Radio Omniglot

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. There are new language pages about: Teanu – an Oceanic language spoken on Vanikoro Island in Temotu Province in the east of the Solomon Islands. Nanggu (Engdewu) – an Oceanic language spoken on the island of Nendö in Temotu province in the east of the Solomon […]

In this episode we discover the Celtic power behind some vigorous Romance and English words. The English word brio [ˈbɹiːoʊ] means vigour or vivacity. When used in musical directions, as con brio, it means with spirit, with vigour, vivciously [source]. It comes from Italian brio (vivacity, liveliness), from Spanish brío (vigour, mettle, zest, zeal), from […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. There are new language pages about: Sa’a (Tɛgɛ) – a Southeast Solomonic language spoken on South Malaita and Ulawa islands in Makira Ulawa Province of the Solomon Islands. Talise (ẽberã) – a Southeast Solomonic language spoken in the south of Guadalcanal Island in Guadalcanal Province of […]

In this Adventure in Etymology we find out what the dickens a dinkus is, and what to do with an asterism. A dinkus is: A small drawing or artwork used for decoration in a magazine or periodical. A small ornament, usually a line of three asterisks (* * *), especially for the purpose of breaking […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. There are new language pages about: Central Teke (Tɛgɛ) – a Bantu language spoken in the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Catio (ẽberã) – a Chocoan language spoken mainly in northwestern Colombia. Pagibete (Apagibete) – a Bantu language spoken in […]

In this episode we’re sweeping French floors with Celtic shrubs. The Proto-Celtic word *banatlo- means broom, as in the shrub Cytisus scoparius (a.k.a. common broom / Scotch broom) or similar plants. It comes from Proto-Indo-European *bʰenH-tlom (way, path) in the sense of “cleared path (in a wood)” [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot for the past three weeks – I was away on holiday in Scotland for a week, and didn’t have time to record newscasts during that time. (More on that later). There are new language pages about: Niuatoputapu-Tafahi, an extinct Polynesian language or dialect cluster which was […]

In this Adventure in Etymology we find out whether the words stable (a building for horses) and stable (steady, permanent) are related. A stable is: a building for the lodging and feeding of horses, cattle, etc. a collection of animals housed in such a building. [other meanings are available] It comes from Middle Englsh stable […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. There are new language pages about: Ambo-Pasco Quechua (Kichwa), a Central Quechua language spoken in central Peru. Matsés, a Panonan language spoken mainly in Brazil and Peru. Yine, a Southern Arawakan language spoken in eastern and southern Peru. New constructed script: Skyling Script, which was invented […]

In this episode we uncover Celtic fortresses among the sand dunes. A dune is a ridge or hill of sand piled up by the wind. It comes from Proto-West Germanic *dūn(ā) (sand dune, hill), via French or Dutch, from Proto-Germanic *dūnaz (accumulation, pile, heap, mound), or from Gaulish dunum (hill), from Proto-Celtic *dūnom (stronghold, rampart), […]