Friday, June 3, 2016

Who is Paparuda?

I was waiting for my car to be repaired, so I did a bunch of scrolling through Google Translate.  It must have taken hours.  I lost track of time.

I used Google Translate to find the English word, "poppy" in every available language.  I meant to stop half way through but I couldn't tear my eyes from the screen.  I was fascinated.  I found  14 different languages where poppy translates to something like "mak."  19 languages if you include those that use a sound related to mak, mohn, mukh...

And then there's Greek.  I'm astonished.  Google Translate says that in Greek the word poppy is paparouna.  I made the device play the word out loud several times.  I can't believe it.  It sounds exactly the same as the name in the Romanian prayers for rain, "Paparuda."

I'm adding up the linguist evidence.  I'm saying that it is no coincidence that the word for poppy sounds the same as the name of the goddess Mokosh.  I'm wondering whether she was a goddess or a very well loved plant.  Or both?

I wish that I could ask people but I do not speak the languages needed.  Maybe if I had a really good Russian dictionary, maybe I'd find answers.