of India are based on India as seen through
> >the eyes of the British colonials, including even the city names, which is
> >why "Bombay" within the last ten years has reverted to its true name of
> >"Mumbai", "Bombay" being an erroneous British mutilation of the name.
>
> Myanmar being another obvious example--the /m/-->/b/ pattern is evident,
> here and elsewhere?

Moskva => Moscow => Bosco?  Coincidence?  You decide.

Andrea