Radio Omniglot

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, […]

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, […]

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 […]

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; […]

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”. […]

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 […]

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. […]

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) […]

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), […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. There are new language pages about: Jibu, a Central Jukunoid spoken in Taraba State in eastern Nigeria. Oroha, a Southern Solomonic language spoken in the south of Small Malaita Island in Malaita Province in the east of the Solomon Islands. There’s a new page about Neolatin, […]

In this Adventure in Etymology we’re noodling around with the word noodle. As a noun, a noodle can refer to: A string or flat strip of pasta or other dough, usually cooked (at least initially) by boiling, and served in soup or in a dry form mixed with a sauce and other ingredients. An object […]