Taboo Words, anyone?

[novin_ha]

But not the '***!!! is taboo' kind. Real Taboo words. Words not to be used in order not to call on the evil, like "Voldemort" in Harry Potter series.

Do you know about any such words in your language?

In Polish I know about two words that were invented in order not to use 'the real ones'. One of them is the Polish word for a bear - "niedźwiedź". It sounds as if it was a negation of something, but in truth it is a short way for saying what amounts to 'he who knows where the honey is'. Obviously, Slavic tribes were afraid of the animal that posed real danger to them. The other one is "bat" - in Polish "nietoperz - which means "it is not a bird". I can just imagine two guys talking, a bat flying above. "What was that?" "It was not a bird, that's sure..."

Keep your fingers crossed for me tomorrow. Linguistics semi-exam. Off to my notes now...

13 design features of language, anyone?

ETA: And isn't the non-trivial similarity between 'slave' and 'Slavic' interesting? Should I feel offended and propose a new word to describe all Slavic tribes?

Comments

[mchoneygoose.livejournal.com]

To utter the words "good luck" is considered unlucky and instead the phrase "break a leg" may be used.

"It's quiet" can also be avoided in some circumstances (professions) as it is 'tempting fate'.

Is that what you mean?

Anyway, break a leg for tomorrow! ;-)

/randomosity

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

In Polish, you can say 'good luck' to a person that has an exam, but they will answer 'no thanks' instead of 'thanks' ;)

And be careful about legs, it's freezing here it could just come true...

And what a pretty icon!

icon - knock, index - that, symbol - dog

[mchoneygoose.livejournal.com]

LOL...ok!

Thanks. ;-)

[atlantel.livejournal.com]

In French you don't say good luck. Instead you say 'merde' which is shit. (how sweet) and if you say thank you... then there will be no luck left. So, usually, you say. I gonna site an exam. People will tell you 'merde'. You don't thank them and instead you switch to another subject. Very odd.

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

In Polish we have a verb 'merdać' which means 'wiggle a tail' and 'pomerdać' which means, 'muck up'. I've always wondered if there is a connection...

[mchoneygoose.livejournal.com]

There are I think a number of old english sayings relating muck and fortune - can't recall them right now, but yeah this seems to be a popular theme...

It's great to get an understanding of how language travels. :-)

[alienor77310.livejournal.com]

Do you know about any such words in your language?
Can't think of one in French. There are "professional" taboo words: never say "good luck" to theatre actors ("Merde" is the accepted wish), never mention a rabbit aboard a boat (if you really must, it's "the long-eared-animal"), do not wish a good hunt to a hunter.

13 design features of language, anyone?
Thanks, but no, thanks. Been there, done that, forgot them all.

And isn't the non-trivial similarity between 'slave' and 'Slavic' interesting? Should I feel offended and propose a new word to describe all Slavic tribes?
It's not a similarity, its etymology. Apparently, the medieval Venetians brought in their serfs from the neighbouring regions, and in particular from what is now Slovenia.

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is. But non-trivial similarity sounds more fun. non trivial similarity between the signifying and the signified And I think that if the word 'Indian' is offensive, then so should be 'Slavic'. I'll no longer react to being called that.
/insanity

Ah, no one wants to know 13 design features of language! *sob* Not even my Mum...
/more insanity?

[bufo-viridis.livejournal.com]

Me want. Lingustic good.

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

*Hug*
Yay!
Yes. Linguistics is good, Ż.PhD's Linguistics is even better. Not that I would happen to have a slight crush. Not at all.

1. Vocal-Auditory channel
2. Rapid fading
3. Broadcast transmission - directional reception
4. Interchangeability
5. Discreetness
6. Openness
7. Duality of patterning
8. Displacement
9. Total feedback
10. Cultural Transmission
11. Semanticity
12. Specialisation
13. Can't remember for the life of me... Has to check... Shame on me. Arbitrariness. So obvious.

Want some explanation? :)

[bloodcult.livejournal.com]

I sort of have an answer for you. In my culture it is forbidden to say the name of a person who has died, or else you call them to you. They must always be refered to obliquely as "that one" or some thing similar.

There is also a monster, who appears as a beautiful woman with the hooves of a deer, and whom men find irresistable. Once she has them in her clutches she literally fucks them to death. It considered the worst thing for a man to invoke her name, but women, being immune, may mention her freely. Her name is "Deer Woman".

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

These things are so fascinating. "Deer woman"... almost like wiła in Slavic mythology. Succubi all around the world :D

[esotery.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. My family is Polish (so I speak Polish fluently), but I never knew that!

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

Yay! Poles are everywhere :D

[le-mru.livejournal.com]

Czy to nie jest tak ze "złego diabli nie biorą"?
Ale to ciekawe. *trzyma kciuki*

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

Ach, teraz już nie trzeba. Exam napisany, wrażenia w nowym poście.

[le-mru.livejournal.com]

A to pardon, jestem do tyłu.