Re: "Equality" for can't-cope-won't-cope feminist wusses


>"Jayne Kulikauskas" <jayne.kulikauskas@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>news:1136839557.074573.282070@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>> Heidi Graw wrote:
>> >"Jayne Kulikauskas" <jayne.kulikauskas@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> >news:1136813409.502094.304310@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >
>> (snip)
>>
>> >>Heidi wrote:
>> >> And since you're so adament that femina means "she who
>> >> suckles"...well...all
>> >> that means is that a feminist is a promoter of breastfeeding.
>>
>> > Jayne wrote:
>> > No, it does not. The etymology of a word is distinct from the meaning
>> > of a word. In your ignorance you are conflating two different things.

>>Heidi wrote:
>> Etymology is the study of the history and development of a word. Words
>> have
>> meanings. If the original word meant "she who suckles", and it went on
>> to
>> mean "she of lesser faith" later, and now means "she who wants equal
>> rights"
>> ...well...don't you think femina means all of those 3 things?
>
> "Femina" is the Latin word that means "woman".

There are 181 Latin words used to mean woman.

>It is dervied from
> Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "she who suckles".

Mulier is a Latin word that means woman. The on-line etymology dictionary
does not have an entry for mulier. Since you claim to be such an expert,
can you tell us from where this particular word came from? What is the root
of the word mulier?

>One of many
> medieval folk etymologies (i.e. false etymologies) was that it was
> derived from roots meaning "lesser faith".

So? The point is that the meaning of femina exists in the Malleus
Maleficarum. It's a book that was written by monks who lived, breathed,
spoke, wrote and were totally immersed in the Latin language. The book
received the papal stamp of approval.

You're that Catholic. And I'm seeing you argue against papal authority.
Isn't the pope supposed to be infallible?
If these totally immersed Latin speakers who lived, breathed, spoke and
wrote the Latin language, claim that "fe" means faith, don't you think there
may indeed be something to that? I suppose now you're going to claim you
know Latin better than these monks and that pope!

>>Heidi wrote:
>> At issue was the meaning of femina as it was described in the Malleus
>> Maleficarum. In that book it is described as "she of lesser faith." You
>> took issue with that meaning. You came up with "she who suckles."
>> Nowadays, "femina" is in reference to women in general, and "feminist" as
>> in
>> equal rights activist.

>Jayne wrote:
> Nowadays, Latin is a dead language.

....and yet you presume to know Latin better than than the people back in the
days when Latin was *alive.* Btw, Latin is not *dead*...it is required
learning in order to get into a German university. All young students
planning to go to university learn Latin. It's an entry requirement.

So, while Latin may be dead in North America, it's still pretty much alive
in Germany. I suspect Latin is needed for university entry at other
European countries.

>The word "femina" does not exist
> in English.

I know. It's a Latin word.

>The English word "feminist" is derived from it because
> feminists are people who claim to want equal rights for *women*.

Yes, and? You're the one who claims "fe" means suckle. She who suckles.
That was the *original* meaning etymologists figured it meant back in
ancient times.. And we also have evidence that "fe" during the middle ages
meant *faith* to the Latin speaking monks and the popes.

>>Heidi wrote:
>> The earliest meaning, however, according to the
>> on-line etymology dictionary has it as "she who suckles." So, taking
>> that
>> ancient meaning, we have that feminist being that La Leche League
>> member...an advocate for breastfeeding!

> Jayne wrote:
> When you claim that a man is being hysterical do you think that he has
> grown a uterus?

No. But I do find it a humorous word to use to describe a *man's* behavior
because I know from whence that word came. And to ascribe it to a man is
hilarious...it worse for him to be called hysterical because he's basically
being told he's behaving like a woman who has a uterus. The man is being
accused of having womanish attributes. And men don't like being called
that. Traditionally, it was considered a huge insult! That just goes to
show you the depth and level of contempt men have had for women, and still
do to this day in many places around the globe.


>>Heidi wrote:
>> Uhuh...and *you* were the one who claims femina is derived from a word
>> which
>> means "to suckle"..."she who suckles."

> Jayne wrote:
> Because that is correct.

I'm not disputing that. I'm claiming the word evolved to adopt *more*
meanings along the way. As for the word "fe", etymologists figured it
correlated to the word "dhu". How ones gets from dhu to fe, I really don't
know. And unlike you, I will not simply accept what others claim just
because they said so! It is entirely possible that fe could have existed
meaning something entirely different....like "faith" that the Latin monks
and the pope seem to have thought it meant.

> Jayne wrote:
> I majored in linguistics as an undergrad.

That doesn't impress me.

> This involves considerably
> more than one course. What are your qualifications in this subject?

My job is to look at what these *experts* claim and you'll find me critique
it. That's what I do. If what they say makes sense to me, fine. If not,
then I dismiss *expert* opinion.

>
> I challenge you to post to sci.lang with your theories. If you do not,
> I will assume that deep down you realize how very wrong you are.

Jayne, I'm not claiming right or wrong. I'm claiming *multiple* meanings,
especially for ancient words for which few written records actually exist.
A heck of a lot that etymologists come up with is based on *speculation* and
*best guesses*...it is an inexact science!

Heidi


.

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