Have you ever found a strange phenomenon: there are thousands of languages around the world, with different pronunciations and spellings, but only the word "mom" has a striking similarity in pronunciation?
In a lot of languages, the word for “mother” seems often either to be mama or have a nasal sound similar to m, like nana.
1
Why do multinational moms pronounce similarly?
There are 73 languages spoken worldwide with more than 50 million people. But there is one word that makes almost all human languages strangely coincide, and that is "ma"—the way we call out to the people in the world who are naturally closest to us.
For example, the "ma" in Chinese is the nasal consonant m with a vowel a.
The English word "mom/mum" is already similar enough to Chinese. More similar is the Italian language of mamma (as the Norwegians call it), almost identical.
The voice of human language calling for motherhood is largely the same. Many students are curious: Is it possible that people are born with this sound? Even if this is the case, then why does it invariably use this pronunciation as a name for mother?
To explain this similarity, some people have come up with the concept of language families and language families.
It can be observed that the pronunciation of "mom" between close relatives in the language is easy to understand, such as English, French, Italian, Norwegian.
If you speak a European language that is closely related to English, such as a Romance language or a Germanic language, it is not surprising that they have similarities within them.
When it comes to European languages closely related to English, like the Romance and Germanic ones, the similarity isn’t so surprising.
After all, these languages are descendants of the same language, which linguists call Proto-Indo-European. So, if the French say maman, the Italians say mamma, the Norwegians say mamma, it's not surprising that a family says one.
After all, these languages are children of what was once one language, which linguists call Proto-Indo-European. So if French has maman, and Italian has mamma, and Norwegian has mamma, then maybe that’s just a family matter.
So how to explain the similarities between different language families?
Up to the Caucasus Mountains, down to Africa, or deep inland, or as far away as the Pacific island nations, the "mother" in every language is terribly similar — clearly beyond the confines of a single language family.
The Swahili language in Africa speaks mama. The Tagalog language of the Philippines speaks nanay. The Fijian language speaks nana. Mandarin Chinese is surprisingly different from English to learners, but don't be afraid, at least the word "mama" is the same.
In Africa, Swahili has mama. In the Philippines, Tagalog has nanay. Fijian has nana. Mandarin, so intimidatingly different from English to the learner, soothes unexpectedly in offering up mama.
The Caucasus Chechnya region says Naana. What about Native American languages? The Eskimo language speaks anana; the Koasati language spoken in Louisiana and Texas also speaks mamma.
Chechen in the Caucasus? Naana. Native American languages? Eskimo has anana; Koasati, spoken in Louisiana and Texas, turns out to have mamma.
The famous linguist Roman Jakobson's opinion can make people think — ah, the reason is so simple.
Linguist Roman Jacobson in his seminal paper "Why 'Mama' and 'Papa'?" It is noted that the first syllable a baby can pronounce is "ah" or "mah".
In his groundbreaking paper “Why ‘Mama’ and ‘Papa’?,” linguist Roman Jakobson pointed to the first syllable babies are usually capable of making: “ah,” or “mah.”
Babies are the first to pronounce these two syllables because they do not require a complex oral position (to use on the tongue or teeth). In addition, "mah" is also associated with the beeping sound made by babies while feeding.
These are usually the first sounds babies reach for because they don’t require complex mouth positions (or the use of tongue or teeth). Moreover, “mah” is associated with the murmuring sound a baby makes when it’s breastfeeding.
People who speak different languages don't just call moms in similar pronunciations, they give mothers a similar vocabulary – they are strength, wisdom, and love, etc. Strength, wisdom, love...
2
The source of Mother's Day
In the United States, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. On this day, the children present cards, gifts and flowers to their mothers. The first celebration of Mother's Day took place in Philadelphia in 1907 and was proposed by Julia Wade Howe and Anita Javis in 1872 and 1907, respectively.
In the U.S. Mothers' Day is a holiday celebrated on second Sunday in May. It is a day when children honor their mothers with cards, gifts, and flowers. First observance in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1907, it is based on suggestions by Julia Ward Howe in 1872 and by Anna Jarvis in 1907.
Although Mother's Day was not celebrated in the United States until 1907, the festival of honoring motherhood can even be traced back to ancient Greece. Although at that time people were celebrating Roy, the Mother of God.
Although it wasn't celebrated in the U.S. until 1907, there were days honoring mothers even in the days of ancient Greece. In those days, however, it was Rhea, the Mother of the gods that was given honor.
Later, in England at the beginning of the 17th century, there was a custom to celebrate "Provincial Pro-Family Day" on the fourth Sunday of June every year. On the day of provincial pro-family day, servants who usually live with their employers are persuaded to go home and reunite with their mothers. As is customary, they bring a special piece of cake home to celebrate.
Later, in the 1600's, in England there was an annual observance called "Mothering Sunday." It was celebrated during June, on the fourth Sunday. On Mothering Sunday, the servants, who generally lived with their employers, were encouraged to return home and honor their mothers. It was traditional for them to bring a special cake along to celebrate the occasion.
In the United States, in 1907 a man from Philadelphia named Ana Jarvis launched a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. In Grafton, West Virginia, Jarvis persuaded her mother's church to celebrate Mother's Day, the second Sunday in May, on the day of the 2nd anniversary of her mother's death. The following year Philadelphia also celebrated Mother's Day.
In the U.S., in 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. The next year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.
Jarvis and others began writing letters to ministers, businessmen, and politicians calling for a national Mother's Day. They succeeded. President Woodrow Wilson, who took office in 1914, issued an official announcement to the nation, declaring that Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May every year and making it a tradition.
Jarvis and others began a letter-writing campaign to ministers, businessmen, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. They were successful. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day a national observance that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.
Many other countries around the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at different times throughout the year. Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May, as do the United States.
Many other countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at different times throughout the year. Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May, as in the U.S.
3
"mother"和"mom"
Today is Mother's Day, let's focus on "mother" and "mom" are the same thing?
1. mother / m (r)/
"mother" is generally translated as "mother", just as in Chinese "mother" is written language, "mother" is spoken language, "mother" is also written language, mostly used in speeches and compositions.
"Mother" refers more to the mother who gives birth to a child. That is, "biological mother", just states facts, does not have emotional overtones, and emphasizes blood relations.
In this way, it is not difficult to understand that the English language of "surrogate mother" is: surrogate mother.
Example:
The singer's youngest son was born to a surrogate mother.
The singer's youngest son was born to a surrogate mother.
Add a few words about "mother"
Stepmother stepmother
The prefix "step-" here indicates a family relationship formed as a result of a second marriage.
Mother's Day Mother's Day
Because "mother" is a more formal term, "Mother's Day" is also translated as "Mother's Day."
mother-in-law Mother-in-law, mother-in-law
Represents the wife or the husband's mother.
2. mom /m m/
Compared to the formal "mother", "mom" is very colloquial and more intimate, and it is customary to write "mum" in British English.
"Mom" focuses more on mothers who emphasize accompanying and taking care of their children's growth, and have nothing to do with blood.
Example:
I’m her mother, not her mom.
Although I gave birth to her, I did not raise her.
A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them.
The mother's arms are gentle, and the children sleep soundly in them.
— Victor Hugo (French writer)
What would you like to say to your mom today? Leave a comment below.
Happy Holidays to Moms!
![Fate Nero cosplay[fig]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP///wAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=)