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strange distinctions

From:Dan Jones <dan@...>
Date:Sunday, September 23, 2001, 20:50
I've just discovered a strange lexical distinction in Aredos. The Aredos word
bli:scens (from PIE *mloi-ske-nt-s) is usually translated "barbarian or
foreigner". Yet strictly speaking, it means only "incomprehensible". For
instance, the highly civilised Dweinasen and Kansu were bli:scentes, just as
were the uncivilised Ierantes and Candra:sta:ni. Yet the historic enemies of
the Carastans, the Remans, were not as Latin and Aredos, are at a very basic
level, almost mutually comprehensible. On the other hand, the Dweinasen and
Kansu languages were strange and incomprehensible to the Carastan ear, and were
thus "barbarians".

Do any other conlangs have this sort of word?

BTW, the Carashan reflex, blisheite, simply means "foreign".

Dan 

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La plus belle fois qu'on m'a dit 
          "je t'aime"
                   c'était un mec
                             qui me l'a dit...
Francis Lalane
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Nik Taylor <fortytwo@...>