[Lexicog] Re: White man names

[Dr. Hayim Y. Sheynin]

Fritz,
 
It does not avoid the skin color (at least etymologically), since Semitic root Aleph, Daleth, Mem (Adam) refers to red color. This red color was the color of material, from which G-o-d created the humans (Genesis 1:26). The same root is used for the word 'adama' (earth, dirth). Following the Bible one can understand that a kind of red or redish earth or clay was used to make the first human being, Adam or ha-adam ha-rishon (the first man). Do we believe in the biblical story or not, it doesn't matter for philological 
Reasons.  
 
Best wishes,
Hayim
 
============
Dr. Hayim Y. Sheynin
Adjunct Professor of Jewish Literature
Gratz College
7605 Old York Rd.
Melrose Park, PA 19027
 
Tel.: 215 635-7300 x 161
Fax: 215 635-7320
email: hsheynin at gratz.edu
 
________________________________

From: lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com [mailto:lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Fritz Goerling
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 6:18 PM
To: lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Lexicog] Re: White man names
 
I, a white man, was once called by an African co-worker "mògò fin" which
means "black man." I understood this as a sign of acceptance. This African
belongs to an ethnic group who refer to people/human beings/humanity 
as "mògònafin." They also have another more common word "adamadenw" 
(= children/descendants of Adam) which is more appropriate in the translation 
of the Bible because it avoids the issue of skin color. I keep joking with them 
individually, saying to a friend that we have the same father and mother. To the
astonished question "How?", I answer: Adam and Eve. They agree, smiling.
 
 
Fritz Goerling
 





 
________________________________

YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS 
 
*	 Visit your group "lexicographylist <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lexicographylist> " on the web.
	  
*	 To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
	 lexicographylist-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com <mailto:lexicographylist-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe> 
	  
*	 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> . 
 
________________________________

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lexicography/attachments/20060522/1aeedf59/attachment.htm>