Author: Simon

I am a linguist, web developer and musician. I live in Bangor in Wales and run Omniglot - the online encyclopedia of writing systems and languages, as well as making the Radio Omniglot Podcast.

Omniglot News (15/05/22)

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

The new language pages this week are about:

  • Manumanaw Karen, a Central Karen language spoken in the southwest of Kayah State in eastern Myanmar.
  • Pa’O (ပအိုဝ်ႏ), a Karen language spoken in Shan, Kayin, Kayah and Mon states in eastern Myanmar.
  • Huallaga Quechua (Wallaqa Runashimi), a Central Quechuan language spoken in the Department of Huánuco in central Peru.

There’s a new constructed script: Timescript, which was designed by Jacqui Fashimpur and which uses animation as a critical feature.

There are a new numbers pages in:

  • Ancash Quechua (Anqas Qichwa), a Central Quechua language spoken in the Department of Ancash in northwestern Peru.
  • Kichwa (Kichwa Shimi), a Northern Quechuan language spoken in southern Ecuador.

There’s also a new phrases page in Kichwa.

There are new articles, in Chinese, about:

There’s an Omniglot blog post entitled Befrogged about some interesting frog-related expressions in Dutch, and there’s the usual Language Quiz – see if you can guess what language this is.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Nias (Li Niha), a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken on Nias Island and the Batu Islands off the west coast of Sumartra in Indonesia.

There are new Celtiadur posts are about words for Mind & Sense, Chess and related things in Celtic languages.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology we find out what connects word such as quiet and coy, quit and tranquil in an adventure called Quiet 🤫

I wrote a new song this week: Quiet Please

For more Omniglot News see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://twitter.com/Omniglossia
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podchaser, PlayerFM or podtail.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

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Adventures in Etymology – Quiet 🤫

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Today we’re looking into the origins of the word quiet.

Quietness

Quiet [ˈkwaɪ.ɪt / ˈkwaɪ.ət] means:

  • making little or no noise or sound
  • free or comparatively free of noise
  • silent
  • restrained in speech or manner
  • free from disturbance or tumult; peaceful

It comes from the Middle English quiete (peace, rest, gentleness), from the Old French quiet(e) (tranquil, calm), from the Latin quiētus (at rest, quiet, peaceful), from quiēscō (I rest, sleep, repose), from quiēs (rest, repose, quiet) from the PIE *kʷyeh₁- (to rest; peace) [source].

English words from the same Latin root include acquiesce (to rest satisfied, to assent to), coy (bashful, shy, retiring), quit (to abandon, leave), requiem (a mass or piece of music to honour a dead person) and tranquil (calm, peaceful) [source].

The English word while comes from the same PIE root, via the Old English hwīl (while, period of time), the Proto-West Germanic *hwīlu (period of rest, pause, time, while), and the Proto-Germanic *hwīlō (time, while, pause) [source].

Other words from the same PIE root include wijl [ˈʋɛi̯l] (when, while), in Dutch, Weile [ˈvaɪ̯lə] (while), in German, hvile [ˈviːlə] (rest, repose, to rest) in Danish and Norwegian, chwila [ˈxfi.la] (moment, instant) in Polish and хвилина [xʋeˈɫɪnɐ] (minute) in Ukrainian [source].

Here’s a video I made of this information:

Video made with Doodly [afflilate link].

By the way, I wrote a new song this week called Quiet Please

I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur.

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podchaser, PlayerFM or podtail.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

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Omniglot News (08/05/22)

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

The new language pages this week are about:

  • Bagri (बागड़ी), a Rajasthani language spoken in the northwest of India and in eastern and southern Pakistan.
  • Mewari (मेवाड़ी), a Rahashtani language spoken mainly in northwestern and central India, and also in southern Pakistan.
  • Eastern Pwo Karen (ဖၠုံ‎), a Karenic language spoken in southern Myanmar and northern Thailand.
  • Aloápam Zapotec (tizha’), a Zapotecan language spoken in the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico.

There are a new numbers pages in:

  • Aloápam Zapotec (tizha’) – see above.
  • Huasteco (Teenek kaaw), a Mayan language spoken mainly in the states of San Luis Potosi and Veracruz in southern Mexico.
  • Burushaski (بروشسکی‎), a language isolate spoken in northern Pakistan and northern India.

