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0 pointsithkuil2y ago0 comments

Some structural similarities can be explained by contact but other similarities are indications of common origin. Indeed both Germanic languages and Slavic languages share a common ancestor: proto-indo-european.

"Present" also shares a similar etymology; from latin: prae (before) + esse (be), with a similar palette of meanings as the Germanic and Slavic forms

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The_Colonel2y ago

The similarities I have in mind are specific to German - Czech/Slavic. Like I don't know the English equivalent to "vorstellen" which would encompass all its meanings the same way as the Czech equivalent does. (though it is possible there is some archaic form which fell out of use)

shakow2y ago

Представить has the same meaning & construction in Russian, and I don't see why it would have been introduced through German.

ithkuilOP2y ago

the problem with the english equivalent is that while "present" does originate ultimately from latin, it came there through a very tortuous path so it lost a lot of meanings along the way.

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