Re: Pretty (WAS: request for COMMENTS)

On Fri, Jul 12, 2002 at 03:46:09PM +0200, Christophe Grandsire wrote:
[snip]
> There's no equivalent French word to the English "pretty", we just divide the
> semantic space differently here. The nearest word to "pretty" is "joli", and
> doesn't imply feminity at all. In fact, it's normally not used with people,
> except by, or when talking to, small children, and it has more the
> meaning "cute" then (although "cute" is normally translated
> as "mignon"). "Joli" used among adults almost always implies childishness (not
> necessarily in a negative way), but not feminity.
[snip]

<ObConlang>

The Ebisedian word _dami'l_ is pretty close to the English "pretty". It is
used of children (of either gender) in a sense similar to the English
"cute", and also used of adult women as "pretty" or "beautiful". But it is
considered an insult to call an adult male _dami'l_. It doesn't
necessarily imply feminity. Unlike the English "pretty", however, _dami'l_
can only be used for people, not of flowers or other things English
considers "pretty".

For beautiful scenery (of the breathtaking, awe-inspiring kind), the
Ebisedian word is _K0'romin_, which, in a very rough sense, means
"colorful". (It is much stronger than the English sense of "colorful"
because of the con-cultural connotations it carries.) _K0'romin_ can also
be used on people (of either gender); although it carries such superlative
force that if used improperly, it sounds exaggerated and pretentious.

</ObConlang>


T

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