There’s a new article entitled: Three Scottish Gaelic dialects and their possible relationship to ancient history.

There’s an Omniglot blog post about Japanese words for Smile 🙂😃😄😎🙃 and related things, and there’s the usual Language Quiz – see if you can guess what language this is.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Bezhta (бежкьалас миц), a Northeast Caucasian language spoken mainly in southwestern Dagestan in the southwest of the Russian Federation, and also in eastern Georiga.

There are new Celtiadur posts are about words for Bolts and Locks, Heather and related things in Celtic languages.

In the Adventure in Etymology this week we find out what connects frolics and frogs in an adventure called Frolicking Frogs 🐸

I also made improvements to the S’gaw Karen language page.

For more Omniglot News see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://twitter.com/Omniglossia
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podchaser, PlayerFM or podtail.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

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Adventures in Etymology – Frolic

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Today we find out what links frolics and frogs.

California-06348 - Froggy

Frolic [ˈfɹɒlɪk] means:

  • full of fun
  • a playful or mischievous action
  • an occasion or scene of fun
  • to play and run about happily

It comes from the Dutch vrolijk [ˈvroːˌlək] (cheerful, happy, merry), via the Middle Dutch vrolijc and the Old Dutch frōlīk, from the Proto-Germanic *frawaz [ˈɸrɑ.wɑz] (happy, energetic) ultimately from the PIE *prew- (to jump, hop) [source].

Words from the same Proto-Germanic root include the German words froh [fʁoː] (glad, cheerful, merry) and fröhlich [ˈfʁøːlɪç] (happy, cheerful, merry); the Danish word fro [ˈfʁoˀ] (happy, carefree), and Icelandic word frár [frauːr] (swift, light-footed) [source].

The word frog 🐸 comes from the same PIE root, via the Middle English frogge [ˈfrɔɡ(ə)] (frog, toad, wretch, mushroom), the Old English frocga [ˈfroɡ.ɡɑ] (frog), and the Proto-Germanic *fruþgô (frog), from *fruþ (frog) [source].

Another Old English word for frog was frosċ [froʃ], which apparently became frosh in southern English dialects, such as Essex, and is cognate with German word Frosch [fʁɔʃ] (frog) [source].

In Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and other parts of northern England, the word frosk is/was used for frog, and comes from the Old Norse froskr (frog) [source].

Here’s a video I made of this information:

Video made with Doodly [afflilate link].

I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur.

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podchaser, PlayerFM or podtail.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com

Omniglot News (01/05/22)

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

The new language pages this week are about:

  • Eton (Ìtón), a Bantu language spoken in central Cameroon.
  • Ancash Quechua (Anqas Qichwa), a variety of Quechua spoken in the Department of Ancash in northwestern Peru.
  • Kamba (Kikamba), a Bantu language spoken in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.

There are a new numbers pages in:

  • Kamba (Kikamba).
  • Dane-zaa / Beaver (Dane-zaa Ẕáágéʔ), an Athabaskan language spoken in parts of British Columbia and Alberta in Canada.
  • Karaim (Karay dili), a Turkic language spoken in Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine.

There’s a new constructed script: Shakeel, which is a way to write English, Arabic, Persian, Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi and other languages based on Chinese characters and devised by Muhammad Shakeel. It looks like this:

Sample text in Shakeel

There’s an Omniglot blog post about the origins of the phrase Long Time, No See, and equivalents in Japanese and Chinese, and there’s the usual Language Quiz – see if you can guess what language this is.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Numanggang, a Finisterre-Huon language spoken in Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea.

There are new Celtiadur posts are about words for nephews, nieces and related people in Celtic languages.

In the Adventure in Etymology this week we find out what connects nepotism with nephews and popes.

I also made improvements to the Võro phrases page, which new includes recordings of all the phrases.

For more Omniglot News see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://twitter.com/Omniglossia
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podchaser, PlayerFM or podtail.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

The Fastest Way to Learn Korean with KoreanClass101

Adventures in Etymology – Nepotism

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Today we’re looking into the origins of the word nepotism.

