|
Germanic Lexicon Project
Message Board
|
|
|
Author: Peter
Date: 2005-09-15 16:23:38
Subject: Re: Etymology of a Gothic name
> > > Ladies and Gentlemen,
> > > Can anybody direct me to or suggest the etymology of the Gothic name Valamer (perhaps version: Valamir; Githic king of Pannonia, middle of the 5th ctntury)?
>
> My understanding is that it is of Slavic origin, akin to Velimir, from vele "great" and mir "peace".
>
> Victar
Interesting. In isolation, from the form alone, it might not be possible to decide which is the more likely explanation. In favour of a Germanic explanation is the predominantly Germanic vocabulary of Gothic, including personal names, and the shared naming practices among the Germanic tribes. *walha- and especially *-mer- are attested as naming elements in other Germanic languages. It follows a familiar pattern. But maybe a Slavonic name was adopted by Goths and perhaps reinterpreted by them according to folk etymology. Or a Slavonic element was combined with a Germanic one. How sure is the etymology of Velimir? Can we tell whether that's a native Slavonic formation, or an assimilated loan from Gothic 'Walamer'. And what do experts think generally about the relationship between other Slavonic -mir names, like Vladimir and their Germanic soundalikes?
Peter