Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

• Minica Huitoto (Mɨnɨka), a Bora-Witoto language spoken mainly in southern Colombia, and also in northern Peru (the 2,300^th language page!)
• Mfumte, an Eastern Grassfields language spoken mainly in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.
• Abon (Abɔn), a Southern Bantoid language spoken in Taraba State in Nigeria.
• Vaiphei, a Northern Zo-Mizo language spoken mainly in Manipur in the northeast of India.
• Mara (Mara Reih), a Sino-Tibetan language spoken in the northwest of Guizhou Province in southern China
• Caijia (Menni), a Sino-Tibetan language spoken in the northwest of Guizhou Province in southern China.

New numbers pages:

• Minica Huitoto (Mɨnɨka), a Bora-Witoto language spoken mainly in southern Colombia
• Avestan (𐬛𐬍𐬥 𐬛𐬀𐬠𐬌𐬫𐬭𐬵), an extinct Eastern Iranian language and the sacred language of Zoroastrianism.
• Sidama (Sidaamu Afoo), a Cushitic language spoken in the Sidama Region in southern Ethiopia.

On the Omniglot blog this week there’s a new post entitled Quick Brown Foxes about pangrams, sentences that contain all the letters of a particular language, and there’s a new language quiz. See if you guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Usually I find recordings for language quizzes on YouTube, but since coming to China at the end of November last year, I haven’t been able to access YouTube due to the Great Firewall of China, and haven’t found any good alternative sources of recordings. So, I haven’t been posting any quizzes. However, during the past week or so, YouTube has been accessible some of the time, and I managed to find a suitable recording for this week’s quiz.

There’s a new Adventure in Etymology entitled Code Trees, in which we find out what the word code has to do with books and trees.

There’s a new post on the Celtiadur blog this week entitled Pressing Squeezes about words for press, squeeze and related things in Celtic languages.

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

• Neo-Brittonic (Brettica), a reconstructed version of Common Brittonic, a Celtic language once spoken in southern England.
• Ngomba (cú mbɔ́ndaa), a Bamileke language spoken mainly in the Bamboutos Department in the West Region of Cameroon.
• Ngombale (Ngeombale), a Bamileke language spoken in the Bamboutos Department in the West Region of Cameroon.
• Hachijō (島言葉 / shima-kotoba), a Japonic language spoken mainly in the Izu Islands, part of Tokyo Prefecture in Japan.
• Tày (Tiểng Tày), a Central Tai language spoken mainly in northeastern Vietnam, and also in northern Laos.

New constructed script: Hedhgadē, a script for Proto-Indo-Euopean created by Hebrejinia.

New phrases page: Föhr North Frisian, a West Germanic language spoken in North Frisia in northern Germany.

New numbers page: Jamaican (Jimiekn / Patwah), an English-based creole spoken mainly in Jamaica.

On the Omniglot blog this week there’s a new post entitled Oceanic Lutes about some words for Chinese and Western instruments, and related things.

There’s a new post entitled Shady Shadows on the Celtiadur blog about words for shadow, shade and related things in Celtic languages.

The gateway to the road up Jiangjun Mountain

In other news, this week I explored part of Jiangjun Mountain (将军山 – jiāngjūnshān) and got some great views of Zhaoqing from up high. There is a temple on the mountain that is lit up at night, and since coming here, we’ve been planning to visit it. We found a way up yesterday. The electric scooters had a hard time climbing up the steeper parts of the road, but we got there eventually, and it was well worth the effort. The temple itself is impressive, and the views from it are spectacular. Unfortunately, it was rather wet, cold and windy up there, so we didn’t stay long.

The temple on Jiangjun Mountain

A view of Zhaoqing from Jiangjun Mountain

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

• Ndemli, a Grassfields language spoken in the Littoral Region in the southwest of Cameroon.
• Johor Malay, a Malayic language spoken in the state of Johor in the south of the Malay Peninsula.

New constructed script: Avo, an alternative way to write English invented by Toonmaker.

New constructed script: Faciagram, an alternative script for English invented by Toonmaker and based on facial expressions.

