Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Khom Thai, a descendent of the Old Khmer script used mainly to write religious texts in Pali, Sanskrit, Khmer, Thai and Lao. From: Wikimedia Commons, from the wellcome collection New constructed script: Hunter × Hunter Alphabet (ハンター文字), an alternative script for Japanese created […]
In this Adventure in Etymology we untangle the roots of the word number. A number [ˈnɐmbə(ɹ) / ˈnʌ̟mbɚ(ɹ)] is: Quantity An abstract entity used to describe quantity. A numeral: a symbol for a non-negative integer. An element of one of several sets: natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, etc other meanings are available It comes from […]
Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Talinga, a Northeast Bantu language spoken in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kobo (Kɨkobo) a Bantu language spoken in North Kivu Province in the northeast of the DRC. West Teke (Teke-Tsaayi), a Bantu language spoken in the south of the […]
In this episode we discover the possible Celtic roots of words for doctor in some Germanic languages. The Proto-Celtic word *leigis means healer and either comes from Proto-Germaic *lēkiz (healing, medicine, healer), or directly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂leg- (to care for) [source]. Descendants in the modern Celtic languages include: lia [l̠ʲiə] = healer, physician in […]
Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Lai Tay, which was used to write Tai Yo, a Southwestern Tai langauge spoken in Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. New language pages: Central Kilimanjaro, a Northeast Bantu language spoken mainly in Kilimanjaro Region in the northeast of Tanzania. Tetela (Ɔtɛtɛla) a Bantu language […]
In this Adventure in Etymology we unravel the roots of the word minion. A minion [ˈmɪnjən] is: A loyal servant of another, usually a more powerful being. A sycophantic follower. A small, yellow creature that appears in the Despicable Me and Minions films. It used to mean: A loved one; one highly esteemed and favoured. […]
Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Leke (Chicken Scratch) Script, a script created in the 19th century to write Karen languages in Myanmar and Thailand. New adapted script: Kannada for Tamil (ಕನ಼್ ನ಼ಡ ಎೞುತ್ತುಮುಱೈ), a way to write Tamil with the Kannada script devised by Aahan Kotian. New language […]
In this episode we disencumber the cumbersome and confluent Celtic roots of words like encumber. The Proto-Celtic word *kombereti means to bring together and comes from Proto-Celtic *kom- (with, together) and *bereti (to bear), from PIE *bʰéreti (to be carrying) [source]. Descendants in the modern Celtic languages include: cumar = ravine, channel, rut in Irish […]
Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Thirke Script, which was used in the 14th century in Kodagu in Karnataka, India. New language pages: Idaxo-Isuxa-Tiriki (Luidakho, Luisukha, Lutirichi), a Northwest Bantu language spoken mainly in Kakamega County in western Kenya. Baduy (Basa Baduy / Basa Sunda Kanékés’), a Sundanese-Baduy language […]
In this Adventure in Etymology we jot down a jot or two about jots (and tittles). A jot [ʤɒt / ʤɑt] is: The smallest letter or stroke of any writing; an iota. A small, or the smallest, amount of a thing; a bit, a whit. E.g. He didn’t care a jot for his work. A […]
