A Method For Studying Book Of Mormon Names

[Olavarria]

One of the most unusual aspects of the Book of Mormon are the 188 unique names not shared with the Bible. These names are important because along with the 149 names common with the Bible, they constitute untranslated relics of Nephite language. Various attempts have been made to translate these words or provide plausible sources for their origin. However, because we don’t have the gold plates or parallel translations, like the Rosetta stone, we can’t ever be 100% certain that our etymologies for the 188 unique names are correct.

Believers in the Book of Mormon naturally seek etymologies that suggest ancient origins for these words. The challenge with such an endeavor is finding the correct etymology, while avoiding confirmation bias. For this we need a methodology that eliminates the influence of human expectations that are driven by theological imperatives. This methodology will consist of: linguistic controls, philological controls and textual controls. These controls may actually limit the amount of plausible cognates we discover but the ones we do have will be strong.

Linguistic Controls

When looking for ancient origins for Book of Mormon words, the book itself names only two languages that we can look to with absolute certainty: “And now, behold, we have written this record according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech. And if our plates had been sufficiently large we should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record (Mormon 9:32-33).

Because Lehi and Co. were Hebrews from Jerusalem in 600BC, Hebrew has primacy over all other source languages when looking for Book of Mormon etymologies. Because of Lehi and Nephi’s use of Egyptian script, Egyptian is the other possible source, but only after all Hebrew possibilities have been exhausted. If both Hebrew and Egyptian possibilities have been exhausted, we have hit a dead end.

Morphological Controls

When searching for Hebrew etymologies for Book of Mormon names, we must be certain that the Book of Mormon name and the Hebrew names share the exact same consonants. Because the Nehites were separated from Jerusalem in both time and space, we would expect Nephite Hebrew and the Old World varieties to differ from each other, especially as the time gap widens. However, in Semitic languages consonants tend to be very stable. For example, the Semitic words for “dog”, keleb(Hebrew), kalbu(Akkadian), kalb(Arabic), kalba(Syriac) , klb(Ugaritic) and kalb(Geez) all stem from a common proto Semitic source. Surely, we don’t expect a perfect preservation of consonants in Hebrew among the Nephites, but demanding it in etymological study will help filter out false cognates. In cases where the consonants are not exact, the dropping or changing of consonants must be accounted for using documented examples from the Old World.

Textual Controls

Does the etymology agree with what the book says the word means or how it is used? Does the etymology create productive convergences that illuminate the text? Finding near homonyms between Hebrew and Book of Mormon words isn’t enough; the two words have to either: 1) mean the same thing or 2) be used in the same contexts, allowing for slight but not radical changes in meaning. For example, Hebrew sources for sheum and neas must be limited to fruits or vegetables. Personal names must be personal names.

In cases where metonymy is being argued for, the etymology must agree with how the person or object behaves in the text. Also, the combination of consonants in the name, with a very limited range of meaning in Hebrew, is preferred. Following this methodology may be overly strict and it may produce fewer plausible etymologies for Book of Mormon words. However, they will be more reliable etymologies thus furthering the case for viewing the Book of Mormon as the translation of an ancient Israelite record.

Edited December 9, 2011 by Pedro A. Olavarria

[Bernard Gui]

Here's something with which to compare the BoM names...the personal names created by Rev Spalding

in Manuscript Found. Something to ponder for those who cling to the Spalding theory

Baska (great visitor from the west)

Bithawan (Sciotan councilman)

Boakin (Sciotan councilman)

Bombal (king of Kentucks)

Constantine

Cousin Elseon

Crito (Roman)

Drofalick (chief prophet of Sciotia)

Droll Tom (Roman)

Elseon (Kentuck prince, loves Lamesa)

Fabius (Roman)

Gamanko (Sciotan councilman)

Habolan (King of Chiauga)

Hadokam (king of Scotia)

Hamback (son of Lobaska)

Hamboon (King of Kentuck, father of Elseon)

Hamelick (Sciotan general)

Hamko (Kentuck leader)

Hamkol (Sciotan councilman)

Hamul (councilor to Kentuck Emperor)

Helicon (friend of Elseon)

Heliza (friend of Lamesa)

Jeshuran (Old Testament name used in a cliche)

Jesus Christ

Kalo (High Priest)

Kelsock (Kentuck leader)

Labamack (son of Lobaska)

Labanco (Kentuck ambassador)

Lakoonrod (Sciotan High Priest)

Lambon (High Priest, son of Lobaska)

Lamesa (daughter of the Emperor)

Lobaska (Ohian leader, introduced writing, science, and religion)

Lucian (Roman)

Moonrod (son of the Emperor)

Nunapon (the King of Catarangus)

Queen of Scotia

Ramack (the King of Geneseo)

Rambock (14th Emperor of Scotia)

Rankoff (Sciotan general)

Sabamah (Sciotan general)

Sambal (King of Scotia, wants Lamesa, too)

Taboon (councilor to Kentuck Emperor)

Trojanus (Roman)

Ulipoom (King of Michigan)

Edited November 14, 2011 by Bernard Gui

[Olavarria]

Here's something with which to compare the BoM names...the personal names created by Rev Spalding

in Manuscript Found. Something to ponder for those who cling to the Spalding theory

Baska (great visitor from the west)

Bithawan (Sciotan councilman)

Boakin (Sciotan councilman)

Bombal (king of Kentucks)

Constantine

Cousin Elseon

Crito (Roman)

Drofalick (chief prophet of Sciotia)

Droll Tom (Roman)

Elseon (Kentuck prince, loves Lamesa)

Fabius (Roman)

Gamanko (Sciotan councilman)

Habolan (King of Chiauga)

