2023)

12th February 202312th February 2023 By Simon

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

There are new language pages about:

Chayuco Mixtec (tyehen ñi), a Mixtecan language spoken in Oaxaca in southern Mexico.
Anii, a Kwa language spoken mainly in Benin, and also in Togo and Ghana.
Hindko (ہندکو), a Northwestern Lahnda language spoken in the northwest of Pakistan.

New constructed script: Sulat Hiligaynon, which was invented by Julius Alfred Cordova as alternative to write Hiligaynon, which is spoken in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines.

Sample text in Sulat Hiligaynon

New adapted script: Bhalabali (ᬪᬮᬩᬮᬶ), which is a way to write Zulu with the Balinese script devised by Allion Powell.

ᬩᭀᬗ᭄ᬓᬾ ᬅᬩᬦ᭄ᬢᬸ ᬩᭊᬮ᭄ᬯ ᬩᬾᬔᬸᬮᬸᬮᬾᬓᬶᬮᬾ ᬩᬾᬮᬶᬗᬦ ᬦ᭄ᬕᬾᬲᬶᬣᬸᬦ᭄ᭊᬶ ᬦᬗᬫᬮᬸᬗᬾᬮᭀ᭟ ᬩᬳ᭄ᬮᬗᬦᬶᬲ᭄ᬯ ᬯᬸᬫ᭄ᬝᬩᬗᭀ ᬦᬗᬸᬦᬾᬫ᭄ᬩᬾᭊ ᭈ᬴ᬸᬣᬶ ᬓᬸᭈ᬴ᬦᬾᬮᬾ ᬩᬨᬣᬦᬾ ᬦ᭄ᬕᭀᬫᭀᬬ ᬯᭀᬩᬸᬜᬾ᭟

New constructed script: Machaq Aymar, which was created by TheDankBoi69 as an alternative way to write Aymara, a language spoken mainly in Bolivia and Peru.

Sample text in Aymara in the Machaq Aymar Script

New constructed language: Anglish, a version of English with words borrowed from other languages replaced by words from native roots.

All werely beings are born free and alike in worthiness and rights. They are gifted with reðe and inwit and should behave towards one another in a mindset of brotherhood.

There are new numbers pages in:

Anii, a Kwa language spoken mainly in Benin, and also in Togo and Ghana.
Chayuco Mixtec (tyehen ñi), a Mixtecan language spoken in Oaxaca in southern Mexico.
Chamorro (Finu’ Chamoru), a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken in Guam and in the Northern Mariana Islands.

On the Omniglot blog this week we’re having some Musical Fun with the Japanese word 曲 (kyoku), which means a tune or melody, and also enjoyment, fun, interest or pleasure, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in Mexico.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was
Puyuma (Pinuyumayan), a Formosan language spoken in Taitung County in the southeast of Taiwan.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology we’re unwrapping the origins of the word Bandana, snd discovering links to words like band, bend, bind, bond and tulip.

On the Celtiadur blog there are new post about words for Grave Ditches and related things in Celtic languages.

There’s a new Celtic Pathways podcast about words for Bulls and related beasts in Celtic languages.

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.

Celtic Pathways – Bulls

12th February 202312th February 2023 By Simon

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In this episode we’re looking into bulls and related beasts.

The Proto-Celtic word *tarwos means bull, and comes from the Proto-Indo-European *táwros (wild bull, aurochs), which possibly comes from or was borrowed into Proto-Semtic as *ṯawr- (bull, ox), from which we get ثَوْر (ṯawr – bull, steer, ox, Taurus) in Arabic [Source].

Related words in Celtic language include:

tarbh [ˈt̪ˠaɾˠuː] = bull or Taurus in Irish
tarbh [tarav] = bull in Scottish Gaelic
tarroo = bull in Manx
tarw [ˈtaru] = bull, uncastrated male ox, papal bull or Taurus in Welsh
tarow = bull in Cornish
tarv = bull in Breton

The Old Irish Irish word for bull, tarb [tarv], was borrowed into Old Norse as tarfr, which became tarvur (bull, Taurus, womanizer) in Faroese, and tarfur (bull) in Icelandic [Source].