Nepotism

Nepotism [ˈnɛp.ə.tɪ.zəm] is:

  • The favoring of relatives or personal friends because of their relationship rather than because of their abilities.
  • Patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship, as in business and politics.

It comes from the French népotisme [ne.pɔ.tism] (nepotism), from the Italian nepotismo [ne.poˈti.zmo] (nepotism) from nepote/nipote (grandchild, nephew, niece), from the Latin nepōs (grandchild, nephew, niece, descendent), from the Proto-Italic *nepōts (grandson, nephew), from PIE *népōts (grandson, descendent) [source].

Apparently during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, popes liked to appoint relatives (especially nephews – a euphemism for their natural sons) as cardinals, and this practice became known as nepotism [source].

The word nephew comes from the same PIE root, via the Middle English nevew/neveu (nephew, grandson), the Old French neveu (nephew), and the Latin nepōs (grandson, granddaughter, nephew, niece, descendent) [source].

It displaced or absorbed the Middle English word neve [ˈnɛːv(ə)] (nephew), which came from the Old English nefa [ˈne.fɑ] (nephew, grandson, stepson), from the Proto-Germanic *nefô [ˈne.ɸɔːː] (nephew, grandson), from the PIE *népōts [source].

Incidentally, the word knave (a tricky, deceitful fellow) sounds similar but comes from a different root: from the Middle English knave/knafe [ˈknaːv(ə)] (son, boy, lad, servant, peasant), from the Old English cnafa [ˈknɑ.fɑ] (boy, lad, young man), from the Proto-Germanic *knabō/*knappō (boy), which is of unknown origin [source].

Here’s a video I made of this information:

Video made with Doodly [afflilate link].

I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur.

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podchaser, PlayerFM or podtail.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

The Fastest Way to Learn Korean with KoreanClass101

Omniglot News (24/04/22)

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

This week there are new language pages about:

  • Haya (OluHaya), a Bantu language spoken in the Kagera region of northern Tanzania.
  • Ili Turki (İlı turkeşi), a Turkic language spoken in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the northwest of China.
  • Nyukyusa (Kɨnyakyʉsa), a Bantu language spoken around the northern end of Lake Malawi in northern Malawi and southern Tanzania.

There are a new numbers pages in:

  • Salar (Salarcha), an Oghuz Turkic language spoken mainly in northwestern China.
  • Urum (Урум), a Kypchak Turkic language spoken in southeastern Ukraine and central Georgia.
  • Kumyk (Къумукъ тил), a Turkic language spoken mainly in the Dagestan Republic of Russian Federation.
  • Old Turkic, a Siberian Turkic language that was spoken in parts of East and Central Asia and Eastern Europe between the 7th and 13th centuries AD.

The new Omniglot blog post this week is called Good Pickaxes, about the French word pioche (pickaxe, chance, luck), and there’s the usual Language Quiz – see if you can guess what language this is.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Siona (Gantëya coca), a Western Tucanoan language spoken in parts of Colombia and Ecuador.

There are new Celtiadur posts are about words for brothers, sisters and related people in Celtic languages.

In the Adventure in Etymology this week we look into the origins of the word technology.

I also made improvements to the Arvanitic language page.

For more Omniglot News see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://twitter.com/Omniglossia
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podchaser, PlayerFM or podtail.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

The Fastest Way to Learn Korean with KoreanClass101

Adventures in Etymology – Technology

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Today we’re exploring the origins of the word technology.

Technology

Technology [tɛkˈnɒlədʒi / tɛkˈnɑlədʒi] is:

  • The organization of knowledge for practical purposes.
  • All the different and usable technologies developed by a culture or people.
  • Any useful skill or mechanism that was developed or invented.

It comes from the Ancient Greek τεχνολογία [te.xno.loˈɣi.a] (systematic treatment of grammar), from τέχνη [té.kʰnɛː] (craft, skill, trade, art) and -λογία [lo.ɡí.aː] (study) [source].

τέχνη comes from the PIE *tetḱ- (to create, produce), which is the root of English words like text, textile, context, subtle and architect. [source].

