Re: Lookin' for the OED

On Fri, 5 Jul 2002 17:52:50 EDT, J Y S Czhang <czhang23@...> wrote:

>OBCONLANG/CULTURE:  How do peeps' describe work and how do peeps' explain
>their concultures' "work ethic" or similar? Are there opposing or contrasting
>views on work ethics?
I haven't thought much about this topic. I looked through a number of my
nonhuman vocabulary lists (speakers of Olaetian are human), and couldn't
find many words for work-related concepts, except in Jarda (originally a
personal language). But I have a few ideas.

Nelya, because of their long life spans, take a more leisurely approach to
work than huamns. Also, since they live in small family groups and have
dealings with others of their kind only infrequently, much of their work
consists of tasks having to do with survival.

At first glance, the idea of a "work ethic" would appear to be entirely
foreign to Zireen ways of thinking. In fact, they do have a work ethic of
sorts; they place a high value on quality and efficiency. It's just that
work as an activity is seen as a means to an end, enabling the more
important activities of exploration, adventure, and enjoyment of life. I'm
not even sure that Zireen have a word for "work". They would have words for
specific work activities, such as preparing food, treating injuries, or
construction work, but not for the general concept.

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