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From: kriha_p@actrix.gen.nz (Paul J. Kriha)
Subject: Re: Robots
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Date: Mon, 20 Mar 1995 13:05:09 GMT
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In article <3kbfuq$rvt@ixnews2.ix.netcom.com>,
   Marek1@ix.netcom.com (Marek Konski) wrote:
>In <fe46.795294504@jove> fe46@jove.acs.unt.edu (Huddleston Lee Eldridge) 
>writes: 
>
>>
>>
>>The word "robot" was indeed introduced into English by Karel Capek. The 
>>word has its roots in Bohemian serfdom. Normally, serfs were bound to 
>the 
>>land on which they were born and could not be forced off that land. 
                                                ??????????
>>Robots were a special category of Bohemian serfs who could be used 
                                             ???????????????????????
>>wherever and however their masters wished.
  ?????????????????????????????????????????
 
Huddleston, you have a very strange notion of mediaeval feudal system.
In many European countries the relationship between feudal
lords and the peasantry had complex structure of ethics, morals,
duties and resposibilities which cut both ways.  As the peasants
had duty to work certain time on the lord's land the lord had
just as important duty to cater for them in times of famine,
organize army and defend them against any agressor.

Even when drafted to an army, it would often be illegal to
use them outside the kingdom or realm. 

They could hardly be used 'wherever' or 'however'.
(The medieaval Europe wasn't all like Russia or England :-)

The cocky jokers were revolting because they had to spend
1 day out of 10 working for the feudal lord.  I should be
so lucky to pay 10% tax.  :-)


>In Russian the word for "slave" is "rab". I read somewhere that its form 
>and meaning is very close to the Proto-Slavic original, from which all 
>Slavic "rab-" "rob-" words related to "work" were derived.
>
>Marek K

Gosh, it's even Czech too.
I just had a looksie in my old (1929) English-Czech dictionary and
I found "Rab" (slave, bond-man) in there.  I don't remember
ever using the word in anger. No, I tell a lie, I may have come
across it in some crossword puzzles.   :-)


Paul JK

