Radio Omniglot

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

New language pages:

Ngambay, a Central Sudanic language spoken in Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria. Ineseño (Sʰamala), a Chumashan language that was spoken in southern California in the USA and that is being revived. Tungag (Lavongai), a Western Oceanic language spoken in New Ireland Province in Papua New Guinea.

New numbers page: Tungag (Lavongai), a Western Oceanic language spoken in New Ireland Province in Papua New Guinea.

New phrases page: Valencian (valencià), a Western Catalan language spoken mainly in Valencia in ea...

In this Adventure in Etymology we discover the origins of the word influence.

Influence [ˈɪn.flu.əns] can refer to the power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; an action exerted by a person or thing on another to cause change, or a person or thing exerting such power or action.

In astrology, influence is apparently an element believed to determine someone’s character or individual tendencies, caused by the position of the stars and planets at the time of one’s birth, and it used to mean the action of flowing...

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

New language pages:

Koyrasboro Senni (كࣷيْرَبࣷرࣷ سٜنِّ), a Southern Songhay language spoken in southern Mali. Tuwali, a Philippine language spoken the Province of Ifugao in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Nga La (Matu), a Southern Kuki-Chin language spoken western Myanmar and northeastern India.

New numbers page:

Tuwali, a Philippine language spoken the Province of Ifugao northern Luzon in the Philippines. Nga La, a Southern Kuki-Chin language spoken western Myanmar and northeastern India.

New phrases page: Nga La, a Southern Kuki-Chin language spoken western Myanmar and northeas...

In this Adventure in Etymology we point out the origins of the word index.

An index [ˈɪndɛks] is an alphabetical listing of items and their location; the index finger; a movable finger on a gauge, scale, etc (other meanings are available).

As a verb to index can mean to arrange an index for something; to inventory; to measure by an associated value, and other things.

It comes from Latin index (a pointer, index finger, index, list, sign, informer, spy), from in (in, at, on) and dicō (to say, talk, speak, decl...

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

New language pages:

Shi (Mashi), a Northeast Bantu language spoken in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ikwo, an Igboid language spoken in Ebonyi and Cross River states in southern Nigeria. Ngaing, a Finisterre language spoken in the south of Madang Province of Papua New Guinea.

New numbers page:

Ngaing, a Finisterre language spoken in the south of Madang Province of Papua New Guinea.

New Tower of Babel translations pages:

Shi (Mashi), a Northeast Bantu language spoken in...

In this Adventure in Etymology we discover the odd origins of the word awkward.

Meanings of awkward [ˈɔːk.wəd / ˈɔk.wɚd] include: lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments; not easily managed or effected; embarrassing; lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction; difficult to handle.

It comes from awk, an obsolete word meaning odd, out of order, perverse, wrong or clumsy, and -ward, a suffix denoting course or direction to, motion or tendency toward, and so on [source].

Awk comes from Middle English auk(e) (bac...

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

New language pages:

Yali (Yalimo), a Trans-New-Guinea language spoken in Papua province of Indonesia. Western Bukidnon Manobo (Minenub’ù), a Greater Central Philippine language spoken in the Northern Mindanao region of the Philippines. (the 2,400th language on Omniglot, by the way) Komba, a Finisterre-Huon language spoken in Morobe Province in eastern Papua New Guinea. Koreguaje (Koʼrevajʉ), a Tucanoan language spoken in the Caquetá Department in southern Colombia.

New numbers pages:

Izhem, a variety of Komi-Zyrian, a Permic language spoken in northwestern Russia. Koreguaj...

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

New language pages:

Thao (Thau a lalawa), a Formosan language spoken near Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan. Cara, a Plateau language spoken in Plateau State in central Nigeria. Eleme, a Cross River language spoken in Rivers State in southeast Nigeria. Waimoa (Waima’a), a Timoric language spoken in the north of East Timor.

New numbers pages:

Eleme, a Cross River language spoken in Rivers State in southeast Nigeria. Waimoa (Waima’a), a Timoric language spoken in the north of East Timor. Fur (P...

In this Adventure in Etymology we scratch at the roots of the word scribe.

Thoth, Egyptian god of the Moon, wisdom, knowledge, writing, science, magic, art and judgement, scribe of the gods, inventor of (Egyptian hieroglyphic) writing, reading and music

A scribe [skɹaɪ̯b] is someone who writes, a draughtsperson, a writer for another, a secretary, notary or copyist, and to scribe means to write, engrave, inscribe, record, and so on.

It comes from Middle English scribe (a public official who deals with writing or accounts, a clerk), from Old French scr...

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

New language pages:

Anaang (Anaañ), a Cross River language spoken in Akwa Ibom State in the southeast of Nigeria. Kilivila (Kiriwana), a Western Oceanic language spoken in the Trobriand Islands in Papua New Guinea. Sudest (Vanatɨna), a Western Oceanic language spoken on Sudest Island in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. Bwanabwana, a Western Oceanic language spoken in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea.

New numbers pages:

Kilivila (Kiriwina), a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Ambae Island in Vanuatu. Sude...

In this Adventure in Etymology we discover the odd roots of the word umpire.

An umpire [ˈʌm.paɪə(ɹ) / ˈʌm.paɪɹ] is an official who presides over a sports match, or a person who arbitrates between contending parties. To umpire means to act as an umpire in a game, or to decide as an umpire.

It comes from Middle English noumper (arbitrator, umpire), which was rebracketed as an oumper, and come from Old French nonper (odd number, not even [as a tie-breaking arbitrator]), from non (not) and per (equal) [source].

The Old French pe...

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

New language pages:

Kara, a Western Oceanic language spoken in New Ireland Province in Papua New Guinea. Kenyah, a North Bornean language spoken in Indonesia and Malaysia on the island of Bornea. East Ambae, a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Ambae Island in Vanuatu.

New numbers pages:

East Ambae, a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Ambae Island in Vanuatu. Komi-Permyak (зыран коми кыв), a Permic language spoken in Perm Krai and the Kirov Oblast in the west of the Russian Federation. Komi-Zyrian (зыран коми кыв), a Permic language spoken mainly in the Komi...

In this Adventure in Etymology we find out what links the words symbol, ballet and problem.

A symbol [ˈsɪmbəl] is a character or glyph representing an idea, concept or object; a thing considered the embodiment or cardinal exemplar of a concept, theme, etc – other meanings are available.

It comes from French symbole (symbol), from Latin symbolus (sign, mark, token, symbol), from Ancient Greek σύμβολον (súmbolon -a sign, mark, token, badge), from συμβάλλω (sumbállō – to throw together, compare), from σύν (sún – with, together) and βάλλω (bállō – to throw, put) [source].

The origins of σύν (sún) are uncertain [s...

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

New language pages:

Tupuri (Tpuri), a Northern Mbum language spoken in Chad and Cameroon. Akum, a Plateau Benue-Congo language spoken in Cameroon and Nigeria. Alumu (Alumu Təsu), a Plateau Benue-Congo language spoken in Nigeria. Karao, a Northern Luzon language spoken in the north of Luzon in the Philippines.

New numbers pages:

Tupuri (Tpuri), a Bak language spoke in Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and the Gambia. Karao, a Northern Luzon language spoken in northern Luzon in the Philippines.

There are also recordings of all...