Re: Changing worldviews with language (LONG)

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
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