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Re: Words for relationships that don't have good analogues in English

From:Roger Mills <rfmilly@...>
Date:Thursday, October 18, 2007, 4:15
Kash has a few that are more precise than their Engl. translations:

Either sex, in ascending order of intimacy (based on _karam_ 'friend' the
neutral term):
kambra (close friend, no sex)
kambraci (+dim.) closer, perhaps occasional sexual relations
karande (+le < leñ 'good') definitely implies a sexual relationship, though
not a committed one,

Specifically male/male (< mambre 'brother')
marem (meanings as above, not incestuous!!)
marenji
marende

Specifically woman/woman (<  _suya_ 'sister'):
susa
susaci
susale

(either) partners in a committed (but not legalized) relationship call each
other _sisa(mi)_ '(my) love(r)'

(either) (legal) spouse _kanjetre ~cetre(+poss.)_ < cetre 'married'-- an
intrans. verb, requires ...yam 'with'; formally, could be distinguished with
_umut ~ çehamaka_ (see next).

anjetre umut (public, general) civil marriage (common)
anjetre çehamaka (spiritual) religious marriage (rarer, only after "years of
practice" :-)  )

luç ~luçi jocular but somewhat disrespectful term for one's spouse or
significant other (< luçu 'to mate, of animals')

I like this one:
tisa:  formal 2nd pers. pronoun, commoner-to-aristocrat, formerly used in a
close, most often M/M sexual relationship; sometimes, when the person of
lesser status was the sexually dominant partner, it would be the aristocrat
who used it, albeit often ironically; nowadays, while somewhat rare, it is
used by either partner, almost always with clear humorous or ironic intent.
(ult. < sisa 'love[r]')

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Sai Emrys <sai@...>