Words from the same PIE root include Taurus and steer in English, taureau (bull, Taurus) in French, toro (bull) in Spanish, and touro (bull) in Portuguese [Source].

You can be find more details of words for bulls and other cattle on the Celtiadur, a blog where I explore connections between Celtic languages in more depth. I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog.

Adventures in Etymology – Bandana

12th February 202312th February 2023 By Simon

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In this Adventure we’re unwrapping the origins of the word bandana.

A bandana [bænˈdæn.ə] is:

A large kerchief, usually colourful and used either as headgear or as a handkerchief, neckerchief, bikini, or sweatband.
A style of calico printing.

It comes from Hindi बन्धन (bandhan – the act of binding, a bond), from Sanskrit बध्नाति (badhnāti – to bind, tether), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *bʰadʰnáHti, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰn̥dʰ-néh₂-ti (to bind, tie), from bʰendʰ- (to bind, bond) [source].

Words from the same PIE roots include band, bandage, bend, bind, bond, bonnet, bundle, funicular, tulip and turban in English, and Bund (alliance, federation, league) in German [source].

Words from the same roots, via Proto-Celtic *bennā, include ben (cart, wagon) in Welsh, buinne (circlet, bracelet, wickerwork) in Irish, benna (a kind of carriage) in Latin, benne (bin, skip, dump truck, barrow, cable car) in French, bin in English, and benna (bucket, grab) in Italian [source].

Incidentally, before I discovered the origins of the word bandana, I would have guessed that it came from Spanish, and was possibly borrowed from an indigenous language of the Americas, like barbecue, canoe, hammock, tuna and papaya, all of which come from Taíno, an Arawakan language that was spoken across the Caribbean [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.

Omniglot News (05/02/23)

5th February 20235th February 2023 By Simon

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

There are new language pages about:

Tchaman, a Kwa language spoken in southern Ivory Coast / Côte d’Ivoire
Mbato (Nghlwa), a Kwa language spoken in the southeast of Ivory Coast.
Adele (Gɩdɩrɛ), a Kwa language spoken in central Togo and southeastern Ghana.

New constructed script: Tamiki, which was created by Damian Izrullah Bin Abdullah to write Tamiki, Adaki and Yusrian-Animan, which are constructed languages he is also creating

Sample text

There are new numbers pages in:

Eastern Pwo Karen (ဖၠုံ‎), a Karenic language spoken in Myanmar and Thailand.
Kanakanavu, a Southern Tsouic language spoken in Namasia District of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan.
Eyak (dAXunhyuuga’), a Na-Déné language that was once spoken in south eastern Alaska and which is being revived.

New Tower of Babel translations

Wamey, a Senegambian language spoken in Guinea and Senegal.
Baka, a Central Sudanic language spoken in South Sudan.
Bahnar, a North Bahnaric language spoken in Vietnam.
Gagauz, Turkic language spoken mainly in southern Moldova, southwestern Ukraine and northeastern Bulgaria.

On the Omniglot blog this week we have a post about Gossipy Cancans, and the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in East Africa.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was
Puyuma (Pinuyumayan), a Formosan language spoken in Taitung County in the southeast of Taiwan.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology we’re getting all trivial and petty and looking into the origins of the word Quibble.

On the Celtiadur blog there are new post about Burdensome Loads and Fees and Charges.

There’s a new Celtic Pathways podcast about words for Baskets and related things in Celtic languages.

I also made improvements to the Western Apache 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.

Celtic Pathways – Baskets

5th February 20235th February 2023 By Simon

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In this episode we’re looking into baskets, bundles and related things.

The Proto-Celtic word *baskis means a bundle or load, and comes from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰask- (bandle, band) [Source].

