Episodes

  • Omniglot News (09/06/24)

    Omniglot News (09/06/24)
    Jun 9 2024
    Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Zeme, a Kuki-Chin-Naga language spoken in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland in the northeast of India. Borong, a Western Huon language spoken in Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea. Boko, an Eastern Mande language spoken in northern Benin and northern and western Nigeria. Vatlongos, […]
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Celtic Pathways – Charming Witches

    Celtic Pathways – Charming Witches
    Jun 8 2024
    In this episode we look into the possble Celtic roots of words for witch in some Romance languages. The Proto-Celtic word *brixtā means spell, magical formula or incantation. It possibly comes from PIE *bʰerHǵ- (enlighten) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: briocht = charm, spell, amulet in Irish lled(f)rith = magic, spell, […]
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Omniglot News (02/06/24)

    Omniglot News (02/06/24)
    Jun 2 2024
    Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Lakon, a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Gaua Island in Torba Province of Vanuatu. Maléku (malécu jaíca) – a Chibchan language spoken in northern Costa Rica. Kadiwéu (Ejiwajigi) – a Guaicuruan language spoken in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul in southern […]
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Adventures in Etymology – Escape

    Adventures in Etymology – Escape
    Jun 1 2024
    In this Adventure in Etymology we free ourselves by looking into the word escape. Escape [ɪˈskeɪp / əˈskeɪp] can mean: To get free; to free oneself. To avoid (any unpleasant person or thing); to elude, get away from To avoid capture; to get away with something, avoid punishment To elude the observation or notice of; […]
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Omniglot News (26/05/24)

    Omniglot News (26/05/24)
    May 26 2024
    Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Sheek Bakrii Saphaloo Script, which was created in 1956 by Sheikh Bakri Sapalo from Ethiopia, and is used to write Oromo, a Cushitic language spoken in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Egypt. New fictional script: Exception, which appears in the Netflix anime series “Exception”. […]
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Celtic Pathways – Bills and Gouges

    Celtic Pathways – Bills and Gouges
    May 25 2024
    In this episode we find connections between Celtic bills and beaks, and chisels and gouges in other languages. A gouge [ɡaʊdʒ] is a chisel with a curved blade for cutting or scooping channels, grooves, or holes in wood, stone, etc. The word comes from Middle English gouge (gouge), from Old French gouge (gouge), from Late […]
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Omniglot News (19/05/24)

    Omniglot News (19/05/24)
    May 19 2024
    Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. There are new language pages about: Bhaca (isiBhaca) – a Southern Bantu language spoken in Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. Ulumandaʼ – a South Sulawesi language spoken in West Sulawesi Province in Indonesia. Bambam– a South Sulawesi language spoken in West Sulawesi Province in Indonesia. […]
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    2 mins
  • Adventures in Etymology – Landlubber

    Adventures in Etymology – Landlubber
    May 18 2024
    In this Adventure in Etymology we look into the word landlubber, and related words in English and other languages. A landlubber [ˈlænd.lʌ.bə / ˈlænd.lʌ.bɚ] is: Someone unfamiliar with the sea or seamanship, especially a novice seaman. It comes from lubber (a big, clumsy, stupid fellow who lives in idleness), from Middle English lobre (lazy lout) […]
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    2 mins