I love the fact that we basically ignore the Polabian where it could prove to solve a number of Suavic of Slavic mysteries.
The Monsieur de Baucoeur states in his “Wendische Vocabeln” that the following is the Wendish word for Mensch that is “human” or “man”:
- Slawa or Slawack
The latter – Slawack – is also apparently listed by Johann Parum Schultze – with the same meaning.
This basically corresponds to the Polish człowiek.
Now this should make you think as it immediately solves the etymology of Slav – “man/human/person”. Perhaps, in a slight twist, a man that speaks our language (Suovy) but that may well be a secondary meaning.
I am not saying that this is the only plausible explanation of that word.
For example, the river Solawa (Saale) also does so.
Further, a Suav or Slav is listed in some chronicles as the apparently eponymous father of the Suavs/Slavs. Then the Suavs/Slavs would simply “his people”. Similar things are known from other Slavic tribes who took patronymics as their designations. Just a few are Lechici (Licikaviki) or Leszkowice from Lech or in the East Vyatyche from Vyatko or Radzimitsche from Radzim.
So there you go.
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