Leitils in Gothic mean little, small, Leica could be Small Camera

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Hello there,

I invested time in to inter germanic constructed languages, Latin and Gothic books today.

Inter Germanic Conlangs tries to teach a person all North Western languages in one step.


I found word Leitils is meaning Small , Little in old Gothic language and that language is the base of Germanic Languages.

Germans were a multiple city states , small states confederation in 19th century and biggest concern was the loss of German language. They turned in to many Germanic legends and roots and wanted to survive. Its no suprise to founders of Leica interested in Gothic language, culture . May be they were teaching at high school.

I thought Lei ca could be come from Leitils Camera , Small , Little Camera.

leitz camera was sounded lei tils camera , small , little camera.

by the way , klein - k-lei-n means small , little in contemporary german.

I studied archaeology at university and all these things happens.

I will look at Gothic Etymological Dictionary also . How Leitils or Lei comes here .

Mustafa Umut Sarac
Istanbul

 

[OptiKen]

Leitz Camera became Leica

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

You are missing , Leitz Camera been Leica because it was sounded small little camera. You cant be an chess player.

 

[OptiKen]

Which side of the coin says, 'coincidence'?
Small little camera or Leitz Camera?

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

think together.

 

[AgX]

As usual (or rather: often) you hint us at aspects overlooked so far.

My first thought was that I never heard of the word "Leitils", but you made a good point that until 1945 germanic topic were in favour in Germany.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I've studied languages and linguistics for over 40 years. I've been a professional translator and occasionally still do that work.

Unless a person has extensive experience in linguistics and has studied language evolution, it is very easy to reach false conclusions about word etymology.

Leica comes from Leitz Camera and Leitz comes from Herr Ernst Leitz.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Theo, that's reality. What does reality have to do with anything?

 

[MattKing]

I've studied languages and linguistics for over 40 years. I've been a professional translator and occasionally still do that work.

Unless a person has extensive experience in linguistics and has studied language evolution, it is very easy to reach false conclusions about word etymology.

You would probably have been driven to distraction then by books like "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail"

 

[AgX]

I do not think that "Leitils" thing probable. But still I think Umut hinted at something interesting. That Leitz is a family name and Leica originating from Leitz does not mean that the inventor of that name did not have other aspects on mind too.

Speaking about reality of something looked at in hindsight is daring. As most historic research...

 

[chip j]

I like Lentils.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Hold on Everyone,

Leik
Leika
Leikan

is available at gothic etymological dictionary. Leik is no different from like , likeness. And leik means body of a man.
Leikan means please or astonisment and its root is Leika.

Source is Gothic Etymological Dictionary - 1986 Leiden Brill - Winfred P. Lehmann

I am preparing a article with pdf copy of dictionary page. Give me 30 minutes and I will post here and to articles.

Umut

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Here is Leik , Leika, Leikan in Gothic.

 

[AgX]

I do not doubt the meaining of leitils. I even know words of similar meaning in Dutch an North-German dialect that likely (based on your source) are related to that word. Though, as said, I never heard leitils, nor would have thought of it meanbing little.

BUT the questions are:

-) did the creator of the name Leica know about that (was he interested in ethymological issues)?

-) was that of influence of creating that designation?

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Here is Leik , Leika, Leikan in Gothic.

That has absolutely nothing to do with Leica ("Leitz Camera"). Nothing. There is no indication those words are related to the meaning (if any) of the name Leitz.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Cheap education , isnt it ? Not even close to harvard law.

 

[AgX]

That has absolutely nothing to do with Leica ("Leitz Camera"). Nothing. There is no indication those words are related to the meaning (if any) of the name Leitz.

As I stated above: leitils CAN have to do with the designation Leica.

Where do you got the knoweledge of what was on the mind of the creator of the designation Leica?

 

[macfred]

What is this thread about ... ?

 

[AgX]

Umut thinks that Leica means little camera as there is a germanic word beginning with lei- that meant little.

A germanic word that, to his sources, indeed left traces in modern languages.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

As I stated above: leitils CAN have to do with the designation Leica.

Where do you got the knoweledge of what was on the mind of the creator of the designation Leica?

What is more likely: that "Leica" derives from "Leitz Camera" or that the name was chosen based on obscure Gothic etymology for some unknown reason?

 

[AgX]

There is a difference between likeliness and knowledge.

As I said above, a knowledge about etymological issues could have played a part. I consider it far fetched, but them I do not have the cultural background, "Zeitgeist" of people back then.

One then might argue whether a designation would make senses that the common user would not understand. But the choice of for instance film names shows that creators of names seemingly did not take that into account either.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

AgX, Bravo ! Did you see my leik , leika , leikan etymology note ? ELCAN seems to me comes from gothic leikan meaning astonishment.

 

[AgX]

I think that ELCAN thing even more far fetched... Why then not use LEICAN directly? The designation then also would more obviously hint at Leitz too.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Some plays with logic or etymology like crazy. You must see their books how far they go. I have no doubt about my theory. The political situation and intense nationalism of 19th century german public , all the saga stories , their literature , poetry , architecture , paintings , decoration signs only the pre germanic roots. Elcan , Leikan ... lists goes on , one of them been selected. As a archgaeologist , hittite reader , Turkish speaker , I can say one thing clearly , all the social education stuff roots from the western states common ideology. Goverments directs the culture and its distributor media from the top and all the education literature been written within that direction. All is wrong. Especially archaeology , history and linguistics stuff.
I can write long but look at donald trump and see where is the usa in historical judgement. History rolls slow but never forgives the bandits. What would Donald Trump governments want to teach you in school , shape your thinking , judging , critical thinking ability.... I dont think good things.
Thats what Marx told.

 

[Dan Fromm]

AgX, Bravo ! Did you see my leik , leika , leikan etymology note ? ELCAN seems to me comes from gothic leikan meaning astonishment.

Ernst Leitz CANada ELCAN

The first sentence in the Elcan C-Series Reconnaissance Lenses catalog begins with