Spinning and purring
| From: | caeruleancentaur <caeruleancentaur@...> |
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| Date: | Saturday, August 27, 2005, 14:03 |
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--- In conlang@yahoogroups.com, "Julia \"Schnecki\" Simon"
<helicula@G...> wrote:
>... in colloquial German, the word _spinnen_ ("to spin [wool]") is
>also used for "to be crazy". As a matter of fact, the question
>_Spinnst du?_ usually means "are you out of your mind?" and not "do
>you manufacture your own woollen yarn?".)
If memory serves (it still does sometimes!), "spinnen" also means "to
purr," unless contemporary German uses another word. My German is
dated to the mid-60s when I lived there, courtesy of the U.S. Army.
What might be the connection between "to spin" and "to purr." Perhaps
the sound of a spinning wheel? Do any other natlangs use "to spin"
for "to purr" as well? I know that Spanish has the verb "ronronear."
How have you expressed "to purr" in your conlangs?
Charlie
http://wiki.frath.net/user:caeruleancentaur
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