navwin » Main Forums » English Workshop » Humans
English Workshop
Post A Reply Post New Topic Humans Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
Essorant
Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769
Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada

0 posted 2003-11-09 10:15 AM



How come we say Humans instead of Humen?

© Copyright 2003 Essorant - All Rights Reserved
Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669
Michigan, US
1 posted 2003-11-09 12:30 PM


For the same reason we don't say mentra when we mean mantras.

from dictionary.com:

man [Middle English, from Old English mann]

"Usage Note: Traditionally, many writers have used man and words derived from it to designate any or all of the human race regardless of sex. In fact, this is the oldest use of the word. In Old English the principal sense of man was “a human,” and the words wer and wyf (or wæpman and wifman) were used to refer to “a male human” and “a female human” respectively. But in Middle English man displaced wer as the term for “a male human,” while wyfman (which evolved into present-day woman) was retained for “a female human.” Despite this change, man continued to carry its original sense of “a human” as well, resulting in an asymmetrical arrangement that many criticize as sexist." (Emphasis added.)


The etymology of human, on the other hand, can be traced back to Old French humain and Latin humanus, which are both ultimately derived from the Latin root humus, a word literally translated as "earth." A human, therefore, was "of the earth," as opposed to the gods of the heavens. Interestingly, and perhaps ironically, the Latin humus is also the root for our English word, "humble."

Tracing the origins of words can be fun, but as in most things, we should avoid making hasty assumptions. The her in Hercules didn't make him a woman, the his in history has nothing to do with gender, and the man in mantra relates not to humanity, but rather to God, in its Hindu roots.

Essorant
Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769
Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada
2 posted 2003-11-09 02:12 PM


That is interesting.  I don't know much about latin or french.  But I may usually trace words that are derived from the ancestral forms of english itself.  
In old english the form of "guma"
in acc/gen/dat sing and nom/acc/ plural are guman which sort of sounds like "human" but meant man, and often "warrior"  Usually I just thought of "human" as being something toward "homo (sapiens) + man") which therefore made me wonder why not "humen"  
Thank you for clear that up for me and perhaps some others out there too      

[This message has been edited by Essorant (11-09-2003 02:16 PM).]

Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Main Forums » English Workshop » Humans

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary