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From: ludemann@netcom.com (Peter Ludemann)
Subject: Re: Borrowed Words
Message-ID: <ludemannD75vKG.A07@netcom.com>
Keywords: potato Japan Holland Java
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Date: Mon, 17 Apr 1995 04:09:51 GMT
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In article <3mrf0n$hok@news.primenet.com>,
James P Mork <jpmork@primenet.com> wrote:
>Peter Payne (leto2@gol1.gol.com) wrote:
>: Jagaimo (potato) comes from some Portuguese word, too, if I recall
>: correctly.
>
>Especially considering that potato itself may be derived from some Inca word.
>Wonder why they would have learned from the Portuguese about potatoes.  
>Jack Weatherford says trade with Japan from a port in Acapulco started in 
>the early 16th century.  You'd think they'd have gotten the potato *and* 
>the word for it from Spanish.

Nice guess, but wrong.

The potato was introduced into Japan by the Dutch, who were sailing
out of a base in Java.  The Japanese thought that Java was the source
for western things, so the word "jagaruta" (from an older word for
Jakarta) was sometimes used to mean "western".  "Imo" means sweet
potato (or yam), so "jaga-imi" means "western yam".

No reason for borrowing the word for potato.  The French have "pomme
de terre" (earth apple) and the Germans have "Kartoffel" (sp? I don't
have my German dictionary handy for an explanation of that one).
-- 
Peter Ludemann                      ludemann@netcom.com
