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Re: Changing worldviews with language (LONG)

From:Nik Taylor <yonjuuni@...>
Date:Monday, November 4, 2002, 11:02
Mat McVeagh wrote:
> Exactly, semantics is where the really juicy stuff is at, and it's harder; > it does seem as tho ppl are more interested in constructing *form* - > phonoogical, orthographic and grammatical, as you say.
I wouldn't say that. There may be more talk about forms, but semantics is hardly ignored. Some interesting sets of words from my language: Lau: To eat or drink, in a social setting Kafti: To eat or drink, in a non-social setting Uatisnani: Family; specifically, a group of people descended [via matriarchal line] from a common, living or recently deceased, ancestress. Uazuniisa: Family; a group of people descended from a common ancestress and living in a single House* Uanistukka: Family; anyone of any known relationship House refers to a social division of traditional Kassi society. A village was divided into two halve; the first half consisted of the women and children, living in several Houses, each of which had around 30-40 people, generally divided into 3 or 4 _uavzuniisai_, or lineages. A House is established by 3 or 4 women and their daughters (and any other descendants). Daughters generally remain in the same House as they were born in. Most Houses were centuries old. Sons left the village upon reaching manhood and migrated to another village, where they settled in the second half of that village; the second half consisting of the men living in small (1 or 2 inhabitant) houses. Fakil: To go; of inanimate objects Kantus: To go; going alone, but on some special purpose Vulii: To go; going alone, with no purpose, or some trivial purpose Zaba: To go; as part of a group. (Incidentally, homophonous with the word for "seven") Color terms: Vaziu: Black Klau: White Mlaal: Blue Gazinu: Red, orange, green Tadi: Yellow, pink, bright orange Klaf: Be; equative, Klaf X Y means X = Y Ians: Be; token, Ians X Y means X is a member of the set Y Example of difference: Klaftassi tipita tivaa tlikan tIalanaf = That woman is tIalana's daughter [her only daughter] Iantassi tipita tivaa tlikan tIalanaf = That woman is tIalana's daughter [not her only daughter] Tasiuin: Become a martyr; sacrifice oneself (tas- = for a good purpose; iauin = die) Tlad'iuin: Die for an evil purpose; give ones life to accomplish an evil purpose. Obviously, the difference between tasiuin and tlad'iuin is a matter of viewpoint. :-) (Tladai/tlad'i- = for an evil purpose) Safi: Of viviparous animals: Give birth, be born, of oviparous animals: hatch [either transitive or intransitive]; of marsupials: emerge from the pouch for the first time (with inceptive aspect), emerge from the pouch for the last time (with punctual aspect), be in the in-and-out stage (with non-punctual aspect); may also have a causative of the marsupial senses; of plants: to sprout Gudi: Mate, have sex Likangli: Breed; have sex for the purpose of procreation (translates literally as "make a child") Lalasta: Flying animal (i.e., birds excluding flightless birds, bats, etc.) Uaftinipa: A body of water (lake, pond, sea, ocean, etc.) Fatas: Chew; swallow Gligli (theology): To create from nothing (reduplication of gli: create, make) Anassasta: Deceptively omit, derived from anassa "silence" and vasta "lie", hence "lie with silence" Zaldi: Do something for the sake of honor; ___ for honor Pikka: Door, gate Uakitani: Any kind of political entity (state, country, empire, nation, etc.) Tisista: Girl, female slave Susista: Child, slave Nazbii: Boy, male slave Sunsaklu: Child (fairly new word devised to replace the usual words for child, given above; translates literally as "young one") Klu: Young, new Sidan: Bleed Sidani: Bleed to death Piaftu: Sword, knife (intended for fighting), dagger, etc.; any kind of blade intended for use in fighting Uabiitani: Any kind of settlement (hamlet, village, town, city, metropolis) Uabiibiu: Uninhabited place Sutaitia: Wise one, master, mistress [in the sense of a master of a skill or craft, not in the sense of one who commands obedience] Uanipa: Water, ice Nlikan: Son, male descendant Tlikan: Daughter Tidumaki: Granddaughter Tinunu: Great granddaughter (Note matriarchal bias) Susukandu: Elbow, knee -- "There's no such thing as 'cool'. Everyone's just a big dork or nerd, you just have to find people who are dorky the same way you are." - overheard ICQ: 18656696 AIM Screen-Name: NikTaylor42

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H. S. Teoh <hsteoh@...>