Related words in Celtic language include:

basc = circular necklet or neckband in Middle Irish
basc = round, red, scarlet in Scottish Gaelic
baich [bai̯χ] = burden, heavy load, labour, duty, sin, sorrow, woe, responsibility, a load or a dry measure in Welsh
begh = burden, load in Cornish
bec’h = difficulty, effort in Breton

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root include bascauda (woven mat or vessel to hold basketwork) in Late Latin, bâche (tarpaulin, canvas sheet, cover) in French, vascullo (broom, bundle of straw) in Galician, basket in English, فَشْقَار (fašqār – a heap of sheaves) in Arabic.

Incidentally, the Irish word bascaed, the Scottish Gaelic basgaid, the Manx basca(i)d/baskad, the Welsh word basged and the Cornish basket, all of which mean basket, were borrowed from English. The Breton word for basket, paner, was borrowed from the French panier (basket), from the Latin pānārium (breadbasket), from pānis (bread, loaf) [source].

Other words from the PIE root *bʰask- include fascis (bundle, burden, load, high office) in Latin, and possibly bast (fibre made from certain plants used for matting and cord) in English, bast (bast, raffia) in Danish, bast (inner bark, velvet, skin, hide) in Dutch, and bashkë (together, simultaneously) in Albanian [source].

You can be find more details of words for Burdensome Loads on the Celtiadur, a blog where I explore connections between Celtic languages in more depth. I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog.

Adventures in Etymology – Quibble

4th February 20234th February 2023 By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this Adventure we getting all trivial and petty and looking into the origins of the word quibble.

Quibble

Quibble [ˈkwɪbəl] means:

A pun (rare. from 17th century)
An objection or argument based on an ambiguity of wording or similar trivial circumstance; a minor complaint.
To complain or argue in a trivial or petty manner.
To contest, especially some trivial issue in a petty manner.

It comes from quib (a quip or gibe), probably from Latin quibus (in what respect, how?), which appeared frequently in legal documents and came to be suggestive of the verbosity and petty argumentation found therein. [source].

Quibus comes from quī/quis (who, that, which, any), from Proto-Italic *kʷoi (who, what), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷós/*kʷís (who, what, which, that) [source].

Words from the same roots include what, who, why, when, which, how in English, and similar question words in other Indo-European languages [source].

Incidentally, the word quip (a smart, sarcastic turn or jest; a taunt; a severe retort or comeback) possibly comes from Latin quippe (indeed, since, after all, why), from quid (what, why, well), from PIE *kʷid, a form of kʷís (who, what, which) [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.

Omniglot News (29/01/23)

29th January 202329th January 2023 By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

There are new language pages about:

Dangme, a Kwa language spoken in southeastern Ghana.
Foodo (Fóodo), a Kwa language spoken mainly in northern Benin.
Nkonya (Nkunyá), a Kwa language spoken in southeastern Ghana.

New constructed script: Harahap – Toge Na Rata, which was created by Pardomuan Harahap is an alternative way to write Batak languages, and also Indonesian and English.

Sample text in Batak Angkola

New adapted script: Beomeouija (범어의자), a way to write Sanskrit using the Korean Hangeul script devised by Adnaan Mahmood.

살ᄫᅦ ᄆᅼ나ᄫᅼᇹ ᄉᆖᄫᅡ단ᄃᆖᄅᆣᇹ 사묻반ᄂᅼᇹ ᄫᅡᆯ단데 아비 차 ᄁᅷ라ᄫᅡᄄᆖᄋᆖᇶ싸 아ᅂᅵᄀᆣᄄᆖᄋᆖᇶ싸 짜 사ᄆᅼᄂᅼᇹ 에ᄫᅡ ᄫᅡᆯ단데. 에데 살ᄫᅦ 쩨다ᄂᅼ-달가-싹디ᄋᆖᇸᅌᅡᆼ 수삼반ᄂᅼᇹ 산디. 아비 자 살ᄫᅦ비 빤ᅂᅮᄃᆖᄫᅡ ᄈᆣᄫᅡ나ᅌᅼ 바랏바랑 ᄫᆖᅌᅡᄫᅡ하란두.

