I was sitting in my Environmental Science class, known colloquially as BiSci 3, when Prof Uhl was asking us to think about our relations as humans to soil and to the earth. He made an incorrect association between the origins of the words “Earth”, “Human” and their etymologies.
This struck me as quite odd, the message that Uhl was going for was one of inclusivity and interconnectedness, yet his explanation of the etymology he offered was completely false. The true historical context and etymology of the terms are equally, if not more valid for the point he was making.
Uhl’s claim (viewable here along with the rest of the lecture) is that “the earth” is a distancing term to refer to the planet buy, offering the solution of “Eairth”.
“Eairth”, supposedly is a much more human term for our planet. The air in Eairth expresses the fact they we all live in the atmosphere and that it flows through all of us, with a lowercase “i” in the middle indicative of we, humans.
This claim is dubious, the word earth originates from a Proto-Germanic word meaning dirt, ground, or soil. It is not some meaningless term, and its actual origin puts it in a much closer relationship to human.
He goes on to argue that our connection to soil is intimate, that the Latin word for soil “humus” comes from the word “human”.
The Latin humus and humanus (from which we get out modern human) were completely separate terms in Latin, one was not based at all off the other. It is true that they are related terms however. The two words, along with other Latin terms such as homo (e.g. Homo Sapiens), come from an extinct, 6000-year-old language called Proto-Indo-European or P.I.E.
The P.I.E. word *dʰéǵʰōm meant earth, soil, and is where the Latin homo, humanus, and humus all have their origins.
*dʰéǵʰōm was taken directly into Latin as the word humus, referring strictly to dirt and soil. Humanus and homo actually entered from another P.I.E. word *ǵʰm̥mṓ. This word is an alteration of *dʰéǵʰōm and was used to refer to us, it’s literal meaning is near earthling or being of the earth. Earth here referring to the ground, dirt, etc.
This association of mankind as a “being of earth” is widespread, even the biblical story of the origins of man have life being breathed into a pile of dust. It is no coincidence that he is named Adam, from the Hebrew adamah, meaning ground.
The actual historical connotations and ideas around humans already place us as one with and a part of the earth. Their etymologies are closely related, both originating from the idea that they are intimately part of dirt, of earth. I believe Prof Uhl was trying to get us as humans to realize how related and interconnected we all are to the planet and the ground we walk on. He may just not have been aware of how far back and how deep of a tradition this idea really was.
Sources:
- https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/earth
- https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/homo#Latin
- http://etymonline.com/index.php?term=human&allowed_in_frame=0
Don says
Don’t trust anyone who uses “it’s” when “its” is the correct term.
Jalla says
wtf is the matter with you, stop being so non trustworthy and teaching other people to basically be alone and be an ass to everyone, your message is terrible, stay stuck alone all your life with that bullshit acting way you are doing.
Bill says
Very good analysis, Joseph. In regard to the etymology of the word “human” and with respect to the mid-15th century french word “humaigne”, from which we get the adjective “humane” and the noun “humanity”; I believe it may now be necessary to change the definitions. The current definition of humane (source below) is given as: “philanthropic, benevolent,
kind, gentle, polite; learned, refined, civilized.” None of these terms seem to describe the current state of humanity – at least in most comment sections or the USA generally. If it is this way world-wide, we definitely need to redefine it.
Bill says
From Dictionary of Entymology: https://www.etymonline.com/word/human
Kev says
Here, here! Well phrased and expressed. What of the term ‘humanitarian’? Ignoring the original theological meaning, taking the postmodern, distillation of the term, which implies a devotion to promoting the success of human society, or some such rot, one shudders to imagine what sort of world we would be living in at the hands of these smirking ‘humanitarians’.
