Re: THEORY: Browsing at Borders Public Library

Barry Garcia wrote:
> >So here's the conlanger challenge:
> >
> >What are some of your concultures' "Keywords"?
>
> I'm not sure if I follow what you mean (its 2:39 am as I write this!). Do
> you mean words that are frequently used or that have some sort of cultural
> significance?
Words which are fairly frequently used, but which are not
translatable easily with a single word -- that have to be explained,
and that convey a concept that is important to the culture.  (They
don't have to be words for that concept; they could be interjections
or speech act words that embody that concept -- for example, one of
Weirzbicka's  Australian keywords is "shout" meaning to buy a round of
drinks for everyone in the bar... it's significant because it ties in
to a sort of male working-class gift-culture sort of thing.)

If I were going to come up with a keyword for the Sawila birdfolk of
the isle of Fahn, it'd probably be a word for a kind of harmonious
artistic creativity that takes place only in a sufficiently large
group.  There is probably a closely equivalent word in the slang of
jazz musicians (being in the "groove"?) but not one that I know of in
general English.

For the unpleasant Chana witchfolk, there might be a very culturally
positive word which describes the state of having everyone loathe and
fear you but not quite dare to challenge your dominance.

For the Manra shapeshifters, there might be a name for an ecstatic
experience of feeling very deeply, at the same time, the fact that you
are a Manra and the fact that you are also whatever being you are
currently shapeshifted into.

Just some ideas. :)

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Ed doesn't know everything, but he hasn't figured that out yet.
Please break it to him gently.              edheil@postmark.net
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