Difficult-to-translate word (was Re: Error rate, Circumlocution, and Cappucino)
From: | Nik Taylor <yonjuuni@...> |
Date: | Tuesday, September 27, 2005, 4:22 |
Paul Bennett wrote:
> What monomorphemic (or compound) words in your conlang(s) need to be
> circumlocuted in English?
I've recently changed my romanization, incidentally
x = /S/
ç = /C/
Zh = /Z/
ch = /tS/
j = /dZ/
u+vowel = /w/
i+vowel = /j/
Waanaxila - silence, simple lack of sound
Waxanassa - "tangible" silence, i.e., the sensation one gets when
background sounds suddenly cease
Taxuen - Sacrifice oneself for others; become a martyr
This is actually dimorphemic, and is a good example of a useful prefix,
tas- "do something for a good cause", as opposed to tradai-/tradz-, "do
for an evil purpose"
Watasklaa - a "good" inconvenience, generally a situation which, while
inconvenient, leads to a good thing (for example, if one were to be
fired from a job, but then go on to find a much better job)
Anassata - intentionally avoid mentioning a topic, with the intention to
deceive
Safai - come into existence (used in theology)
Pazga - to declare ones intentions; as an auxilary "to reveal ones
intentions by [verb]"
----------
Some verbs incorporate a social/individual distinction
Façel - Go (of an inanimate object)
Zaba - Go (in a social context)
Kantos - Go (alone, but for reasons relating to a social group)
Vulii - Go (non-social context)
Laau - Eat or drink, in a social setting
Kafchi - Eat or drink, in order to preserve life
Vazha - act out of rage (auxilary verb)
Zalji - do something for the sake of ones honor or reputation
-------
Uaniisa - "Lineage" or "Family"; a group of individuals related in the
female-line living in a common house
Uaneshtokka - "Family", very broad, any individual of known
relationship; also refers to obligations that come with kinship
Uacheshnani - "Family", a group of individuals decended from a common -
and still-living - ancestress
---------
Wamixidan - a spritual journey
Landaç - conceive (a fetus)
Suneshtuu - A person from the same village, by extension, co-worker,
classmate, etc.
Wabaska - Leg of a two-legged animal, or of a person
Mangada - Save from destruction
Maada - Save from harm
Wankatu - Time (abstract)
Waiza - Time (period of time)
Winii - Time (specific point in time)
Nipali - To travel by water (boat or swimming)
--------
A few verbs distinguish between how far one goes in them, these preserve
a fossilized suffix -i "do to completion"
Kloos - Stab
Kluxi - Stab to death
Kaapaa - Beat
Kapi - Beat to death
Xidan - Bleed
Xidani - Bleed to death
---------------
And a few examples of words for larger categories that English lacks a
simple term for (since all too often such lists involve terms more
specialized than in English)
Wafchinipa - body of water (generic)
Waçtani - Political entity; state, empire, nation, etc.
Watani - Inhabited place; anything from a small village to a metropolis
Chaai (or Kuilichai) - To have faith in
Lalasta (or Klasta) - Flying animal (note: would exclude flightless birds)
Pensaneshni - High land (hills, mountains, etc)
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