Hadokam (king of Scotia)

Hamback (son of Lobaska)

Hamboon (King of Kentuck, father of Elseon)

Hamelick (Sciotan general)

Hamko (Kentuck leader)

Hamkol (Sciotan councilman)

Hamul (councilor to Kentuck Emperor)

Helicon (friend of Elseon)

Heliza (friend of Lamesa)

Jeshuran (Old Testament name used in a cliche)

Jesus Christ

Kalo (High Priest)

Kelsock (Kentuck leader)

Labamack (son of Lobaska)

Labanco (Kentuck ambassador)

Lakoonrod (Sciotan High Priest)

Lambon (High Priest, son of Lobaska)

Lamesa (daughter of the Emperor)

Lobaska (Ohian leader, introduced writing, science, and religion)

Lucian (Roman)

Moonrod (son of the Emperor)

Nunapon (the King of Catarangus)

Queen of Scotia

Ramack (the King of Geneseo)

Rambock (14th Emperor of Scotia)

Rankoff (Sciotan general)

Sabamah (Sciotan general)

Sambal (King of Scotia, wants Lamesa, too)

Taboon (councilor to Kentuck Emperor)

Trojanus (Roman)

Ulipoom (King of Michigan)

That's a nice control, a list of goofy names everyone agrees are a modern Yankee invention.

Edited November 14, 2011 by Pedro A. Olavarria

[bjw]

That's a nice control, a list of goofy names everyone agrees are a modern Yankee invention.

I think Labanco and Helicon seem like the only ones that could be similar to the BoM.

[cdowis]

Linguistic Controls

When looking for ancient origins for Book of Mormon words, the book itself names only two languages that we can look to with absolute certainty: “And now, behold, we have written this record according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech. And if our plates had been sufficiently large we should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record (Mormon 9:32-33).

Really?

1. Which did the Jaredites use -- Hebrew or Egyptian? Jaredite names are found among the Mulekites, so their names survived their destruction.

2. Is "Timothy" Hebrew or Egyptian.

3. What language did the Mulekites speak?

I think you need to go back and read the BOM. There are clearly at least five languages referenced. Oops... the Nephites and the Lamanites also had their own distinctive language, so that totals seven languages.

Edited November 14, 2011 by cdowis

[Calm]

I think Labanco and Helicon seem like the only ones that could be similar to the BoM.

Sabamah sort of works as well with the ah ending.

[Olavarria]

Really?

You bring up some good points, here we go....

1. Which did the Jaredites use -- Hebrew or Egyptian? Jaredite names are found among the Mulekites, so their names survived their destruction.

Neither obviously. My methodology ignores Jaredite names because we have no idea what language they spok or what language Mosiah translated the 22 plates from.

2. Is "Timothy" Hebrew or Egyptian.

Timothy is Greek, please correct me if I am wrong.

3. What language did the Mulekites speak?

I don't know, obviously not the same language as Mosiah I.

I don't know what any Book of Mormon people spoke.

I think you need to go back and read the BOM. There are clearly at least five languages referenced. Oops... the Nephites and the Lamanites also had their own distinctive language, so that totals seven languages.

Agreed, but I'm not talking about the spoken, everyday, languages, I'm talking about liturgical languages. In the Nephite case, some form of Hebrew written in Egyptian script. For example, the Roman Catholic Church was performing mass in the Latin language all the way up until the 60's and I think the Pope still writes his encyclicals in Latin.

Edited November 14, 2011 by Pedro A. Olavarria

[Olavarria]

bump

[Bernard Gui]

That's a nice control, a list of goofy names everyone agrees are a modern Yankee invention.

Many of his names begin with Ham.....

So do a lot of good breakfasts! Just kidding.

I'm neither a linguist nor a philologist, but it seems to me it would be useful to compare BoM proper names with MF names as another approach to the theory that Joseph stole or mimicked MF. I also have lists of Spalding's place names and terms for deity if anyone is interested.

Bernard

[Calm]

Just kidding.

Obviously, since bacon is much better for breakfast than ham.

[Calm]

I'm neither a linguist nor a philologist, but it seems to me it would be useful to compare BoM proper names with MF names as another approach to the theory that Joseph stole or mimicked MF. I also have lists of Spalding's place names and terms for deity if anyone is interested.

Bernard

I am not so sure this would be effective at determining someone did not plagiarize another as names are one of the easier components in writing to recognize or isolate and therefore change in contrast to phrasing or concepts. (I am thinking here of the many Tolkien derivatives I've read over the years where the most creative aspect of the writing is the names.)

[Bernard Gui]

Obviously, since bacon is much better for breakfast than ham.

PARRY GRIPP LYRICS

"Bacon!"

Performed as Hoops & Yoyo and their bestest friend

Pull out your fork

Pull out your knife

Get yourself ready for the time of your life, yeah.

Doo-doodlee-doo-doo

It's time for bacon

Doo-doodlee-doo-doo

Throw down your plate

Pull up your seat

That sizzlin' meat just can't be beat, yeah

Doo-doodlee-doo-doo

It's time for bacon

Doo-doodlee-doo-doo

It's not time for salami or ham or sausage links

Don't gimme that old bologna and olive loaf really stinks!

Turn up the heat

Slam down your pan

Get the meat fryin'

Thank ya, ma'am ("Hey, ma'am")

Yeah! Doo-doodlee-doo-doo

It's time for bacon

Doo-doodlee-doo-doo

- "Mmmmm. Bacon! Aww, yeah, so good!"

PARRY GRIPP LYRICS

[ www.plyrics.com ]

[altersteve]

Every time I see the word "bacon" I think of Kevin Bacon.