The word ‘native’ is derived from the Latin verb ‘nati’ = ‘to be born’. ‘nati’ is a semi-deponence, i.e. a verb that exists only in the passive voice. Makes sense, doesn’t it? After all, being born is the most passive act you ever perform in your life. A ‘native’ to a certain place would seem to be a person who was born in that certain place. Accordingly, if you were born in e.g. Columbia NC you can call yourself a native of that town. But the common use of the term goes beyond this narrow meaning. American Indians call themselves “Native Americans” or “indigenous” and the non-European Australians are called “aborigines” with the connotation that they, i.e. their predecessors, ancestors, forefathers were all born in America or Australia or at least on the American or Australian continents. . .
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