Author: Nick Nicholas

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

How did those unworthy Terran petaQ manage to plagiarize Shakespeare so many years before first contact?

By: | Post date: 2017-01-31 | Comments: No Comments
Posted in categories: Artificial Languages

Lucky you, OP, because I wrote the introduction to The Klingon Hamlet, and translated the verse of the play (or rather, in-universe, I was editorially involved in the Terran edition of the play Tragedy of Khamlet, Son of the Emperor of Kronos, by Wil’yam Shex’pir, and translated the introduction). And the introduction pays glancing mention […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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]

Where did the pronunciation of Ancient Greek (in modern times) come from? Who determined that it should sounds this way and why?

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

The ball got rolling, as Pronunciation of Ancient Greek in teaching – Wikipedia notes, in the early Renaissance, a generation before Erasmus. Erasmus published the system that prevailed in the West since, and that was a closer approximation of the modern reconstruction than Modern Greek pronunciation was: The study of Greek in the West expanded […]

  • Subscribe to Blog via Email

  • March 2025
    M T W T F S S
     12
    3456789
    10111213141516
    17181920212223
    24252627282930
    31