On Mon, 19 Apr 1999, FFlores wrote:
> banth "sheep" (not sheep but sheep meat)
mutton. One of the nice things about the wholesale importation of French
words into English is that we get a nice sets like mutton/sheep; the
French words for cuisine, the English for cooking. And other common-place
things. :) Banth, sounds like cleaver whacking into the chopping block.
> esm (a big metal "nail" to split things or carve stone, English?)
chisel. You can carve wood with them, too.
> apas "palm leaf" (don't ask)
An invitation to ask if ever I saw one!
> un=EDm "snail" (usually to eat <agh>)
Mm, escargot. There's a lot of good eating in one of them! :-S
Isn't it amazing the way giving a zippy sounding French word turns what is
essentially a disgustingly cold and slimey bug into haute cuisine?
> vadnai "screen" (a paper articulated barrier, English?)
screen works for me!
> hilas "weed" (not smoking, but probably for burning and/or inhaling)
I didn't inhale.
> =FCs=F3k "bush" (little branches in big packs, for fire)
fagot. Also known as the common bassoon, well known world wide for its
ease in starting a cheery fire on those cold nights after rehearsal.
> qga=F3t "lead" (element Pb, don't have a clue why)
From=20Latin plumbum; whence Spanish plomo. Most of the Elements Known to
the Ancients have Latin names and symbols. And Latin ionic names, which
every chemistry student still has to learn.=20
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> Any comments? I'd like to know about other writing systems
> out there too!
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I personally like the eclectic mixture of things in the list. Any other
languages have actual names for letters like this? Apart from ay, bee,
cee?
Padraic.
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> --Pablo Flores
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> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> En gian idgrivar fr=FAmneltel frasi=E9rraser gian pavonn
> be i malladhar siqged=FCer.
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> "Don't blame your enemy for your disgrace=20
> if you've just given them a chance."
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> (Traditional Dr=E1selhadh saying)
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