Key says
Human is 13th century. You have to put a date on it. When you put a date you know you’re dealing with 1200-1300s High Middle Ages. With that date you know Humans are not ancient. The word derives from homo which means man and man means earth. Humans are Hybrids of Homos. So what is hybrids? A specie derived from two or more things. We know that people belonging to the Caucasian race are part Neanderthal. You do the rest of the deep work and research the etymon of (Black )Middle English, (Chimpanzee) and (Tryglodyte Niger). In conclusion The Specie Caucasian is not Homo which means man the Caucasian is Human / Hybrid. We also know the Caucasian race is not ancient.
Cazmat says
I am listening to Bishop Larry Gaiters teach on exactly what you are saying. I thought it was far-fetched until you said it, too. Wow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy1V_uMTfFQ
barney says
Jake, I don’t know what you’re smoking, drinking or taking but I want no part of it lol. You must be one of those “love they brother as thyself’ Christians LOL
John William Cornett says
EVIL IS AS EVIL DOES AND SAYS.
EVIL TRULY KNOWS NO BOUNDS!
John William Cornett says
EVIL IS AS EVIL DOES AND SAYS. &
EVIL TRULY KNOWS NO BOUNDS!
Greg Schreiber says
Born of a virgin, Earth is Birth, a planet that gives birth to the organic life. Mother Earth is a virgin that give birth to all living thing. Adam and Eve, the Gulf of Adan looks like a hard male that touches the red sea, and eve, the red sea. The red sea looks like a birth cannel, in the north are tubes, in the south where it connects with the Gulf of Adan, it looks like a snake with eyes in the south.
In the bible, every one in the bible talks about being deceived.
Greg Schreiber says
From the Nubians who where pure black, to the Whites, once they started to have offspring, you have many hues of man. This word most likely was used in Ancient Egypt.
Angie says
Earthly man taught us to call ourselves hu-man, the hue of the image of man BUT GOD says we are hu-God’s. We were made/created in His image, not the image of earthly man. When we REMEMBER who we are, whose we are, where we come from and where we’re going, then like Jesus, we align our will with the Father’s, the bondage of death is broken and life eternal (only of deity) is bestowed on us by the Power that raised Jesus from the dead, His third Person, the Holy eternal Spirit! The tomb is still empty… hallelujah and amen! Do as He did and this life that we sacrifice as He did, will not be our best… we look forward with expectancy for a life where He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Be blessed that you may bless others.
Ras says
Word salad from someone who has not learned how to truly think. Look into Francesco Carotta.
Geraldine Leale says
Go back further to the Old Babylonian period and look at the word ummanum which refers to a craftsman, an artist, money lender, scholar or specialist. There are many words which have commonalities from the mesopotamian region in other languages suggesting perhaps one more common language accross regions. I think its quit easy to connect the phonetic ummanum to the eventual human. Which might also explain why it had so many assumed different meanings when translated as above. Perhaps it just mean anyone of many terrestrial men?
griffingaddie says
Or creatures of the local terrain or earth?
Misael GS says
The origin of the etymology seems to make sense as far as we take the biblical origin of the human race, nevertheless how is it possible that the Latin culture could take this meaning based on their mythology, the domination of the judeo-christian religion came until the end of the western roman empire.
Rattlerjake says
1) The word human didn’t appear until the same time as the theory of evolution when all people were lumped into one species – which is a fallacy! GOD created man (caucasians), and behemah (beast of the field/negros), Nephilim came from the hybrids of fallen angels and the daughters of man, etc.
2) There is no such thing as Judeo-Christian religion. Judaism and Christianity have NOTHING in common. The “jews” do not worship the GOD of the Holy Bible, they worship the star god, moloch/remphan/Saturn, hence their symbol is the six-pointed star, a pagan symbol.
B. Frank says
An interesting post, Jake. Yet the Christian and Jewish religions do actually share much in common- including the scriptures known as the Old Testament.
The concept of species is, of course, a human idea imposed upon the natural world. One definition of species, especially among animals is that members of the same species can naturally mate and produce viable offspring that are fully fertile. (There are some closely related species that produce offspring which are not fertile, as mules. Other even more closely related species produce male offspring that tend to be infertile, while the female offspring tend to be fertile.)
