--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 14:54:57 -0700 (PDT)
From: Roger Wheate <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: "Ca nada" <fwd>
Sender: Roger Wheate <[log in to unmask]>
Whether or not this is 'true' has never been verified. It is one of the
two suggested origins of the name 'Canada'. I thought the original
spanish was 'aca nada' ("here, there is nothing"?). With current exchange
rates, there is now 0.67 times nothing.
The other origin is an interpretation of a local native word as "land
of little huts". This would infer that northern huts were smaller than
southern (american) huts, perhaps a function of heating economy in a
northern climate.
Likely other map-list people can give you a fuller interpretation.
Here in Canada's northernmost university town, there is still nothing
here : the true Canada!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roger Wheate, Geography / GIS co-ordinator, UNBC,
3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, CANADA
Tel:250-960-5865 Fax:250-960-5538 Email: [log in to unmask]
-------------------------------------------------------
On Tue, 27 Apr 1999, Johnnie Sutherland wrote:
> --- Begin Forwarded Message ---
> Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1999 13:07:34 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Sue Haffner <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: "Ca nada"
>
> I just received some trivia on another list, regarding
> the name 'Canada'.
> Supposedly, it comes from a notation on old Portuguese
> maps "ca nada" (nothing there).
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