Re: Clockwise without clocks

--- In conlang@yahoogroups.com, Gary Shannon <fiziwig@Y...> wrote:
--- Muke Tever <hotblack@F...> wrote:
> H. S. Teoh <hsteoh@Q...> wrote:
<snip>
>
> Going back to the wheel, saying that clockwise is
> turning left implies that
> your speakers are focusing on the top end (9-3) of
> the wheel. This might not
> always be the case (maybe if they read
> bottom-to-top, they might watch the
> bottom of the wheel first?)
>>Think not of the wheel but of the wagon.  Clockwise is
>>the wheel motion of a wagon which is moving to your
>>right, so saying right-wheel, rather than clock-wise,
>>makes perfect sense.
--gary
--- End forwarded message ---

But what of those cultures that don't know the wheel?  That's why I
prefer using the sun as the referent for "clockwise" motion.  I
wonder if there is any lexeme in the American Indian cultures for
this concept, prior to colonization.

I have translated these into Senyecan as:

suulámßin - adj., sun-path, i.e., clockwise.
suulámßëvi - adv.

àntïësuulámßin - adj., against-sun-path, i.e.,
counterclockwise.
àntïësuulámßëvi - adv.

BTW, I never heard the word "deosil," although I am acquainted with
widdershins.  "Widdershins" is of Germanic origin meaning "counter-
course."  Can anyone enlighten me as to the etymology of "deosil"?

Charlie
http://wiki.frath.net/user:caeruleancentaur

Replies