Talk:Stadtholder
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[edit] The meaning of Stadtholder
I disagree that it actually would matter what the word 'stadtholder' ('Stadhouder') means in modern Dutch. The meaning of the word has not changed, even though the meaning of its components has. The meaning 'city holder' makes no sense in the historical context explained in the article. I would like to see someone prove that 'city holder' should be the actual translation. Otherwise, I feel it should be changed back again to 'place holder'. This previously unsigned comment (sorry) was made by: Tom 10:49, 19 June 2006 (UTC)
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- yes, if you compare cognates in other Germanic languages like German, the most likely meaning is indeed "placeholder", German "(an)statt" akin to English "(in)stead". And if you compare it with what they say in the Dutch version: "Het woord stadhouder betekent letterlijk plaatsbekleder (Duits: Statthalter), net als overigens het uit het Frans afkomstige woord luitenant (lieutenant, 'lieu' = plaats, 'tenant' = houdend)." This even suggests that it is a calque of French Lieutenant which literally means "Place-holder" as well. Crix 14:52, 4 July 2006 (UTC)
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- It is indeed simply a direct translation.--MWAK 13:13, 5 January 2007 (UTC)