This week is travelled to China to visit friends. I’m staying in Zhaoqing (肇庆) in Guangdong Province in the south of the country, and plan to stay here until January next year. You can find out more about my experiences in China Adventures on the Omniglot blog. This is why there isn’t as much new material as usual due to the Great Firewall of China.

There’s no language quiz this week as it seems difficult to find suitable recordings here due to internet restrictions. The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Tuparí, a Tupian language spoken mainly in the state of Rondônia in the North Region of Brazil.

Improved page: Shanghainese phrases page

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

• Kwaʼ (Bakwa’), a Bamileke language spoken in the southwest of Cameroon.
• Ndau (ChiNdau), a Bantu language spoken mainly in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
• Ndonga (OshiNdonga), a Bantu language spoken mainly in the north of Namibia, and also in southern Angola.
• Arammba (Aramba), a Tonda language spoken in the Morehead area in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea.

New numbers pages:

• Ndonga (OshiNdonga), a Bantu language spoken in northern Namibia and southern Angola.
• Arammba (Aramba), a Tonda language spoken in the Morehead area in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea.

New Tower of Babel translation: Ndau (ChiNdau)

New constructed script: Enjay, an alternative way to write English invented by Toonmaker.

New adapted script: Thaana-Wayuu (ތާނަ ޥަޔޫ), was devised by Pablo Villa Uhia as a way to write Wayuu, an Arawakan language spoken in Venezuela and Colombia, with the Thaana script, as used for the Maldivian language.

On the Omniglot blog this week there’s a new post entitled A Complete Canard!, which looks at the various meanings of the word canard in French and English, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in the northwest of Brazil.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Goral (Górolski), a West Slavic language (or dialect) spoken in southern Poland, northern Slovakia and northeastern Czechia.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology, Burning Focus, we focus on what links the words focus, fuel, focaccia and curfew.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled Nettles about words for nettle and related things in Celtic languages.

In other news, I’m going to China in a few days after recording this news. I’ll be staying with friends in Zhaoqing / Shiuhing (肇庆), a city in Guangdong Province in the south of China for nearly two months. In preparation for this trip, I’ve been brushing up my Mandarin and Cantonese, and I’m sure I’ll have plenty of opportunities to use both languages while I’m there. I may visit other parts of China, and maybe nearby countries. I haven’t been to Zhaoqing before, but did spend a few months travelling in southern China back in 1991. It’s probably changed a little since then. I’ll try to keep Omniglot ticking over while I’m away, but may not have as much time as usual for that.

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

• Kgalagadi (SheKgalagadi), a Southern Bantu language spoken mainly in the Kgalagadi and Gantsi districts in southern Botswana.
• Saluan (Bahasa Saluan), a Celebic language spoken in the east of Sulawesi in Indonesia.
• Humburi Senni (humburi ciini / هُمْبُرِ ٺِينِ‎), a Southern Songhay language spoken mainly in southern Mali, and also in Burkina Faso.

New constructed script: Azkarthelian (Azkarthe’elith), an abjad created by Murray Callahan for his conlang of the same name.

New numbers pages:

• Saluan (Bahasa Saluan), a Celebic language spoken in the east of Sulawesi in Indonesia.
• Wintu (winthu:h), a Wintuan language that was spoken in northern California in the USA, and which is being revived.
• Emilian-Romagnol (emiliân-rumagnol), a Romance language spoken mainly in northern Italy, and also in San Marino.
• Föhr (Fering), a variety of North Frisian spoken on the island of Föhr in the German region of North Frisia.

New family words page: Föhr (Fering), a variety of North Frisian spoken on the island of Föhr in the German region of North Frisia.

On the Omniglot blog this week we look into idioms that mean Better Safe Than Sorry and similar things in various languages, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in Poland, Slovakia and Czechia.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Bouyei (Haausqyaix), a northern Tai-Kaidai language spoken mainly in southern China, and also in northern Vietnam.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology, we investigate the origins of the word Cardinal, and find out what it has to do with hinges and a Roman goddess.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled What? about words for what? which? who? where? and related things in Celtic languages.

I also made improvements to the North Frisian language page.

