[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Jerry Frank-Mazovian/Kashuban

[Otto]

Morning Jerry,

You stated: "I suppose one would also have to consider how some  
Polish dialects (Mazovian - especially in East Prussia, Kashuban -  
especially in West Prussia; etc.)  might also influence the construct  
and interpretation of a name."

There is no supposing. You are correct in making the statement.
They must be taken into consideration.
(I may question the dialect status of the two tongues-read on)

I limited my comments due to "Topnik" being referred to as a Slavic  
term. Note the quote from "The Story of Language" by the author Mario  
Pei, revised addition, fifth printing, Lippincott, Library of  
Congress Card Number 65-12599  US.
"The Slavic tongues show perhaps closer connections among themselves  
than most of the other Indo-European branches.  An Italian and a  
Spaniard, or a Spaniard and a Portuguese, each speaking in his own  
tongue, will understand each other with difficulty.  None will  
understand a Frenchman or a Rumanian without special study.  A  
German, a Hollander, an Englishman, and a Swede will be unable to  
carry on intelligently if each insists on using his own tongue.  But  
a Russian, a Pole, a Czech, and a Yugoslav can manage to achieve a  
fair degree of understanding."

Following are my reasons for not referring to the non-Germanic  
languages in the area as simply Slavic:
(I am not qualifying language superiority of one over the other- 
Slavic is a very rich and complex language-base)

1. A linguist 'named' them as Slavic.
-Not all linguists, etymologists, or philologists agree with that  
decision.-

Note Mario Pei's statement: "The Slavic languages are sometimes  
grouped with the East Baltic tongues (Lithuanian and Lettish) to form  
a Balto-Slavic group, but while Lithuanian and Lettish are fairly  
close to each other, they are comparatively remote from the Slav  
tongues." (West-Baltic)

2. I choose not to dismiss the Lithuanian and Latvian language-base  
and classify it under a generic classification.

3. My foremost reason: Many of the West Baltic Coast words find root  
in a language deemed extinct, yet that deemed extinct language is not  
extinct and links to ancient Sanskrit.

O.P., a language we can consider a forerunner to the Lithuanian  
tongue, yet different. The language was spoken by the ancient Prusi,  
who gave their name to the coastal areas.  The language is Old  
Prussian, a West-Baltic language. The Teutonic Order of Monks made an  
effort to eradicate their existence. The genes of the Prusi are mixed  
in with the coastal people as are bits of their supposedly dead  
language.

Following is a website I refer to often.  read the webpage-a  
fascinating synopsis.

http://poshka.bizland.com/prussian/reconstructions.htm

Scroll down to the Old Prussian Dictionary!
For those who still remember some Ost Preussische Platt, compare  
words and word roots...
Try compare Mazovian/Kashuban words-

an example:
O.P.
KRÂUŠÂS
(KRAUSAS) nom pl f Crausios E 618: Birnen / pears

(krushus)
I think of this definition every time I read the name, Howard  
'Krushel". There may exist no relationship, yet I think of it.

In discussion with my first cousin, Georg Wohlert, (parents from  
Tharau/Tarau) he oft brings up the sweet "kruschken" (east prussian  
platt) that would hang ripe from the tree of Tante Skotke, stating  
how refreshing it was to bite into a ripe "kruschke".

(it is never ending... next I think of "Skotke", 'little Skot',  
Scot?... Similar to Immanuel "Kant"? -'Kant' a Germanization of the  
Scottish  surname of Immanuel's forefathers, "Cant.")

Richard O. Schienke
. . .  Otto

                      " The Zen moment..." wk. of March 5, 2006
                      ________________________________
                         "Remove what isn't... What is remains."