MARGINAL NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22774, 27 December 1935, Page 8

MARGINAL NOTES

Many of the place names in northern Ethiopia begin with an A, tor instance: Addis Ababa, Adowa, Aksum, Assale, Aussa, Adigrat, Awash, Agame. The explanation may be that Amharic, being originally a Semitic language, requires initial vowels to soften consonants. Practically all the Semitic and similar languages—Arabic, Persian, Hindustani—use an “i” before an initial “s” or “c” before double consonants. Ever since recorded history began Palestinian, Arabian and Indian tongues have found such words hard to pronounce. The Biblical use of the password “shibboleth” is but one example. Thus to-day Constantinople has to be Istanbul because Stamboul is too difficult for Turkish tongues. In India the prefixing of an “i” to English names produces some queer results. Hastings becomes “i-Shtinks,” and it is said that a brother of one Lord Hastings who visited India became transformed from the “Honourable Mr Hastings” to “Orrible i-Shtinks.” The prefixing or the suffixing of the “i” to break up consonantal combinations uncouth to Oriental ears is illustrated by the following verse put into the mouth of an Indian cook: What will Master please to take? Muttoni chop or beef ■ i-shteak? Master having something new, Master having Irish i-shtew?