July 06, 2004

• Waygroovycool! That translates to "thanks for that" in Calispeak.
• A-hem.
• In most cases, when someone invents a new language, they lose out on some of the richness that comes from a language that has evolved over centuries. The etymology of words is often just as interesting as the meanings themselves. My favorite example was always the Russian word for capitol - stolitso. It's an amalgam of the words sto, which means 100, and litso, which means face. So, a capitol city is a city of 100 people. Unless you're willing to spend a LOT of time doing etymology and linguistics, any invented language will likely not have the same depth.
• Oh, the pain, the pain! Bad enough I have to go around swatting English "etymologies" like posh = "port out starboard home" and fuck = "for unlawful carnal knowledge," now I have to deal with Russian ones too?? Stolitsa (note feminine ending) has nothing to do with the words for 'hundred' and 'face'; it's the common suffix -itsa applied to the word stol 'chair, throne' (the latter meaning being taken over by prestol in modern Russian). A stolitsa is a stol'nyi gorod, literally 'throne city,' which is another way of saying it. Now, I want you to go find the Russian teacher who taught you that cute pseudo-derivation and knee him in the groin for me. Thanks. My work here is done. *saddles up, rides off*
• Nice! Thanks dhruva!
• I'd never heard of the "posh" one before, languagehat. But "for unlawful carnal knowledge" drops into my inbox now and then, and from there it vanishes into the abyss that is my spam folder. Any other linguistic myths you'd like to head off (at the pass, cowboy) while you're at it? I'll copy this thread to the senders of the "fuck" email.
• So many myths, so little time... As a first reference, it's helpful to check the Big List at Wordorigins (scroll down) for any doubtful word-stories.
• Ah, one of my favorite links ever.
• Thanks languagehat, I stand corrected. *does monkey-dance of shame* If I ever do see that Russian teacher I had way back when, I'll be sure to pass on your regards.
• tracicle, this is a couble post.
• Oh cool cool cool. This will help codify the Bjornic dialect of Munsonian. Ah, my linguistics classes are all coming back.
• beeswacky: Not really. Zompist is a huge site, and this part of it wasn't linked in the other thread. I think it's well worth its own post.
• Indeed, this is a large and thoroughly engrossing site, languagehat, one for which we -- as well as dhruva -- clearly share enthusiasm. My introductory remarks included the following -- "How would you create a new language? This guy has given the matter some thought, is deeply interested in language structure," and so forth -- following a link to the Vertual Verduria section wherein the creation of imaginary languages is featured. Because the Rosenfelder site is so immense, enumerating all its many merits seemed as if it would use up a great deal of space, something I've been reluctant in the past to do, especially with regard to the front page itself. So what is the best way to handle a post dealing with an exceedingly large URL such as this? Is it better to just concentrate on one aspect among a myriad of features? I know I'm not the best poster on monkeyfilter, and would really like to improve my understanding and hopefully my technique. Any tips or suggestions will be gladly received and seriously considered.
• Bees, you're a fine poster. And yeah, what the 'Hat said about zompist. That's why I didn't delete it.
• Is it better to just concentrate on one aspect among a myriad of features? I'd say so. And you can mention "much, much more" to whet people's appetites.
• For the generous words, tracicle, thank you, but there's doubtless room for improvement. languagehat, I'll certainly keep your reply in mind, and hopefully put it to good use next time I stumble over a largeish URL. Many thanks.