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Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Metaʼ (Mɨta’), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the North West Region of Cameroon. Romani Tatar (Romaní Tatarja), a Kipchak Turkic language spoken in northeast Bulgaria and southeast Romania. Kedang (tutuq nanang wela), a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken on Lembata Island in East Nusa […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Razihi (Lahjah Rāziḥīt), a South Semitic language spoken in Razihi in the Sa’adah District in northwestern Yemen. Mbuʼ, a Southern Bantoid language spoken in the North West Region of Cameroon. Seimat, an Oceanic language spoken in the Ninigo Islands in Manus Province in […]

This Adventure in Etymology uncovers the maternal and woody roots of the words material and matter. Meanings of material include: A basic matter from which the whole or the greater part of something physical is made. Fabric, which can be made into a garments, etc, especially, woven fabric. The elements, constituents or substance of which […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Mwesen (M̄ēsēn), a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Vanua Lava Island in northern Vanuatu. Wuvulu-Aua, an Oceanic language spoken on Wuluvu and Aua islands in Manus Province of Papua New Guinea. New constructed script: Vsrc, an alternative way to write English inspired by […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Liangmai (Lianglad), a Zemeic language spoken in Manipur and Nagaland in northeast India. Besermyan (бесерман көл), a Permic language spoken in northern Udmurtia in the Russian Federation. Mbe (M̀bè), a Southern Bantoid language spoken in southeastern Nigeria. Yipma (Yɨ’ayagaala), a Trans-New Guinea language […]

In this Adventure in Etymology, we’re looking into bloggery and other blog-related words. As this week marks the 20th anniversary, or blogiversary of the Omniglot Blog, which I started on 26th March 2006, I thought I’d explore some blog-related words. Bloggery is the act or practice of writing a blog, or blogging The word blog […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New adapted script: Asirilik (Асирилик), a way to write Tamazight with the Cyrillic alphabet devised by Xavier Merica New adapted script: Chukchi Latin Alphabet (Lyghorawetlhen Latinlhen Alfavit) – a way to write Chukchi with the Latin alphabet created by Dijacz. New language pages: Koshin (Kɔshin), a […]

In this Adventure in Etymology, we’re holding it together as we uncover the origins of the words content and content. As an adjective, content [kənˈtɛnt] means satisfied, pleased or contented, and as a noun, it can mean satisfaction, contentment or pleasure, or that which contents or satisfies. As a verb, to content means to give […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Quốc âm tân tự (國音新字), a syllabic script for Vietnamese based on strokes from chữ Hán and chữ Nôm characters devised during the 19th century. New language pages: Reyesano, a Tacanan language spoken in José Balivián Province in Beni Department in northern Bolivia. […]

What links the word flood with words for flow, river and high tide? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology. Meanings of flood [flʌd] include: An overflow of a large amount of water (usually disastrous) from a lake or other body of water due to excessive rainfall or other input of water. A large […]