Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007

Extracts:

The sands of time make a definition of 'Europe' elusive. In contrast,
the term 'Asia' is easier explained.

That helps us. The compilers of Webster's dictionary say that Latin
absorbed the name 'Asia' from Greek. The compilers also propose a
source still beyond in a Semitic language of the Middle East. An
Akkadian dynasty had ruled Sumer in the 24th Century BC. There the term
signified 'to rise (of the sun)'.

*  *  *

The heartland beyond Asia Minor evoked the Asuras described in the
Rigveda, a faith source that some researchers date far before the 20th
Century BC. The same Asuras receive mention in old Persia's Zorastrian
scripture.

So while Webster has led us to a Semitic verb meaning 'to rise', we
could also notice from history the contact of the Greeks with the
Semitic Assyrians. The roots of 'Asia' can be perceived further and
outside the Semitic group in Indo-European languages of ancient India
and Persia.

*  *  *

What if we tried now to explain 'Europe' using Pali?

In Buddhist philosophy 'purvanta' denotes a beginning and 'aparanta',
an end (opposite meanings are derived by using a preceding 'a'.) Could
we surmise that 'Evropa' associates with the same Pali 'Aparanta'?

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