-λογία comes from λόγος [ló.ɡos] (word, sentence, speech), from λέγω [lé.ɡɔː] (I say, speak, arrange, gather), from the PIE *leǵ- (to gather, collect), which is the root of such English words as collect, dialect, elect, intellect, legion and legend [source].

The Latin word legō [ˈle.ɡo] (I choose, select, collect, gather, read), also comes from the same PIE root, and from it we get words like leggere [ˈlɛd.d͡ʒe.re] (to read) in Italian, lire [liʁ] (to read) in French, and lesen [ˈleːzn̩] (to read, select, gather) in German [source].

Incidentally, the name Lego, as in the little plastic bricks, comes from a differnt source: the Danish phrase leg godt (“play well”) – the leg comes from the Old Norse leikr (game, sport, contest), from the Proto-Germanic *laikaz (dance, game, sport) which is possibly the root of the English word lark (romp, frolic, prank) [source].

Here’s a video I made of this information:

Video made with Doodly [afflilate link].

I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur.

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podchaser, PlayerFM or podtail.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

The Fastest Way to Learn Korean with KoreanClass101

Omniglot News (17/04/22)

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

This week there are new language pages about:

  • Belhare (आठपहरिया / aṭhpariya), a Kiranti language spoken in Province No. 1 in eastern Nepal.
  • Bantayanon, a Central Bisayan language spoken mainly on Bantayan Island in Cebu Province the Philippines.
  • Pumi (prēn mì), a Qiangic language spoken in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in southwestern China.

Sample text in Kakemoji

There’s a new constructed script called Kakemoji, an alternative way to write Japanese invented by Heesu Kim and based on the Manchu alphabet.

There are a new numbers pages in:

  • Brahui (براوی), a Dravidian language spoken mainly in the Balochistan region of Pakistan.
  • Susu (Sosoxui), a Mande language spoken in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Sierra Leone.
  • Kirundi (Ikirundi), a Bantu language spoken mainly in Burundi.

The new Omniglot blog post this week is called Together Living, about words for community and society in Dutch and English, and there’s the usual Language Quiz – see if you can guess what language this is.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Pumi (prēn mì), a Qiangic language spoken in Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces in southwestern China.

The new Celtiadur posts this week are about words for fathers, mothers and related people in Celtic languages.

In the Adventure in Etymology this week we look into the origins of the word pique.

I also made improvements to the following pages: Võro numbers, Susu language, Tower of Babel in Võro, Mandarin Chinese and Classical Chinese, and I have recordings of Võro phrases which I’ll be adding when I have a spare moment or two.

For more Omniglot News see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://twitter.com/Omniglossia
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podchaser, PlayerFM or podtail.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com

Adventures of Etymology – Pique

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Today we’re exploring the origins of the word pique.

aiiiiiiiiie ça-pique

Pique [piːk / pik] means:

  • to affect with sharp irritation and resentment, especially by some wound to pride
  • to wound (the pride, vanity, etc.)
  • to excite (interest, curiosity, etc.)
  • a feeling of irritation or resentment

It comes from the French piquer (to prick, sting, annoy, get angry, provoke), from the Old French piquer (to pierce with the tip of a sword), from the Vulgar Latin *pīccāre (to sting, strike, puncture), which is either onomatopoeic, or from the Frankish *pikkōn (to peck, strike), from the Proto-Germanic *pikkōną (to knock, peck, pick, prick) [source].

English words from the same Proto-Germanic root include pick and pitch. The pie in magpie possibly comes from the same root, via the Old French pie (magpie), and the Latin pīca (magpie) [source].

The Latin word pīca is the root of such words as the Spanish pica (pike, lance, pick, spade ♠), and picar (to itch, sting, chop, bite), and the Italian pica (magpie) [source].

Incidentally, the name of the Pokemon character Pikachu has nothing to do with stings or magpies. Instead it comes from the Japanese onomatopoeic word ピカピカ (pikapika – glittery, sparkly), and チューチュー (chūchū – squeak, cheep, peep, slurp, mouse) [source].

Here’s a video I made of this information:

Video made with Doodly [afflilate link].

I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur.

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podchaser, PlayerFM or podtail.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com