Fatherland? Motherland?
The following hypothesis is widely accepted: Language (grammar and vocabulary) reflects beliefs that originate (or, at least, originated some time in the past) in underlying cultural and social realities. Take the term “fatherland”, commonly defined as “the land of one's birth, one's country” (Oxford English Dictionary, hereafter quoted as OED). The concept also denotes that identity is mainly created through patriarchal (and not matriarchal) structures. After all, it is the total of one's fathers and forefathers that creates a nation.
According to OED, the English term “fatherland” was first used in the 17th century. This seems late but not too surprising considering that the 17th century was a time of political turmoil in Europe (and overseas) that preceded big revolutions and subsequent birth of nations, where newly founded fatherlands incorporated their inclination towards patriarchal values even in their constitution-building values. “Fraternité” and not “sororité” is considered one of the three pillars of good republics.
Wikipedia mentions that some countries use the term “motherland” rather than “fatherland” (amongst them, Russia and Spain). To illustrate this, Wikipedia refers to the Spanish concept of “Madre Patria”, “Mother Fatherland”. Looks like the same old concept in drag rather than an example for covert matriarchal preferences. It is interesting, though, that the term “motherland” occurs about 100 years earlier than the more commonly used “fatherland”.
I am curious to find out which terms were used prior to"motherland" and "fatherland". If you have any information on this, please let me know.
Best regards,
Britta
