What does というのは、[...]のことを mean in this sentence?


The sentence is

> というのは、スプーンのことをやまと言葉では「かい」といいます。

I understand the general meaning, but can't get these two things:

  1. the meaning of というのは in the beginning;
  2. why を is used in 

> スプーンのことを

Could anyone help me please?




"というのは" means "This is because." There should be another sentence before this.

"を" is used in the pattern of "AをBという", which means "we call A B."

