Re: Names of chess pieces in (con)langs

From: "Jim Henry" <jimhenry1973@...>
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 12:24 AM

> Have any of y'all decided on the names of chess pieces in
> your conlangs?
How likely would it be for a culture not located on earth to
come up with exactly the same game? I'd use direct
translations from the original names I guess. So the game
comes from India? At least the names you gave, Mark, suggest
that.

Since you've wondered how the pieces are called in German --
I don't know the names in English, so I give a chess field
instead:

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| B | B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| T | S | L | K | D | L | S | T |
'---'---'---'---'---'---'---'---'

B = Bauer ('Peasant')
T = Turm ('Tower')
S = Springer ('Hopper')
L = Läufer ('Runner')
K = König ('King')
D = Dame ('Lady')

The game is called 'Schach' (/SAX/, from pers. _shah_, I
suppose). When you attack the King, you say "Schach!"
(Check!), and when the King is caught, the player is
"schachmatt" (checkmate).

I've heard "Pferd" (horse) for "Springer" as well. But the
standard name is "Springer".

Cheers,
Carsten

Replies