German questions

[Travis B.]

It may make more sense if you look at the original meanings of Latin documentum— proof, example, lesson— thus evidence, something supporting a claim. 'Document' as a mere piece of paper is a later meaning.

Other meanings of words related to document, at least in English, may be relevant, specifically documentation, which is often used to mean something that supports an argument, which is similar to the etymology of Unterlage.

[Raphael]

For those interested in both reading German texts and US Politics, I posted a relatively long, but still fairly thought if you keep in mind what subject it's about, text I had written in German about the history of the two main parties in the USA since the late 19th century, over in Ephemera:

https://www.verduria.org/viewtopic.php?t=1725

If you have any comments on it or questions about it, please post over there.