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Category: Linguistics
irenic
Love this word, because it comes from my sister’s name, Irene. Love this word, because it describes the attitude I aspire to having on the Quoras, and I use it a fair bit myself as a disclaimer. Love this word, because while I had seen it ages back, the Magister reintroduced me to it. Michael […]
limn
I’m an arrogant overeducated effete sumbitch. I’m looking at the contributions so far, and going, ha! I know that word. That word too. But the Magister has tripped yours truly up as well. And not with big words (Greek and Latin are my gig, after all), but with really small ones. The Magister loves limn. […]
ontic
Another little word that gave me pause. I recognised it just fine, from ontology, I just didn’t know that philosophy had done away with the –ology. Do Greeks even say ontikós? *googles* Phew. Theologians do, at least: Η οντική εκδοχή του Είναι: Αιτιοκρατία και αξιολογία. “The ontic version of Being: Determinism and Axiology.” The Magister […]
Will swear words become used so much that they will be normal and not rude eventually?
Deadwood (TV series) is celebrated as being one of the most foulmouthed shows on cable TV. This was a conscious decision by the scriptwriters, to convey the impression that 1870s foul language would have had on its contemporaries. Because using actual 1870s foul language (which was blasphemous rather than scatological) would have sounded so anodyne […]
If I want to work in linguistic typology, which linguists should I read?
My top 3: Joseph Greenberg. The founding father. And very useful to get a sense of the kinda functionalist programme he had in mind. Bernard Comrie. Martin Haspelmath. Answered 2017-02-02 · Upvoted by Steve Rapaport and Eric Meinhardt [Originally posted on http://quora.com/If-I-want-to-work-in-linguistic-typology-which-linguists-should-I-read/answer/Nick-Nicholas-5]
Are ήρθε and ήλθε interchangeable? Is there a difference in meaning?
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 are some examples of onomatopoeia in your language?
Modern Greek. I’m going to list indeclinable, straight iconic words, as opposed to the far larger set of inflected words with an onomatopoeic etymology (like zuzuni for bug or platsurizo for to splash). bam bang, dan ding dong, apsu < Turkish hapşu sound of sneezing, kix cough, xrats scratch, drin ring ring, ksu shoo, prits […]
What is “liar, liar pants on fire” in latin?
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 […]
Why does reconstructed Proto-Indo-European seem so cumbersome to pronounce?
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 […]
Can anybody help with the Latin translation of “Showing up is the biggest step.”?
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]