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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 2000-09 > 0969774214


From: "Todd A. Farmerie" <>
Subject: Re: Lines back to Adam and Eve
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2000 23:43:34 -0600


"Chris & Tom Tinney, Sr." wrote:
>
> By definition from Indo-European root:
> gene-, Also gen-.
> To give birth, beget; with derivatives
> referring to aspects and results of
> procreation and to familial and tribal
> groups. Therefore, by specific definition:
> GEN-MEDIEVAL
> To give birth, beget; with derivatives
> referring to aspects and results of
> procreation and to familial and tribal
> groups - MEDIEVAL.

It is fun to play games with etymology. However, it is a mistake to
equate the 'original' definition of one of the constituent elements of a
modern compound word with its definition in that modern context. The
"GEN-" in GEN-MEDIEVAL does not come directly from its Indo-European
root (the definition, even the precise nature of which is entirely
hypothetical, as no sample of the Indo-European root language
survives). Instead, it is an abbreviation for the word "genealogy",
which is significantly more specific than the hypothetical Indo-European
root "*gen-". As I said, this can all be fun, but is absolutely
worthless in determining topicality.

Whatever the definition of the words or elements appearing in the name
of a newsgroup or discussion list, topicality is defined solely by the
charter of the group. (Actually, in the case of a mailing list, the
ultimate definition of what is on-topic is what the listowner says is
on-topic.)

This list was originally conceived and chartered as a home for
discussion of medieval and royal genealogy, and specifically excluding
discussion of modern non-royals and biblical figures alike.

ta

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