Slave names

[Laurence Horn]

At 3:48 PM +0000 12/12/07, Tom Zurinskas wrote:
>This thread of "slave names" comes close to a
>thread talking about "vernacular dialect".
>Looking "vernacular" up shows that it means
>"slave".

Sorry, but you don't learn what a means from its
etymology.  That's why the lexicographic practice
arose of providing entries in which the
meaning(s) of a word are distinguished from its
etymology.

LH

>See m-w.com
>Main Entry: 1ver·nac·u·lar
>Pronunciation: \v?(r)-?na-ky?-l?r\
>Function: adjective   (not a noun? -tz)
>Etymology: Latin vernaculus native, from verna
>slave born in the master's house, native
>Date: 1601
>
>My take on the definition of the term
>"vernacular dialect" is that it's more a
>specialized vocabulary than a pronunciation;
>e.g., police, hospitals, CB'ers, scientists.
>
>Tom Zurinskas, USA - CT20, TN3, NJ33, FL5+
>See truespel.com - and the 4 truespel books plus
>"Occasional Poems" at authorhouse.com.
>
>
>
>
>
>>  Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2007 06:59:09 -0800
>>  From: wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM
>>  Subject: Re: Slave names
>>  To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>>
>>  ---------------------- Information from the
>>mail header -----------------------
>>  Sender: American Dialect Society
>>  Poster: Jonathan Lighter
>>  Subject: Re: Slave names
>>
>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>  Since none of us are quite old enough to
>>remember the period in question, the perception
>>that slaves were often given Classical names
>>("Caesar" and "Pompey" in particular) must come
>>from books or films. Perhaps "assumption" would
>>be a better word.
>>
>>  Despite the proof that some slaves were indeed
>>given these names, the few numbers I've seen
>>don't indicate that they were actually
>>"prevalent" at any time. There could have been
>>a thousand more prosaically named slaves for
>>every "Caesar."
>>
>>  JL
>>
>>
>>  "Joel S. Berson"  wrote:
>>  ---------------------- Information from the
>>mail header -----------------------
>>  Sender: American Dialect Society
>>  Poster: "Joel S. Berson"
>>  Subject: Re: Slave names
>>
>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>  At 12/10/2007 05:19 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>>>I wonder about the source of our stereotype that slaves were so
>>>stereotypically named "Caesar" and "Pompey." Surely it comes from fiction?
>>
>>  Jon, why do you say "stereotype ... from fiction", if Caesar and
>>  Pompey were so prevalent in the 18th century? (As I think they
>>  were.) Cato, of course, would not make a good stereotype for the
>>  docile, loyal slave.
>>
>>  Joel
>>
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>
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