Newsgroups: sci.lang
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From: bruck@actcom.co.il (Uri Bruck)
Subject: Re: Father tongue & motherla
Organization: ACTCOM - Internet Services in Israel
Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 00:16:22 GMT
Message-ID: <D8p4rB.8CE@actcom.co.il>
References: <1db.2617.4731@psl-online.com>
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Karl Reinhardt (karl.reinhardt@psl-online.com) wrote:
: Leena,

: LM>I was just wondering, whether there is any language in the world that
: LM>uses words father tongue and motherland instead of mother tongue and
: LM>fatherland. And if there is such a language, is the society matriarchal
: LM>(that would seem logical to me). Anyway, I hope that some of you smart
: LM>people out there could tell me more about the subject.

:     Spain is called 'la madre patria' both in Spain and in the 
: Spanish-speaking world when referring to Spain.  Similarly in 
: Portuguese.  Is this what might force a detailist translator into 
: 'parentland'?  <G>
:     I will read answers with interest.  Karl Reinhardt
:     
: ___
: * UniQWK #2082* Vegetarians eat vegetables-Beware of humanitarians

In Hebrew, Israel is never reffered to as a 'Fatherland'.
In fact, both the 'country' and 'state' ar feminine in Hebrew, as well
'land' and the Hebrew MOLEDET which means land of birth, or place of origin.
Although the term 'motherland' is not actually used, its concept is 
pretty much implied by the gendre of the above mentioned words.
Uri

