Radio Omniglot

Radio Omniglot

Podcasts about languages and words

Episodes

August 24, 2025 3 mins
Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Kwangali (Rukwangali), a Bantu language spoken in northern Namibia and southern Angola. Lega (Kilega), a Bantu language spoken in the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lomwe (Elomwe / Emakhuwa), a Bantu language spoken in northern Mozambique and southern Malawi. New […]
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In this Adventure in Etymology we uncover the sticky roots of the word climb. Meanings of climb [klaɪm] include: To ascend, rise or go up To mount, move upwards To scale, get to the top of To move by gripping with the hands and using the feet It comes from Middle English climben [ˈkli(ː)mbən / […]
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August 17, 2025 2 mins
Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New constructed script: Surat Binua, which was created by Reza Sumanda as a way to write Kendayan, a Land Dayak language spoken in Indonesia and Malaysia. New constructed script: Tenzu, which was created by Reza Sumanda as a way to write Indonesian, and inspired by the […]
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August 16, 2025 1 min
In this episode we uncover the possible Celtic roots of words for heron in Romance languages. The Proto-Celtic word *korxsā / *korxsiyos means heron or crane [source], and possibly comes from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreik- (to screech, creak), which is imitative in origin [source]. Descendants in the modern Celtic languages include: corr [kəuɾˠ] = (grey) heron, stork, […]
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August 10, 2025 3 mins
Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New constructed script: Urup Bidayuh’, which was created by Reza Sumanda as a way to write Biatah (Bidayuh), a Land Dayak language spoken in West Kalimantan in Indonesia, and Sarawak in Malaysia. New language pages: Luang (Letri Lgona), a Timoric language spoken in the Leti and […]
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August 9, 2025 2 mins
In this Adventure in Etymology we investigate the word feather. A feather [ˈfɛð.ə(ɹ) / ˈfɛð.ɚ] is: A branching, hair-like structure that grows on the bodies of birds, used for flight, swimming, protection and display. Long hair on the lower legs of a dog or horse, especially a draft horse. [other meanings are available] It comes […]
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August 3, 2025 2 mins
Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New constructed script: Urup Bakatiʼ, which was created by Reza Sumanda as a way to write Bakatiʼ, a Land Dayak language spoken in West Kalimantan in Indonesia. New language pages: Bakatiʼ, a Land Dayak language spoken in West Kalimantan in Indonesia. Koro (Kōrō), a North-Central Vanuatu […]
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August 2, 2025 2 mins
In this episode we unravel the Celtic roots the English word deiseal. Deiseal [ˈdjɛʃəl] refers to a motion towards the right, in the direction of the hands of a clock or of the apparent motion of the sun (in the Northern Hemisphere); a turning in this direction. It is also written deisal, deasil, deisul or […]
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July 27, 2025 2 mins
Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New constructed script: Saramukhi, an alternative script for Indonesian and English created by Reza Sumanda and inspired by the Devanagari and Marchen scripts. New adapted script: Groeg (κροηκ​​), a way to write Welsh with the Greek alphabet devised by Xavier Merica. New language pages: Fwe (Chifwe), […]
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In this Adventure in Etymology we investigate the word discombobulate. To discombobulate [ˌdɪs.kəmˈbɒb.jəˌleɪt] is: To throw into a state of confusion To befuddle or perplex. To upset or embarrass It was coined in the USA and first appeared in writing in around 1867 [source]. It is a fanciful mock-Latin term of a kind that was […]
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