Inequality of left-right related terms (Philological Room) Language Learning Forum

Inequality of left-right related terms
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19 messages over 3 pages: 1 2 3

breckes
Triglot
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Belgium
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Message 17 of 19

13 August 2006 at 8:26am | IP Logged

linguafan wrote:

It is interesting to note that 'right'comes from lat.'rectus' (straight) whereas French and Spanish words are derived lat. 'directus`.

In fact, 'right' doesn't come from the Latin 'rectus', but both words come from the same Indo-European root.

Edited by breckes on 13 August 2006 at 8:32am
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Alfonso
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Mexico
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Speaks: Biblical Hebrew, Spanish*, French, English, Tzotzil, Italian, Portuguese, Ancient Greek
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Message 18 of 19

13 August 2006 at 5:38pm | IP Logged

This thread is so interesting! Now that you mention it, I realize that even in Mayan languages the "right" is also associated with possive aspects. In this case, it's related with "truth", but it also indicates the originality or the source of something.

For example: jbats'i k'ob means my right hand, but it literally means my true hand, because it's the one you use the most.

"In the other hand" (!), the word for "left" in Maya-Tsotsil "ts'et" literally means: aside, adjacent, near, close, etc. as if we were saying that it isn't as important as the right hand.

Edited by Alfonso on 13 August 2006 at 5:41pm
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linguafan
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India
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Message 19 of 19

13 August 2006 at 9:44pm | IP Logged

I am thankful to breckes for giving link to the relevant American Heritage dictionary. New to me. Duden Etymologie also mentions the indo-european connection. But I thought mentioning directus might possibly explain how the 'd' enters into Spanish and French.

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