Category: Language

Adventures in Etymology – Wicker

By Simon

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In this Adventure we’re unravelling the origins of the word wicker.

Four little baskets sitting on a wall
Wicker [ˈwɪkə(ɹ)/ˈwɪkɚ] is:

  • A flexible branch or twig of a plant such as willow, used in weaving baskets and furniture.

It comes from Middle English wiker (wickerwork), possibly from Old Norse veikr (pliant, weak), from Proto-Germanic *waikwaz [ˈwɑi̯.kʷɑz] (weak, soft, pliable), from *wīkwaną [ˈwiː.kʷɑ.nɑ̃] (to yield, fold, retreat) from Proto-Indo-European *weyk- (to bend, curve, divide) [source].

Words from the same PIE roots include week, weak, province and cervix in English; Wechsel (change, bill of exchange) in German; växel (change, bill of exchange, switch, gear) in Swedish; fois (time) in French; and vez (time, instance, place, turn) in Spanish [source].

Incidentally, the Middle English word woke [wɔːk/wɑːk], which meant weak, feeble, helpless, unimportant or bendable, comes from the same roots, as did the word wocnesse [ˈwɔːknɛs] (vulnerability to sin or iniquity, lack of fighting skill) [source].

They are not related to the modern usage of woke, which is an abbreviation woken (up), and originated in African-American vernacular as meaning awake, conscious, alert, well-informed, especially in racial and other social justice issues. It is often used in a dergatory way about anyone who holds views that are disliked by the person using it [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.

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Celtic Pathways – Hurdles

By Simon

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In this episode we’re looking into words for hurdle and related things.

Dublin at Christmas

The Proto-Celtic word *klētā means palisade or hurdle, and comes from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱley- (to lean) [Source].

Related words in the modern Celtic language include:

  • cliath [klʲiə] = wattled, latticed, frame, hurdle, phalanx, staff or a (musical) stave in Irish. Also found in Baile Átha Cliath, the Irish name for Dublin.
  • cliath [kliə] = grid, lattice, grate, grating, shoal (of fish), hurdle, harrow, stockade, or (musical) stave in Scottish Gaelic
  • cleeah = lattice, wicker, fret, darn, stave, staff, grid, stretcher, grate, grating, criss-cross or school of fish in Manx
  • clwyd [kluːɨ̯d] = movable hurdle, wattle, lattice, rack, crate, gate, door; protection, cover or defence in Welsh
  • kloos = fence or rack in Cornish
  • kloued = fence, barrier, gate, railings, grating or grid in Breton

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Gaulish and Latin, include claie (wicker rack, trellis, hurdle) in French and cheda (wattled laterals at the base of a traditional cart) in Galician [source].

Words from the same PIE root include client, climate, clinic, incline and lean in English, leunen (to lean) in Dutch, lehnen (to lean) in German, chinàre (to bend) in Italian, and clemente (lenient) in Spanish [source], clé (left) and cleith (pole, cudgel, wattle) in Irish, cledd (left hand/side) in Welsh and related words in Celtic languages [more details].

You can be find more details of words for Hurdle Fences in Celtic languages 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.

Omniglot News (19/02/2023)

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

There are new language pages about:

  • Dorig (Dōrig), a Southern Oceanic language spoken on the island of Gaua in Vanuatu.
  • Siwu, a Kwa language spoken in the Volta Region in the southeast of Ghana.
  • Logba (Ikpana), a Kwa language spoken in the Volta Region in the southeast of Ghana.

New constructed script: Trunic, which was created by Andrew Shouldice as an alternative way to write English in the game Tunic.

Sample text in Trunic

There are new numbers pages in:

  • Dorig (Dōrig), a Southern Oceanic language spoken on the island of Gaua in Vanuatu.
  • Logba (Ikpana), a Kwa language spoken in the Volta Region in the southeast of Ghana.
  • Hiw, a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Hiw island in Vanuatu.

