[Gocamino] Gocamino Digest, Vol 33, Issue 4

[blaroli at aol.com]

One may, of course, give any word whatever one's? personal interpretation.... that goes without saying; but the question, and attempted answer, was about the 
etymology of the word "Camino".
"Way" in Spanish, is mostly meant as "direction", as in "which way?" ?and it may not have anything to do with walking.... which is the substance of the word "Camino" both as a?verb and a noun.?The Spanish word for "path" is very beautiful : "vereda",? which?presupposes walking, horse back riding, and even bicycling.... but no cars.? Road or highway would be more closely translated as "carretera", which derives from "carro", that is, automobile, or in olden times, carriage. But etymologically the word "Camino" is ancillary to the verb "caminar"... that is, "to walk". This relationship is identical in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.
Someone sent a message suggesting that?to walk became "marcher"? (to march) in French because Latin arrived in France through the years-and-years long?campaign to conquer Gaul by Julius Caesar and his legions, and that they, naturally, would be "marching".? That makes a lot of sense.
What say you, Robert?
?


-----Original Message-----
From: Suzanne Turner <suzanne at turnerstrategies.com>
To: gocamino at oakapple.net
Sent: Tue, 3 Jul 2007 3:45 pm
Subject: Re: [Gocamino] Gocamino Digest, Vol 33, Issue 4



 
On my own very personal level, "camino" means "way" -- as in "I am the
way and the light."  It also means "path" -- making my camino my own
spiritual path in the broadest possible sense.  "Way" and "path" are
also direct translations from the Spanish "camino," as well as the
French "chemin."  (Yes, yes, "road" is the predominant translation of
both words, as well.)

So the road to Santiago (and my own personal road to Santiago) is but a
physical manifestation of my spiritual path.  In this light, the
decision to make the Camino could be interpreted as a symbol of the
decision to surrender oneself to Christ.  The discomfort and hardship of
the road symbolic of certain denials of the spiritual life; the
camraderie and thousand unexpected graces a symbol of God's active
presence in our lives.

But, hey, that's just me.  ;o)

Buen camino,

Suzanne

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