Melungeon-L Archives

From:
Subject: [Melungeon] Re: Melungeon - the word origin
Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 17:12:21 EST

Hi Guys!

Don't have all my data on this laptop in FL, but just wanted to comment on
the origin of the word Melungeon. I am not a professional in the field of
linguistics, but I have had a couple of classes and I can tell you that the
word Melungeon absolutely does NOT come from the French word melange for
mixed. There are a couple of reasons.

Words that are handed down over ages from one culture to another will change
in spelling and sometimes dramatically, but they do not change dramatically
in pronunciation. The French word melange is pronounced May-lawnj. While
Melungeon is pronounced Muh-lunge-uhn. Two very different sounding words.
Secondly, the meaning of the word melange which is 'mixed' is just too
convenient for words and words are just not handed down directly in that
matter.

Let me set up a little scenario here: A sailor washes ashore on a distant
land. He is weak and dehydrated, dirty and encrusted with salt. Grately he
pulls himself onto the beach and looks toward the cooler shadows of trees
nearby. He needs water and he needs help. And then from the trees step some
men. Strange looking men in dress but maybe not so different looking in
coloring and physical characteristics. Do you think the man is more likely to
say something like: I AM MELANGE. ( I am mixed.) or I AM MELUNGEON. (I am a
lost soul.)?

I believe that the term Melungeon was a self describing term by our
ancestors originally. And I think that only later did it become a derogatory
one used by others, who did not understand its meaning, against them. I
believe as Dr. Kennedy does that term comes from an Arabic origin and while
the spelling has changed and 2 words have become one, the meaning along with
the pronunciation is intact. Linguistically, melange is not a proper source
for the term Melungeon.
Nancy S
THE MELUNGEON HEALTH EDUCATION AND SUPPORT NETWORK:
http://www.melungeonhealth.org

This thread:

• [Melungeon] Re: Melungeon - the word origin by