Radio Omniglot

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Yambeta (Yambɛta), a West Mbam language spoken in the Centre Region in southwestern Cameroon. Bunu (Buod Nuox), a West Hmongic language spoken mainly in Guangxi Province in southern China. Kim Mun, a Mienic language spoken in southern China, and northern Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Phuthi (Síphùthì), a Bantu language spoken in southern Lesotho and in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Ngwe (Ŋwɛh), a Bamileke language spoken in Labialem Department in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. New numbers page: Ngwe (Ŋwɛh), a Bamileke language spoken in Labialem Department in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. On the Omniglot blog this week there’s a new post entitled Godfathering about trying to explain the concept of a godfather in Chinese. There’s a new Adventure in Etymology entitled Absurdity, which investigates the nonsensical origins of the word absurd. There’s a new post entitled Shields on the Celtiadur blog about words for shield and related things in Celtic languages. For more Omniglot News, see: https://www.omniglot.com/news/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/ https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

In this Adventure in Etymology we investigate the origins of the word absurd. Absurd [əbˈsɜːd / æbˈsɚd] can mean: Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and flatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; silly. Having no rational or orderly relationship to people’s lives; meaningless; lacking order or value. In the past in meant inharmonious or dissonant. It comes from Middle French absurde, from Latin absurdus (incongruous, dissonant, harsh, silly, stupid), from ab- (away from, out), and surdus (deaf, inattentive, silent, indistinct), from PIE *swer- (to resound, speak loudly, ringing, whistling) [source]. Words from the same roots include chwerw (bitter) in Welsh, searbh (bitter, sour, acid) in Irish, sword in English, zwaard (sword) in Dutch, assurdità (absurdity, rubbish) in Italian, and sordo (deaf, dull, muted) in Spanish [source]. The English word surd also comes from the same roots, and refers to an irrational number, a voicelss consonant, unvoiced or voiceless, and used to mean deaf or unheard [source]. If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways. Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot. 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 blog. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Neo-Brittonic (Brettica), a reconstructed version of Common Brittonic, a Celtic language once spoken in southern England. Ngomba (cú mbɔ́ndaa), a Bamileke language spoken mainly in the Bamboutos Department in the West Region of Cameroon. Ngombale (Ngeombale), a Bamileke language spoken in the Bamboutos Department in the West Region of Cameroon. Hachijō (島言葉 / shima-kotoba), a Japonic language spoken mainly in the Izu Islands, part of Tokyo Prefecture in Japan. Tày (Tiểng Tày), a Central Tai language spoken mainly in northeastern Vietnam, and also in northern Laos. New constructed script: Hedhgadē, a script for Proto-Indo-Euopean created by Hebrejinia. New phrases page: Föhr North Frisian, a West Germanic language spoken in North Frisia in northern Germany. New numbers page: Jamaican (Jimiekn / Patwah), an English-based creole spoken mainly in Jamaica. On the Omniglot blog this week there’s a new post entitled Oceanic Lutes about some words for Chinese and Western instruments, and related things. There’s a new post entitled Shady Shadows on the Celtiadur blog about words for shadow, shade and related things in Celtic languages. The gateway to the road up Jiangjun Mountain In other news, this week I explored part of Jiangjun Mountain (将军山 – jiāngjūnshān) and got some great views of Zhaoqing from up high. There is a temple on the mountain that is lit up at night, and since coming here, we’ve been planning to visit it. We found a way up yesterday. The electric scooters had a hard time climbing up the steeper parts of the road, but we got there eventually, and it was well worth the effort. The temple itself is impressive, and the views from it are spectacular. Unfortunately, it was rather wet, cold and windy up there, so we didn’t stay long. The temple on Jiangjun Mountain A view of Zhaoqing from Jiangjun Mountain For more Omniglot News, see: https://www.omniglot.com/news/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/ https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117 You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser. If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Ngaʼka (Mungaʼka), a Grassfields language spoken in Bali Nyonga, a town in the Nortwest Region of Cameroon. Ngiemboon (Ngiembɔɔn), a Grassfields language spoken in Bali Nyonga, a town in the Nortwest Region of Cameroon. This week there’s a new blog post entitled No Fierce Action about some questionably translated text I’ve spotted here. There’s a new post entitled Telling Tales on the Celtiadur blog about words for story, tale, news etc in Celtic languages. Improved page: Mandarin phrases This week my adventures in Zhaoqing (肇庆) took me to the big lake in the centre of the city, known as Star Lake in English, or 星湖 (xīnghú) in Chinese. You can take boat trips around it, and there are quite a few islands to visit, some of which have temples on them. If you go to one of the cafés or restaurants overlooking the lake, be prepared for much higher prices than elsewhere. I also went to the Guangdong Business and Technology University (广东工商职业技术大学), a private university not far from here with some rather elaborate architecture. For more Omniglot News, see: https://www.omniglot.com/news/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/ https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Ndemli, a Grassfields language spoken in the Littoral Region in the southwest of Cameroon. Johor Malay, a Malayic language spoken in the state of Johor in the south of the Malay Peninsula. New constructed script: Avo, an alternative way to write English invented by Toonmaker. New constructed script: Faciagram, an alternative script for English invented by Toonmaker and based on facial expressions. This week is travelled to China to visit friends. I’m staying in Zhaoqing (肇庆) in Guangdong Province in the south of the country, and plan to stay here until January next year. You can find out more about my experiences in China Adventures on the Omniglot blog. This is why there isn’t as much new material as usual due to the Great Firewall of China. There’s no language quiz this week as it seems difficult to find suitable recordings here due to internet restrictions. The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Tuparí, a Tupian language spoken mainly in the state of Rondônia in the North Region of Brazil. Improved page: Shanghainese phrases page For more Omniglot News, see: https://www.omniglot.com/news/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/ https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117 You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser. If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});