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Radio Omniglot

Simon Ager

Podcasts about languages and words

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2:29

Adventures in Etymology – Cash

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/03/08

In this Adventure in Etymology, we are grasping the cash box as we look into the origins of the word cash. Cash [kæʃ] is: Money in the form of notes or bills and coins Liquid assets, money that can be traded quickly, as distinct from assets that are invested and cannot be easily exchanged. Money. […]

en-GB

2:53

Omniglot News (02/03/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/03/02

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Mbuun (kiMbuun), a western Bantu language spoken in Kwilu Province in the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Aka, a Bantu language spoken the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Komo (Kikomo), a Bantu language spoken in […]

en-GB

2:07

Celtic Pathways – Quays

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/03/01

In this episode we discover the Celtic roots of words for quay, jetty, pier, etc. in English, French and other languages. Bangor Pier. Photo by Simon Ager The Proto-Celtic word *kagyom means pen or enclosure, and comes from the Proto-Indo-European *kagʰyóm (enclosure, hedge), from *kagʰ- (to keep, hold, close, enclose, fence, hedge, barrier, field, pasture) […]

en-GB

2:32

Omniglot News (23/02/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/23

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Maʼanyan, an East Barito language spoken in the provinces of Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan in Indonesia. Nuaulu, an East Central Maluku language spoken on Seram Island in eastern Indonesia. Uma, a Celebic language spoken mainly in Central Sulawesi Province in central Indonesia. […]

en-GB

2:18

Adventures in Etymology – Accents

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/22

In this Adventure in Etymology, we find what the word accent has to do with singing. An accent [ˈak.sənt / ˈæk.sɛnt] is: The way in which people in a particular area, country, or social group pronounce words. A mark written or printed over a letter to show how to pronounce it. A special emphasis given […]

en-GB

2:49

Omniglot News (16/02/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/16

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Kodava Lipi, or Muthanna Script, was created in 1970 by Dr. I M Muthanna to write Kodava, a Dravidian language spoken in Karnataka in the southwest of India. It was chosen as the official script for Kodava in 2022. New language pages: Mbama […]

en-GB

2:14

Celtic Pathways – Gulls

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/15

In this episode we discover the possible Celtic roots of English and French words for seagull. The Proto-Celtic word *wailannā means seagull, and possibly comes from the Proto-Indo-European *wáy (oh! ah! woe! alas!), and maybe related to *waylos (howler, wolf) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: faoileán = gull, seagull in Irish […]

en-GB

2:18

Omniglot News (09/02/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/09

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Bafaw-Balong (lèfɔ́’, bàlòŋ), a Bantu language (or two closely-related languages) spoken in the Southwest and Littoral regions of Cameroon. Dciriku (Gciriku), a Central Sudanic language spoken mainly in southwestern Chad, and also in Nigeria. Kako (Mkako), a Bantu language spoken in Cameroon, the […]

en-GB

2:26

Adventures in Etymology – Bottles, Boots and Butts

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/08

In this Adventure in Etymology, we find connections between words for bottle, boot and butt in various languages. Meanings of bottle [ˈbɔtɫ̩ / ˈbɑ.təl] include: A container, typically made of glass or plastic and having a tapered neck, used primarily for holding liquids. The contents of such a container. It comes from Middle English botel […]

en-GB

2:18

Omniglot News 02/02/25

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/02

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Kabwa (Ekikabwa), a Northeast Bantu language spoken in the Mara Region in northern Tanzania. Bagirmi (tàrà ɓármà), a Central Sudanic language spoken mainly in southwestern Chad, and also in Nigeria. Naba (Tar Melbene), a Central Sudanic language spoken mainly in Batha-Est Prefecture in […]

en-GB

2:42

Omniglot News (26/01/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/01/26

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Waiwai, a Cariban language spoken mainly in northern Brazil, and also in Guyana and Suirname. Enawene Nawe (Enawenê-Nawê), a Southern Arawakan language spoken in State of Mato Grosso in western Brazil. Jah Hut, an Aslian language spoken mainly in Pahang state in the […]

en-GB

2:29

Celtic Pathways – Calamitous Swords

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/01/25

In this episode we discover the possible Celtic roots of some words for sword, hammer and related things in Romance and Slavic languages. The Proto-Celtic word *kladiwos means sword, and comes from Proto-Celtic *kladeti (to stab, dig), from Proto-Indo-European *kl̥h₂dʰ-é-ti, from *kelh₂- (to beat, strike) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: claíomh […]

en-GB

2:17

Omniglot News (19/01/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/01/19

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Lawangan, an East Barito language spoken in Central Kalimantan Province in Indonesia. Belait, a North Bornean language spoken mainly in Brunei, and also in northern Sarawak in Malaysia. I started putting together a new phrases page containing translations of the phrase ‘So long, […]

en-GB

2:00

Adventures in Etymology – Cluttered Klutzes

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/01/18

In this Adventure in Etymology, we find connections between clutter, clods and klutzes. My cluttered kitchen part way through its current renovation Clutter [ˈklʌtə(ɹ) / ˈklʌtɚ] is: A confused disordered jumble of things Background echoes, from clouds etc., on a radar or sonar screen. Clatter; confused noise. (obsolete) It comes from Middle English cloteren (to […]

en-GB

Omniglot News (12/01/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/01/12

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. Please note, I am having trouble with making a recording of this news, so only the written version is available for now. New language pages: Sambas Malay (Base Melayu Sambas), a Malayic language spoken mainly in the Sambas Regency in West Kalimantan Province of Indonesia. Brunei […]

en-GB

1:45

Celtic Pathways – Follow That Hound!

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/01/11

In this episode we discover the possible Celtic roots of some words for hound and sleuth in Romance languages. The Proto-Celtic word sekʷetor means to follow, and comes from Proto-Indo-European *sékʷetor (to be following), from *sekʷ- (to follow) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: seicheamh (following, taking after, imitating, sequence, progression) and […]

en-GB

2:34

Omniglot News (05/01/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/01/05

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Ghulfan (Wuncu), an Eastern Sudanic language spoken mainly in the Nuba Mountains in the south of Sudan. Kadaru (Kodhin), a Northern Luo language spoken in the state of South Kordofan in the south of Sudan. Ponosakan, a Greater Central Philippine language spoken in […]

en-GB

2:12

Adventures in Etymology – Windy Wings

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/01/04

In this Adventure in Etymology, we find connections between the words wing, wind and feather. A wing [wɪŋ] is: An appendage of an animal’s (bird, bat, insect) body that enables it to fly. A fin at the side of a ray or similar fish. Part of an aircraft that produces the lift for rising into […]

en-GB

2:13

Omniglot News (29/12/24)

Radio Omniglot ·

2024/12/29

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Yele, possibly a language isolate spoken on Rossel Island in the Louisiade Archipelago in east of Papua New Guinea. Hamtai, a Southeast Angan language spoken in Morobe and Gulf provinces in Papua New Guinea. New constructed script: Pakis (Fern) Alphabet, which was created […]

en-GB

3:40

Omniglot News (22/12/24)

Radio Omniglot ·

2024/12/22

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Yaaku, a Lowland East Cushitic language spoken in western Kenya. Afitti (Dinik), an Eastern Sudanic language spoken in North Kordofan province in central Sudan. Daju Mongo (Dɑjiŋɡe), an Eastern Sudanic language spoken in the Gúera region in central Chad. Dilling (Warki), an Eastern […]

en-GB

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