While the differences between those known as Caucasians and those whose ancestors originated in other parts of the world may seem significant to you, those differences are superficial. Biologically speaking, the minor differences between groups of people from different areas and environments around the planet to not come close to qualifying as separate species.
Obviously, all the people of Earth can easily reproduce with each other, with both male and female offspring being fully fertile. (Or they were, before increasing contamination by toxic synthetic chemicals and PSOS began to reduce fertility among all humans.)
B. Frank says
Jake – Thank you for an interesting post.
Professor Uhl has a point in that we (not us) humans, at least in the Western world, and increasingly elsewhere, have been pretending that we are somehow separate from the rest of the planet.
The air flows through us, yet so does the earth. ‘Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.’ Not just at our deaths does this become obvious. Most every day nearly all of us produce soil, which would naturally nourish and replenish the soil, which in turn nourishes us with food from plants and animals that flourish on fertile soil. This is the mineral cycle, one of the cycles of life.
As you must know, soil is yet another word for the solid by-products of our digestion. It was commonly used until the 20th century. We ow associate the practice with ‘primitive’ cultures, yet night soil was collected, composted, and used to grow food in Europe and the U.S.A. Replaced by artificial manures, aka chemical fertilizeres (Including super phosphate made from phosphate ores, leaving piles of radioactive waste).
In addition to disease concerns if night soil is not properly handled and fully composted, now sewage sludge, aka ‘biosolids’ are contaminated with drugs, chemicals, mercury from fillings, micro- and nano-plastic bits, etc.
By the way, your points on etymology would be more effective with a little different phrasing and word choices. A few suggestions:
“…“the earth” is a distancing term to refer to the planet buy, ”
Among the correct options would be ‘by which to refer to the planet.’
“…with a lowercase “i” in the middle indicative of we, humans.”
Thee may be a better word choice here than ‘indicative’, yet this is a vlog post, not a term paper. However, the sentence should end ‘us humans.’
“He may just not have been aware of how far back and how deep of a tradition this idea really was.”
‘..how deep the traditon of this idea really was’ is one more grammatical option.
Thanks again for sharing this information and your perspective. We hope you accept the suggestions on phrasing in the same spirit – a free gift.
Bill says
A correction of your correction.
‘..how deep the traditon of this idea really was’ is one more grammatical option.
A spelling error: “tradition: not “traditon”
But perhaps that is too pedantic?
Alexandria P. says
Jake, you have gone full retard. Please seek medical help immediately. Try not to hyperventilate if the doctor is brown person. Those are normal. Please seek help.
Francis B says
I mean, the Ancient Greeks said that the current race of men was formed after rocks were scattered and planted into the ground, except for those 5 Thebans who came from dragon’s teeth.
Ras says
Because you take as literal what is deliberately phrased in allegorical and metaphorical language. Why? Because it CANNOT BE VERBALIZED. Too many people worship words as if they are the real thing. Is the word “purple” actually purple? And what gives rise to that phenomenon we call as “the colour purple”? This approach of yours is also why so many zealous idiots think the Buy-Bull is more than it actually is, because they take literal, when it is convenient for them, and ignore other parts, when it is not convenient for them.
That is but one small example. Do not believe everything you think, for I assure you, most of what most people “think” – is garbage. That is why SILENCE will reveal a reality that no word or amount of words, no matter how clever and no matter in which way they are combined, can ever reveal.
Of course we still have to use words, that is what supposedly sets man apart from other beasts, that of speech and reason, but communication can happen silently with all the world, whether human or not, if one knows how.
Yet we are in the age of social media and SJW and such nonsense where everyone thinks it is their so-called “right” to voice their ignorance and then get offended when the entire world does not congratulate them on their stupidity or agree with their biases and prejudices passed off as “belief” and “opinion”.