Radio Omniglot

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Yaka (Yiyáká), a Bantu language spoken mainly in Kwango Province in the southwest of the DRC. Yansi (kiBeembe), a Bantu language spoken in the south of the Republic of the Congo. Shatt (Caning), an Eastern Sudanic language spoken in South Kordofan Province in […]

04-13

02:15

In this episode we unravel the Celtic roots of words for wheel, rim and related things in French, Spanish and other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *kambitā means rim and comes from Proto-Celtic *kambos (twisted, crooked, bent), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱh₂embos (crooked), possibly from *(s)ḱamb- (bent, crooked) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: camedd […]

04-13

01:50

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Bembe (kiBeembe), a Bantu language spoken in the south of the Republic of the Congo. Kwambi (Oshikwambi), a Southwest Bantu language spoken mainly in northern Namibia. Luyana (Esiluyana), a Bantu language spoken in mainly the Western Province of Zambia. Yeyi (Shiyeyi), a Bantu […]

04-06

02:22

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Hurûf-ı munfasıla, a script based on the Ottoman Turkish alphabet with the letters written separately and all the vowels written devised by Enver Pasha in 1914. New adapted script: Hengul (헨규얘 아얘푸벹), an alternative way to write English with the Korean Hangeul alphabet […]

03-30

04:47

In this episode we discover the flatulent Celtic roots of words for to bray and related things in English, French and other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *bragyeti means to fart or flatulate and comes from Proto-Celtic *braxsman (fart), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreHg- (to stink, smell, have a strong odour) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic […]

03-29

01:53

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Tai Noi, a script used to write Lao and Isan in Laos and northern Thailand. New constructed system: Aramikatavah (ארמיכתבה), an alternative way to write Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic created by Mina McVinnie. New language pages: Degema (Dẹgẹma), an Edoid language spoken in […]

03-23

02:24

Haywire is wire used to bind bales of hay, and can also refer to something that’s roughly-made, erratic or uncontrollable. How are these meanings related? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology. As a noun, haywire [ˈheɪ.waɪ.ə(ɹ) / ˈheɪ.waɪɚ] means wire used for binding bales of hay, straw or grass, and is also known […]

03-22

01:51

In this episode we discover the possible Celtic roots of words for soot in English, French and various other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *sūdyā means soot and comes from Proto-Indo-European *suh₃d- (soot [?]), or from sed- (to sit) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: súiche [ˈsˠuːçɪ] = soot in Irish sùith [suːj] […]

03-15

01:38

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Mpiemo (Mbimu), a Bantu language spoken in the Central African Republic, Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo. Ebira (èbìrà), a Volta-Niger language spoken mainly in Kogi State in central Nigeria. Gun (Gungbe), an Eastern Gbe language spoken in southeastern Benin and southwestern […]

03-09

02:31

In this Adventure in Etymology, we are grasping the cash box as we look into the origins of the word cash. Cash [kæʃ] is: Money in the form of notes or bills and coins Liquid assets, money that can be traded quickly, as distinct from assets that are invested and cannot be easily exchanged. Money. […]

03-08

02:29

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Mbuun (kiMbuun), a western Bantu language spoken in Kwilu Province in the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Aka, a Bantu language spoken the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Komo (Kikomo), a Bantu language spoken in […]

03-02

02:53

In this episode we discover the Celtic roots of words for quay, jetty, pier, etc. in English, French and other languages. Bangor Pier. Photo by Simon Ager The Proto-Celtic word *kagyom means pen or enclosure, and comes from the Proto-Indo-European *kagʰyóm (enclosure, hedge), from *kagʰ- (to keep, hold, close, enclose, fence, hedge, barrier, field, pasture) […]

03-01

02:07

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Maʼanyan, an East Barito language spoken in the provinces of Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan in Indonesia. Nuaulu, an East Central Maluku language spoken on Seram Island in eastern Indonesia. Uma, a Celebic language spoken mainly in Central Sulawesi Province in central Indonesia. […]

02-23

02:32

In this Adventure in Etymology, we find what the word accent has to do with singing. An accent [ˈak.sənt / ˈæk.sɛnt] is: The way in which people in a particular area, country, or social group pronounce words. A mark written or printed over a letter to show how to pronounce it. A special emphasis given […]

02-22

02:18

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Kodava Lipi, or Muthanna Script, was created in 1970 by Dr. I M Muthanna to write Kodava, a Dravidian language spoken in Karnataka in the southwest of India. It was chosen as the official script for Kodava in 2022. New language pages: Mbama […]