h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Thank you

I thought that might be the case
Just in case anyone is interested, here is a link to the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juuhx884ylM



FS

Wait, that doesn't seem to make sense to me.

Chava is the Hebrew origin of the name Eve - the root is related to 'life' (same root, ultimately as in 'l'chayim'), but not specifically to birds. The 'le' part is, of course, an affectionate diminutive.
I'd think it might be a wordplay with Yiddish, but I think that's Fayga, not Chava. So I'm a bit confused here... what made you state the 'bird' connection, Dmitri?

Watching with interest

I checked, Lady P, because that made no sense to me, either - you're right, 'Chava' should be 'life'.

The sites I found said that 'Chava' was sometimes like 'Ava' in Latin - taken from 'Avis', bird. Now, though that sounds bogus, it seems as if the musical writers thought it was 'bird'.

Let me see if I can find out what Sholom Aleichem thought.

And boy, could they not have named that girl 'feygeleh'...

(Explain that to Florida Sailor while I go hunting.)

Perhaps just because Tevye sings to Chava as Little Bird, little Chavaleh?

I'm thinking you're right, Milla - it seems like some interesting etymologies have got started here.

I can't find anyplace where Sholem Aleichem says that. But why should he? He wouldn't translate a name in Yiddish.

Would anybody like to listen to a Sholem Aleichem story in English? With an introduction by Leonard Nimoy? Here's one called 'On Account of a Hat':

http://archive.org/details/onAccountOfAHatBySholemAleichem