Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. There are new language pages about: Teanu – an Oceanic language spoken on Vanikoro Island in Temotu Province in the east of the Solomon Islands. Nanggu (Engdewu) – an Oceanic language spoken on the island of Nendö in Temotu province in the east of the Solomon Islands. Uneapa (Uniapa) – an Oceanic l…

In this episode we discover the Celtic power behind some vigorous Romance and English words. The English word brio [ˈbɹiːoʊ] means vigour or vivacity. When used in musical directions, as con brio, it means with spirit, with vigour, vivciously [source]. It comes from Italian brio (vivacity, liveliness), from Spanish brío (vigour, mettle, zest, zeal)…

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. There are new language pages about: Sa’a (Tɛgɛ) – a Southeast Solomonic language spoken on South Malaita and Ulawa islands in Makira Ulawa Province of the Solomon Islands. Talise (ẽberã) – a Southeast Solomonic language spoken in the south of Guadalcanal Island in Guadalcanal Province of the Solomo…

In this Adventure in Etymology we find out what the dickens a dinkus is, and what to do with an asterism. A dinkus is: A small drawing or artwork used for decoration in a magazine or periodical. A small ornament, usually a line of three asterisks (* * *), especially for the purpose of breaking up sections of a chapter, article, or other text ⁎⁎⁎ It…

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. There are new language pages about: Central Teke (Tɛgɛ) – a Bantu language spoken in the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Catio (ẽberã) – a Chocoan language spoken mainly in northwestern Colombia. Pagibete (Apagibete) – a Bantu language spoken in the northwest of the …

In this episode we’re sweeping French floors with Celtic shrubs. The Proto-Celtic word *banatlo- means broom, as in the shrub Cytisus scoparius (a.k.a. common broom / Scotch broom) or similar plants. It comes from Proto-Indo-European *bʰenH-tlom (way, path) in the sense of “cleared path (in a wood)” [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic lang…

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot for the past three weeks – I was away on holiday in Scotland for a week, and didn’t have time to record newscasts during that time. (More on that later). There are new language pages about: Niuatoputapu-Tafahi, an extinct Polynesian language or dialect cluster which was spoken on the islands Niuatop…

In this Adventure in Etymology we find out whether the words stable (a building for horses) and stable (steady, permanent) are related. A stable is: a building for the lodging and feeding of horses, cattle, etc. a collection of animals housed in such a building. [other meanings are available] It comes from Middle Englsh stable (a building for horse…

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. There are new language pages about: Ambo-Pasco Quechua (Kichwa), a Central Quechua language spoken in central Peru. Matsés, a Panonan language spoken mainly in Brazil and Peru. Yine, a Southern Arawakan language spoken in eastern and southern Peru. New constructed script: Skyling Script, which was …

In this episode we uncover Celtic fortresses among the sand dunes. A dune is a ridge or hill of sand piled up by the wind. It comes from Proto-West Germanic *dūn(ā) (sand dune, hill), via French or Dutch, from Proto-Germanic *dūnaz (accumulation, pile, heap, mound), or from Gaulish dunum (hill), from Proto-Celtic *dūnom (stronghold, rampart), all o…