New family words page in Persian (Farsi)

On the Omniglot blog there’s a post about Valentine’s Day called Kissing Day, which is what it’s called in Scottish Gaelic (Là nam Pòg), and the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in southern China but isn’t Sinitic.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Tlapanec (Me̱ꞌpha̱a̱), an Oto-Manguean language spoken in the State of Guerrero in southern Mexico.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology we’re giving Peace a chance, and finding out how it’s linked to words like pay, pact and fair.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post about words for Early and Soon and related things in Celtic languages.

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

I also made improvements to the page of Numerals in various writing systems, and the Celtiadur posts about Days, Cattle and Land, Parishes & Enclosures.

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

Celtic Pathways – Land

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode we’re looking into words for land and related things.

Llangwyfan church Eglwys Llangwyfan

The Proto-Celtic word *landā means (open) land, and comes from the Proto-Indo-European *lendʰ- (land, heath) [Source].

Related words in Celtic language include:

  • lann [l̪ˠaun̪ˠ] = land, ground, site; building, house, church (obsolete/archaic) in Irish
  • lann [l̪ˠaun̪ˠ] = enclosure, enclosed area, precinct; repository, house or church in Scottish Gaelic
  • lann = enclosure, habitation in Manx
  • llan [ɬan] = (parish) church, monastery, heaven, churchyard, enclosure or yard in Welsh
  • lann [lan] = yard in Cornish
  • lann = moor, heath or moorland in Breton

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Gaulish and Latin, include lande (moor, moorland, heath) in French, landa (a (sandy) plain) in Spanish, landa (country, field, piece of land) in Basque [source].

The (archaic) English word laund [lɔːnd] (a grassy plain or pasture, especially one surround by woodland; a glade) possibly comes from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Middle English, Old French, Latin and Gaulish, or from the Proto-Germanic *landą (land), which comes from the same PIE root [Source].

Other words from the same PIE root include land in English, land (land, country) in Dutch, Land (country, state, province, land) in German, land (land, country, nation, state, ground, earth) in Swedish, lado (uncultivated, wild land) in Czech and ледина [ˈlɛdina] (untilled land) in Macedonian [source].

Incidentally, the new theme tune is one I wrote recently called the Tower of Cats. You can here the whole of it on Instagram.

You can be find more details of words for Land, parishes and enclosures in Celtic languages 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.

Adventure in Etymology – Peace

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this Adventure we’re giving peace a chance.

dove-zeitgeist.associates

Peace [piːs] is:

  • A state of tranquility, quiet, and harmony; absence of violence.
  • A state free of oppressive and unpleasant thoughts and emotions
  • A state free of war

It comes from Middle English pees [pɛ(ː)s] (peace), from Anglo-Norman peis (peace), from Latin pāx (peace, rest quiet, ease, grace), from Proto-Indo-European *péh₂ḱ-s (peace) from *peh₂ḱ (to join, attach; agreement, setttlement) [source].

Words from the same PIE roots include pay, pact, fair (light in colour, just, equitable), and possibly fang in English; paix (peace), payer (to pay) and pacte (pact, deal) in French; paz (peace) and pagar (to pay) in Spanish, and pax (dibs – to claim a stake to something) in Swedish [source].

Other words from the same roots include the Irish póg, the Scottish Gaelic pòg and the Manx paag, all of which mean kiss and come, via Old Irish and Brythonic, from the Latin (dare) pācem (to give pace), which was originally a kiss used as a sign of peace during a mass [source].

In Old English there were different words for peace: sibb (peace, relationship), as in sibling, and friþ [friθ] (peace, refuge, sancutary), which is cognate with free in English, frid (peace, serenity) in Swedish, and vrede (peace, quiet, tranquility) in Dutch [source].

Incidentally, the band The Pogues were originally called Pogue Mahone, which is an anglicized version of the Irish expression póg mo thóin (kiss my arse) [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 (12/02/2023)

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

There are new language pages about:

  • 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.

The Fastest Way to Learn Korean with KoreanClass101

Celtic Pathways – Bulls

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

What a load of bull

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

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

Bad to the Bone

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.

The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com

Omniglot News (05/02/23)

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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.

The Fastest Way to Learn Korean with KoreanClass101

Celtic Pathways – Baskets

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

Baskets

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.