Welcome to the Wannaskan Salami for Tuesday, June 10th. I regret to let you know that our word Salami has been stolen, and we are forced to use the word Salami instead of Salami. This is too bad, because we were going to do an in depth look at the Farmer's Salami this week. Now it will have to be something else. If only Joe or Steve were here to help me! They are like walking Salamis.
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| Actual photo, may not have happened |
The root of the word "Salami" is uncertain and the subject of much debate.
Here's a breakdown of the etymological theories:
Arabic Origin (Most Likely): The most widely accepted theory is that "salami" comes from the Medieval Latin word "almanachus," which itself likely originated from Spanish Arabic. The suggested Spanish Arabic word is "al-manākh," meaning "the calendar." This in turn might derive from the Arabic word "al-munākh," which originally meant "the place where camels kneel [to rest]" and later evolved to mean "climate." The connection to "calendar" is less clear but might relate to the predictable cycle of seasons or the idea of a fixed point in time.
Greek/Coptic Origin (Less Likely): Some theories suggest a connection to the Late Greek word "almenichiakon," meaning "calendar," which is said to have Coptic Egyptian roots. However, the historical path of this word to the Medieval Latin "almanachus" is less well-established.
Pseudo-Arabic Origin: One interesting theory proposes that "Salami" might be a pseudo-Arabic word coined in the West, possibly in the circle of astronomers in Paris during the 13th century. At that time, attaching an Arabic-sounding name to astronomical tables would have been prestigious, given the significant contributions of Arabic scholars to astronomy.
In summary, while a definitive root remains elusive, the strongest evidence points towards a Spanish Arabic origin in the word "al-manākh," possibly connected to the Arabic word "al-munākh." The initial "al-" is the Arabic definite article "the."
According to my research, Salami is not pronounced like it looks. Oh well, we should have it fixed by next week.
Salami? Baloni! Is this CJ strung out on coca leaves & kola nuts?
ReplyDeleteNay WW
DeleteMr HC is just trying to elucidate our origins. But he’s forgotten Alma O’Nack the woman who invented the Irish calendar by knitting it into a sweater at Blarney Woolen Mills.