There’s a new phrases page in: Dangme, a Kwa language spoken in the southeast of Ghana.

There are new numbers pages in:

Dangme, a Kwa language spoken in the southeast of Ghana.
Ottawa (Nishnaabemwin), a dialect of Ojibwe spoken in southern Ontario in Canada and northern Michigan in the USA.
Chinook Jargon (chinuk wawa), a pidgin/creole trade language that was used in the Pacific Northwest of the USA and Canada.

On the Omniglot blog this week we’re putting a Dampener things, and looking into the origins of the English word dampener and the French word gâcher (to spoil, ruin, waste), and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in Taiwan.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was
Sranan (Sranan Tongo), an English-based Creole spoken in Suriname.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology we’re seeking a safe haven and other peaceful places.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post about the words Region and Country and related things in Celtic languages.

There’s a new Celtic Pathways podcast about words for Rivers and related things in Celtic languages.

I also made improvements to the Limburgish numbers 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.

Celtic Pathways – Rivers

29th January 202329th January 2023 By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode we’re diving into words for river.

A Proto-Celtic word for river was *abonā/*abū, which comes from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep- (water, body of water) [Source].

Related words in Celtic language include:

abhainn [əunʲ/oːn̠ʲ] = river in Irish
abhainn [a.ɪn̪ʲ] = river or stream in Scottish
awin [ˈawənʲ] = river in Manx
afon [ˈavɔn] = river or stream in Welsh
avon [ˈavɔn] = river in Cornish
aven [ˈɑː.ven] = river in Breton

The names of the river Avon in England and the river A’an (Avon) in Scotland were borrowed from Proto-Brythonic the *aβon (river) [source].

Words from the same PIE roots include अप् (ap – water, Virgo) in Sanskrit, and possibly words for ape in English and other Germanic languages, which might have originally referred to a water sprite [source].

Another Proto-Celtic word for river was *rēnos, which comes from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃reyH- (to flow, stream) [source].

Related words in Celtic languages include:

rían [r͈ʲiːa̯n] = sea, ocean, path, course, way or manner in Old Irish
rian = course, path, mark, trace, track or vigour in modern Irish
rian [r̪ʲian] = method, mode, system, arrangement, control, management, order or sense in Scottish Gaelic
rane = stanza, track or verse in Manx

Names for the river Rhine in many languages come from the same roots, via the Latin Rhēnus and/or Gaulish Rēnos. For example, the English word Rhein comes from Middle English Rine/Ryne, from Old English Rīn, from Middle/Old High German Rīn, from Proto-West Germanic *Rīn, from Proto-Germanic *Rīnaz, from Gaulish Rēnos [source].

The Latin word rīvus (small stream, brook, rivulet) comes from the same PIE roots, and is the root of river-related words in Romance languages, such as rio in Italian and Portuguese, and ruisseau (stream, brook, creek) in French [source].

Incidentally, the English word river comes from Middle English ryver/river(e), from Anglo-Norman rivere, from Old French riviere, from Vulgar Latin *rīpāria (riverbank, seashore, river), from Latin rīpārius (of a riverbank), from Latin rīpa (river bank), from PIE *h₁reyp- (to scratch, tear, cut) [source].

You can be find more details of Celtic words for river on the Celtiadur, a blog where I explore connections between Celtic languages in more depth. I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog.

Adventures in Etymology – Haven

28th January 202328th January 2023 By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this Adventure we’re finding a safe haven and other peaceful places.

