Author: Nick Nicholas

Website:
http://www.opoudjis.net
About this author:
Data analyst, Greek linguist

What does the “S” above the ICXC mean?

By: | Post date: 2017-01-31 | Comments: No Comments
Posted in categories: Mediaeval Greek, Writing Systems

It’s not an S, per se; you’ll usually see it as just a bar, or a semicircle. Zeibura S. Kathau unearthed an instance that looked like a capital omega. It’s an abbreviation marker: Ι͞Ϲ Χ͞Ϲ is an abbreviation of IHϹΟΥΣ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ. The convention is particularly prevalent for Nomina sacra, divine names and titles. Here’s Wikipedia’s […]

Are ήρθε and ήλθε interchangeable? Is there a difference in meaning?

By: | Post date: 2017-01-31 | Comments: No Comments
Posted in categories: Linguistics, Modern Greek

No difference in meaning. ήλθε is the archaic form. ήρθε is the vernacular form, and represents a regular sound change in the modern language. ήρθε is now the unmarked verb form. If you use ήλθε, you will come across as speaking in Puristic (Katharevousa); 100 years ago, that made you be educated, 50 years ago, […]

What is “liar, liar pants on fire” in latin?

By: | Post date: 2017-01-30 | Comments: No Comments
Posted in categories: Latin, Linguistics

What we’re actually looking for is a Latin proverbial expression that means what the English means. And the English has nothing to do with inflammable pants at all: it just says “Hah! caught you lying!” I noodled around latin Via Proverbs. The closest I get are: Mendacem memorem esse oportet. A liar should have a […]

Do you speak Klingon, and why did you choose to learn it?

By: | Post date: 2017-01-30 | Comments: No Comments
Posted in categories: Artificial Languages

Federation Standard, eh, English translation follows: HIja’, tlhIngan Hol vijatlhlaH. qaStaHvIS wa’maH DIS, jIQummeH Hol vIlo’, ’ej SeQpIr lutmey vImughta’. qatlh vIghojmeH vIwIv ’e’ choyu’, tlheybura qatlhaw qaH. reH jIHvaD Daj Holmey ’oghlu’bogh. ghojmeH ngeD chaH, ghojchu’lu’meH DuH tu’lu’, ’ej Hol mIwmey waHlaH. maSterS vIHaDtaHvIS, HolQeD qaD lIngpu’ ghojwI’, tlhIngan Hol lo’taHvIS. jIHvaD chu’ Hol. […]

Why does reconstructed Proto-Indo-European seem so cumbersome to pronounce?

By: | Post date: 2017-01-30 | Comments: No Comments
Posted in categories: Linguistics, Other Languages

As ever, Daniel Ross’s answer is so thorough and well thought out (Vote #1 Daniel Ross’ answer to Why does reconstructed Proto-Indo-European seem so cumbersome to pronounce?), that it is embarrassing for me to attempt a better answer. In fact, I won’t: I’ll offer a worse answer, but one that is actually hinted at in […]

Do you pronounce BMW as “bee em double-u” or as “bey em vey”?

By: | Post date: 2017-01-29 | Comments: No Comments
Posted in categories: English, Linguistics, Modern Greek

English: Bee Em Double You. Australian English: Beamer. Greek: well, Greek only referenced English as its default foreign language in the last generation. So it’s the German pronunciation: Beh Em Veh. (Μπε εμ βε) Cypriot Greek: from memory, Pemve (Πεμβέ) —/b/ is rendered in Cypriot Greek as /p/, since Cypriot Greek has a three way […]

How does it feel for Greek kids when they learn their alphabet is an important part of maths?

By: | Post date: 2017-01-29 | Comments: No Comments
Posted in categories: Modern Greek, Writing Systems

The other answers are correct, but the question goes to something broader. Greek kids will sooner or later find out that a lot of mathematical and scientific symbols used in other languages are Greek, just as they find out that a lot of scientific vocabulary in other languages is Greek. How do they feel? Unsurprised. […]

Can anybody help with the Latin translation of “Showing up is the biggest step.”?

By: | Post date: 2017-01-29 | Comments: No Comments
Posted in categories: Latin, Linguistics

Apparere gradus maximus [est]. As always with these questions: no tattoo until you get a second opinion. Answered 2017-01-29 [Originally posted on http://quora.com/Can-anybody-help-with-the-Latin-translation-of-Showing-up-is-the-biggest-step/answer/Nick-Nicholas-5]

Why are there so many languages in the world?

By: | Post date: 2017-01-29 | Comments: No Comments
Posted in categories: General Language, Linguistics

Originally Answered: Why are there several languages in the world? Firstly, because we are not even sure that there was monogenesis of language. That is, we are not sure whether language originated in a single contiguous community of humans, or multiple communities. Second, because like all social phenomena, language is a dynamic system subject to […]

Is Australian accent a moderate between British and American ones?

By: | Post date: 2017-01-28 | Comments: No Comments
Posted in categories: English, Linguistics

Like the others said. There is a split between American accents and Commonwealth accents, with American often more archaic; the retention of r after vowels is the biggest shibboleth (and several British and Irish accents line up with America there). The Australian accent is pretty close to London English, though apparently there was a Midlands […]

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