Talk:Testimony

Should we include the religious definition of "testimony" here? Bccomm 11:58, 9 Aug 2004 (UTC)

Philosophy

The philosical definition is just any stuff your told. See Testimony, philosophical problems of. --JK the unwise 18:52, 3 Mar 2005 (UTC)

The real etymology

has nothing to do with testes. It comes from testis "witness" with a deep PIE root in *tris "three", embodying the notion of a "third" party, an impartial witness [1] It seems a shame to spoil the fun, though. --Wetman 00:39, 15 May 2005 (UTC)

Well, go ahead if you can include a source. Tom Haws 14:47, May 16, 2005 (UTC)

law

Isn't this law section ridiculously US-centric?

Testify

Etymology is cited as follows:-

(pl. testes), 1704, from L. testis "testicle," usually regarded as a special application of testis "witness" (see testament), presumably because it "bears witness" to virility (cf. Gk. parastates, lit. "one that stands by;" and Fr. slang témoins, lit. "witnesses"). But Buck thinks Gk. parastatai "testicles" has been wrongly associated with the legal sense of parastates "supporter, defender" and suggests instead parastatai in the sense of twin "supporting pillars, props of a mast," etc. Walde, meanwhile, suggests a connection between testis and testa "pot, shell, etc."

Presumably, this was because only men could bear witness in ancient Rome. Nowadays no such restriction exists and it would be inaccurate to use this word when a woman bears witness. Therefore when a woman gives evidence, the word to use should be "PUSSIFY".

Testimonio

I just want to call attention to the discussion on testimonio regarding [[Rigoberta Menchu]]´s autobiography. Also discussed on [[Journalism scandals]] page.