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

• Jarawa, a Southern Bantoid language spoken in Bauchi State in northeastern Nigeria.
• Cypriot Greek (κυπριακά), a variety of Greek spoken in Cyprus and by the Greek Cypriot diaspora.
• Dendi, a Southern Songhay language spoken mainly in northern Benin, and also in Niger and Nigeria.

New numbers pages:

• Nez Perce (Nimipuutímt), a Plateau Penutian language spoken in Idaho, Washington and Oregon in the USA.
• Yakama (Ichishkíin), a Plateau Penutian language spoken on the Yakima Reservation in southern Washington State in the USA.
• Eastern Pomo (Ba·csal), a Pomoan language spoken around Clear Lake in Lake County, California in the USA

New constructed script: iAlphabet, an alternative way to write English, Farsi, Arabic, Russian, Croatian and Greek created by Azam Banoo Torabi.

This week on the Omniglot blog we look into idioms meaning something that happens rarely in various languages in a post called Once in a Blue Moon, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken mainly in southern China.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Tuamotuan (Reʻo Paʻumotu), a Polynesian language spoken mainly in Tuamotu in French Polynesia.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology, A Little Loitering, we find out what links the words loiter, little, lout and Luxembourg.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled Tenacious Toughness about words for tough, tenacious, stiff and related things in Celtic languages.

I also made improvements to the Lips, Mouths & Throats Celtiadur post.

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

• Ha (Igiha), a Bantu language spoken in the Kigoma Region in the northwest of Tanzania.
• Fut (Bɨfɨɨ̀), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.
• Maasina Fulfulde (مَاسِنَ ڢُلْڢُلْدٜ‎), a West Central Fula language spoken in Mali, Ivory Coast and Ghana.
• Tadaksahak (Tadáksahak‎), a Northern Songhay language spoken in southern Mali and western Niger.

New numbers pages:

• Fut (Bɨfɨɨ̀), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.
• Bambalang (Chrambo), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in Cameroon.
• Tadaksahak (Tadáksahak‎), a Northern Songhay language spoken in southern Mali and western Niger.

New constructed script: Sleep Token Alphabet, a cypher for English that appears on album artwork and merch for the band Sleep Token.

This week on the Omniglot blog we find out whether the words (ham)burger, burgher and burglar are related in a post called Burgling Burg(h)ers, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in French Polynesia.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Makaa (mǝ́kaá), a Bantu language spoken in the East Region of Cameroon.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology we investigate the origins of the word Nemesis.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled Sighing Groans about words for sigh, groan and related things in Celtic languages.

In other news, I started using the Ling App [affiliate link] to learn some more Cantonese this week. I’ve studied Cantonese before, and have forgotten a lot, but it’s now coming back to me. Ling is similar to Duolingo in the style of lessons, and offers courses in 60+ languages. You can get a free trial on the 1-year subscription, after which you have to pay. I may review it when I’ve spent more time on it, but so far I’m finding it useful and well-put together.

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

• Bangolan (Bǎŋgulaŋ), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the Northwest Province of Cameroon.
• Chopi (Cicopi), a Southern Bantu language spoken mainly in Inhambane Province in southern Mozambique.
• Palembang (Baso Pelémbang / باسو ڤليمباڠ‎), a Malayic language spoken in Palembang in South Sumatra Province in Indonesia.

New constructed script: Neo Alfabet, a phonetic script created by François Toulot to write almost any language.

New numbers pages:

• Bangolan (Bǎŋgulaŋ), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the Northwest Province of Cameroon.
• Arta, a Northern Luzon language spoken in northern Luzon in the Philippines.

New family words pages:

• Gothic (𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌹𐍃𐌺𐌰), an East Germanic language spoken in parts of Crimea until the 17th century.
• Alsatian (Ëlsässisch), a West Germanic language spoken mainly in Alsace in northeastern France.

This week on the Omniglot blog we find out when a forest is not a forest in a post called Sylvan Forests, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in southern Cameroon.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Yerakula (ஏறுகள), a Dravidian language spoken in Andhra Pradesh, in the southeast of India.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology we search the ether for the elemental origins of the word Quintessence.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled Pithy Marrow about words for (bone) marrow, pith and related things in Celtic languages.

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.