Name the language
Where might you see the following sign, and what does it mean?
Clues: the sign needs to be rotated to see the writing the right way up (this is how it was sent to me). This alphabet is used to write quite a few of the languages spoken in South Asia
In case you’re wondering why I’m posting this week’s quiz question today rather than yesterday, it’s because I was unable to access this blog yesterday for unknown technical reasons.
22 Responses to “Name the language”
TJ on 17 Sep 2006 at 10:16 am #
Absolutely it’s devanagari
but even if i found out whats written .. i dont think i would be able to translate it!!
TJ on 17 Sep 2006 at 10:25 am #
sici-e?
Mike on 17 Sep 2006 at 11:38 am #
I think it’s “sochie”, but I have no idea what it could mean. I’ve always loved Devanagari!
renato on 17 Sep 2006 at 11:44 am #
Of course this is devanagari script, hindi language, but unfortunately I don’t Know the meaning
Simon on 17 Sep 2006 at 12:07 pm #
It is the Devanagari script, but the language isn’t Hindi.
renato on 17 Sep 2006 at 12:22 pm #
If is not Hindi, can be Assame, Gujarati, Nepali, Punjabi or Sanskrit. If all is wrong, which is the correct language, please!!!!.
TJ on 17 Sep 2006 at 12:26 pm #
If you ask me, the way it is said, I mean “si-ci-e” sounds like Japanese!
Anyway if it is not hindi, we have a wide range of choices since most of south asian script are derived from Brahmi! So any language there can be written with devanagari, no?!
Simon on 17 Sep 2006 at 12:47 pm #
The transliteration of the words is ’soci e’. The language is one of those mentioned by renato.
AR on 17 Sep 2006 at 4:00 pm #
cant be assamese. thats written with a variant of the bengali alphabet. devanagari has been extended to encompass all the sounds of the languages of india. but it is not suited for tibetan, thai, hmong, filipino, or other SE asian brahmi scripts.
AR on 17 Sep 2006 at 4:16 pm #
its either nepali or sanskrit. the others renato mentioned have their own scripts too. if it is a sanskrit based language, then it might be from the root soch or sochna, which according to my hindi dictionary means to brood or think. i think that it is a conjugated form, probably to be thinking or something like that.
AR on 17 Sep 2006 at 4:24 pm #
the nepali dictionary says sochnu means to think. didnt get results from the sanskrit dictionary. my gues is nepali
Rahool on 17 Sep 2006 at 6:02 pm #
It is devanagari…
It is most likely Hindi
“Sochi e” means think (of something) or search (for something)
well to the best of my knowledge, and yes it is conjugated, I think it is the “tu” form but not sure…
Chase Boday on 17 Sep 2006 at 9:00 pm #
If it were hindi, then it’s in the polite “aap” imperative form as far as conjugation goes. The verb ’sochnaa’ means ‘think’ so this, if it were hindi would mean “Please think!” or perhaps “Be careful” (this is a stretch). But, remember, it isn’t hindi, so i’m lost too! Should we get rid of Punjabi and Gujarati as possibilities, since they use a different form of devanagari? So, im guessing its nepalese. Meaning? I dunno!
TJ on 17 Sep 2006 at 11:20 pm #
if renato mentioned it …. then I stick to Sanskrit :)
AR on 18 Sep 2006 at 1:06 am #
Punjabi is written with the Gurmukhi script (brahmi derivative) by Sikhs and Hindus, and Shahmukhi (an extension of the Arabic script similar to Urdu) by muslims. Rarely is it written in devanagari, and if ever, only by punjabis in the Indian state of Haryana. Gujarati is written with the Gujarati script. it was based upon devanagari and is quite similar, but different enough to be a unique script.
Podolsky on 18 Sep 2006 at 4:59 am #
It is Hindi, no doubt; pronounced “sochie” and meaning “think” imperative plural.
Simon on 18 Sep 2006 at 9:33 am #
I was fairly sure it was Nepali, but it appears I was wrong. It looks like Podolsky has got it. I understand that this sign is part of an ad for IBM that means “Think!”.
TJ on 18 Sep 2006 at 10:18 am #
LOL
but hey i was the first to answer it was devanagari! :D
Podolsky on 18 Sep 2006 at 2:10 pm #
Nepali is also written in Devanagari and has the root “soch-” to think, but the suffix -ie ~ -iye is found in Hindi. The corresponding Nepali form is socha.
sourabh vaishnav on 19 Sep 2006 at 9:26 am #
it`s devanagari script and language is hindi. it`s a polite and mild imperetive form as “please think” in english.
Satya on 23 Sep 2006 at 8:17 pm #
“sochiye” which means “think”
Satya on 23 Sep 2006 at 8:18 pm #
and its hindi..dammit