Talk:Radiodrome

Etymology of term
Dear Cuskatzimhut,

as there seems to be consensus that "radio" comes from Latin "radius", beam, what makes you think this radio.. has different roots? KaiKemmann (talk) 01:36, 28 September 2020 (UTC)


 * I believe you are misinformed (folk etymology)? Attest your bogus consensus; or consult a professional classicist; after consulting wiktionary or LSJ.  Compare to English "ready"/suitable.  The German WP entry is fanciful and possibly derives from older versions. The straight etymology, in fact, appears sound. It comports with conventions of several curves of the sort, like Brachistochrone, etc, a pursuit curve field studied by Apollonius.  Cuzkatzimhut (talk) 02:48, 28 September 2020 (UTC)


 * May well be folk etymology. But it seems to be widespread - here and elsewhere.
 * Wouldn't Radio need to be corrected accordingly, if "radio" in physical and mathematical matters is more likely to refer to "easy" than to "beam"?
 * In the sources you mention I find no reference to either "radio" or to "radiodrome".
 * Please explain the term "straight etymology" or how you would apply it to this matter.
 * I am a complete folkish layman and would actually be interested to learn what parallels you draw to a "brachistochrone".
 * I will also be happy to change the German article to comply with your view if you could provide a source.
 * Alternatively please suggest a professional classicist to consult.
 * thank you for your efforts,
 * KaiKemmann (talk) 09:07, 28 September 2020 (UTC)

Nonono... You are misreading my point. Radio is just fine and should not be touched without discussion, and likewise this page here.

Admittedly, "radiodrome" is not in the OED, but it is clear to Greek and Latin speakers that, however similar they might sound in your ear, the latin "radius" (spoke, beam, used for radiating out in 1881) is completely unrelated to the Greek "radios" (easy, ready), almost certainly applied to the curve long before that. I will make an effort to chase down early uses. They sound the same, of course, now, and both have been used in the sciences and math. And, indeed, the majority of radio- composites, radiogram, radioscopy, etc... hearken back to "radius". But this does not dictate a "uniform usage" blending practice. You are quite right that, as attested by the early usage of "radiophone",  people did start out blending Latin and Greek, but this does not imply they always do it. In mathematics, because so much was translated from the Greek, better adherence to Greek was observed than in technology.

I will try to chase it down to Apollonius. I brought up  "brachistochrone" not because it is linguistically related, but as an example of good Greek usage in the 17th century; that generation of mathematicians knew their Greek, as you might have noted in Newton's Greek notebooks. In any case, you might poll classicists at your local university, and I might post a query in the Latin SE site. Cuzkatzimhut (talk) 10:46, 28 September 2020 (UTC)


 * Thank you for your efforts, Cuzkatzimhut.
 * Surely a source must exist somewhere. Otherwise we will probably not be able to properly solve this issue as apparently good arguments exist on both sides ..
 * By the way, I am curious to learn about the origin of your nickname. Katz-im-Hut makes it look as if there was some German involved while the whole term could possibly a surname of Slavic or Caucasian origin?
 * KaiKemmann (talk) 15:02, 30 September 2020 (UTC)

Still trying to pin down early usage, and failing. The nickname is a blend of bad puns, the second composite being the bad (literal, instead of Der Kater Mit Hut) translation into German of a troublemaker hero in children’s literature. I know it’s bad, but puns don’t bend...Cuzkatzimhut (talk) 18:24, 30 September 2020 (UTC)