> Telek has four idioms so far. One of them I discoverd on accident while
> translating the T-shirt slogan, another one was suggested by Yoon Ha Lee,
> and another was invented because I felt bad about not being able to sign my
> emails with Telek farewell.
>
> As you can see below, three of the four have something to do with Botany.
> This is because the culture is hunter-gatherer, with a strong respect
> toward vegetation. I don't think you can invent idioms without a con-culture.
>
> 1)
> tellasajmo
> tella-sajmo
> tongue-grow
> lit. 'grow a tongue' = "speak up"
>
> 2)
> Yoon Ha's brain-child:
>
> lotella sodonnesal
> lo-tella so-donnes-al
> 2sP-tongue AsP-wilt-CAUSE
> lit. 'Make your tongue wilt!" = "shut up!"
>
> Often shortened to: sodonnesal
>
> 3)
> sajekaxiwwa
> sajek-ax-iwwa
> NAME-GOAL-meet
> lit. 'to meet up with Sajek' = "to die"
>
> 4)
> Xassil laxuubkekam.
> xassi-l l-ax-uubkek-am
> leaf-NOM 2sA-BEN-endure-OPT
> lit. 'May the leaves endure for you." = "goodbye, farewell"
>
> At 3/26/01 01:30 PM +0100, you wrote:
> >Has anyone out there made up much slang/idiomatic phrases for their
> >conlangs? Cos I'm a bit of a newbie and would like some tips on slang,
> >idioms etc. I have a pretty complex inflecting language, and I want a less
> >formal version for use in the race's normal life. Any tips?
> >
> >'hutchies'
> >
> >
> >
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>
>
> Marcus Smith
>
> "Sit down before fact as a little child,
> be prepared to give up every preconceived notion,
> follow humbly wherever and to whatsoever abysses Nature leads,
> or you shall learn nothing."
> -- Thomas Huxley
>