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 lang…

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 spoken on the islands Niuatop…

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 (a building for horse…

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 …

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), all o…

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, an international auxili…

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 which is long and thin like a noodle. It comes from Dutch…

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Ogan Script, which is used to write Ogan, a Central Malay language spoken in South Sumatra and Lampung in Indonesia. There are new language pages about: Ogan (Base Ugan / بهاس اوڬن), a Central Malay language spoken along the Ogan River in South Sumatra and Lampung provinces in e…

In this episode we find Romance horns among Celtic peaks and mountains. In Proto-Celtic, the word *bandā means top, peak or horn, and *benno means peak or top. They are thought to be related, and possibly come from the PIE *bendʰ- (pin, point). Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: beann = horn, antler or fork prong in Irish beann […

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. There are new language pages about: Andoque (Paasi-ahá), a language isolate or a Witotoan language spoken in southern Colombia. Berom (Cèn Bèrom), a Benue-Congo language spoken in the north of Plateau State in central Nigeria. Hdi (xdí), a Chadic language spoken mainly in the Far North Region of Ca…