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From: iad@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Ivan A Derzhanski)
Subject: Re: I love you
Message-ID: <DCwLuF.Ix0@cogsci.ed.ac.uk>
Organization: Centre for Cognitive Science, Edinburgh, UK
References: <400jgd$h1a@globe.indirect.com> <400qtb$her@cville-srv.wam.umd.edu>
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 19:23:00 GMT
Lines: 36

In article <400qtb$her@cville-srv.wam.umd.edu> peabody@wam.umd.edu (Tired Royal Cone) writes:
>Steve MacGregor (stevemac@bud.indirect.com) wrote:

[re Samoan _alofa_ `love']

>:        This looks strangely similar to the Volapu"k word for "to love".  
>: Coincidence, or conspiracy?  =You= be the judge!
>
>Considering that Volapu"k is an invented language, and Samoan is a 
>non-invented language (Hawai'ian cognate is "aloha"), there IS no 
>conspiracy......

That still leaves several possibilities ...

(1) Schleyer formed the Volapu"k word from the English _love_.
   He was not aware of, or was disregarding, the similarity to
   Samoan _alofa_.

(2) Schleyer formed the Volapu"k word from the Samoan _alofa_,
   disregarding the similarity to English _love_.

(3) Schleyer noticed the similarity between _alofa_ and _love_
   and decided to take advantage of it by making the Vp word
   sound kind of like both.

Not to mention ...

(a) The similarity between _alofa_ and _love_ is due to coincidence.
(b) _alofa_ and _love_ are cognates, being descended from Proto-World
                                                         (cont. p.37)

-- 
`Man, is that no terrible?  [...]  Ah wunner whit we should dae wi ye?'
Ivan A Derzhanski (iad@cogsci.ed.ac.uk)    (J Stuart, _Auld Testament Tales_)
* Centre for Cognitive Science,  2 Buccleuch Place,   Edinburgh EH8 9LW,  UK
* Cowan House E113, Pollock Halls, 18 Holyrood Pk Rd, Edinburgh EH16 5BD, UK