A haven [ˈheɪvən] is:

A harbour or anchorage protected from the sea
A place of safety
A peaceful place

It comes from Middle English haven(e), from Old English hæfen [ˈxæ.fen] (inlet, harbour, port), from Proto-Germanic *hab(a)nō [ˈxɑ.βɑ.nɔː] (harbour, haven), from PIE *kh₂p(ó)neh₂, from *keh₂p- (to take, seize, grasp) [source].

The English word abra, which means a narrow mountain pass, was borrowed from Spanish abra (small bay, inlet, glade, clearing), which comes from French havre (haven), and comes ultimately from Proto-Germanic *hab(a)nō via Middle Dutch, Old Dutch and Proto-West-Germanic, or Old Danish and Old Norse [source].

Other words from the same Proto-Germanic roots include Hafen (harbour, port, haven) in German, haven (harbour, port) in Dutch, hamn (harbour) in Swedish, and havn (harbour, haven) in Danish [source].

Incidentally, the word heaven doesn’t come from the same roots as haven. Instead it comes from Middle English heven(e) [ˈhɛv(ə)nə] (heaven, the heavens), from Old English heofon [ˈxe͜o.fon] (sky, heaven), from Proto-West-Germanic *hebun (sky, heaven), the roots of which are uncertain [source].

In case you’re interested, here details of the origins of the word harbour.

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.

Omniglot News (22/01/23)

22nd January 202319th February 2023 By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

New constructed script: Ukaliq, a universal alphabet created by Henrik Theling that could be used to write any language.

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Inuktitut in the Utaliq alphabet

New adapted script: Nasema (ߣߊߛߍߡߊ), a method of writing Swahili with the N’Ko alphabet devised by Allison Powell.

ߥߊߕߎ ߥߐߕߍ ߥߊߡߍߛ߳ߟߌߥߊ ߤߎߙߎ߸ ߤߊߘ߳ߌ ߣߊ ߤߊߞߌ ߛ߳ߊߐ ߣߌ ߛߊߥߊ߷ ߥߐߕߍ ߥߊߡߍߖߊߟߌߥߊ ߊߞߌߟߌ ߣߊ ߘ߳ߊߡߌߙߌ߸ ߤߌߥ߳ߦߐ ߦߊߔߊߛߊ ߥߊߕߍߣߘߍߊߣߍ ߞߌߣߘߎߜߎ߷

There are new language pages about:

Abidji, a Kwa language spoken in the south of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
Nyabwa (Nyabobɔgʋ), a Western Kru language spoken in the south of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
Wobé (Wɛɛ), a Western Kru language spoken in the west of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

There are new numbers pages in:

Gamilaraay, a Pama-Nyungan language spoken in New South Wales in Australia.
Sgaw Karen (ကညီကျိာ်), a Karenic language spoken in southern Myannmar and northwestern Thailand.
Waray Warary, a Bisayan language spoken mainly in the Eastern Visayas Region of the Philippines.

There’s a new family words page in: Tamil (தமிழ்), a Dravidian language spoken in southern India, Sri Lanka and Singapore.

On the Omniglot blog there’s a post about words for Hooks, and one about the Japanese word 建築 (kenchiku), which means architecture or construction and just appeals to my ears, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this is a Creole language spoken in South America.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was
Surigaonon, a Bisayan language spoken in the Caraga region in the north of Mindanao island in the southern Philippines.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology we are uncovering the origins of word Chemise and related items of clothing.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post about words for Scotland, and I made improvements to the post about Shirts.

There’s a new Celtic Pathways podcast about words for Fields and Quays and related things in Celtic languages.

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.

Radio Omniglot

Podcasts about languages and words

Category: English

Omniglot News (12/02/2023)

Celtic Pathways – Bulls

Adventures in Etymology – Bandana

Omniglot News (05/02/23)

Celtic Pathways – Baskets

Adventures in Etymology – Quibble

Omniglot News (29/01/23)

Celtic Pathways – Rivers

Adventures in Etymology – Haven

Omniglot News (22/01/23)