Synopsis - Professor Lapin wants to set up a lexicon of an unknown language used by a newly found tribe. His first word is 'gavagai' which he heard said whenever a rabbit was seen. So is 'gavagai' rabbit? Just rabbit or rabbit seen hopping or rabbit in the evening or slow rabbit that's easy to catch? The possibilities all work. So what's 'gavagai'? How should Professor Lapin begin?
This is not quite a discussion but an agreement with the author that language has to be taken in context of culture and local practices. The example of 'esposas' in Spanish is an awesome one. Haha, how some men would agree they are handcuffs. I read somewhere that Eskimos have over 40 words/expressions for snow, to describe its feel, conditions of arrival and other circumstances. How words and phrases come about in a language is often based on circumstance and perhaps need. There's one word for uncooked and cooked rice in English whereas many Asian languages have separate words to described either state of rice.
It's a hard thing to do, putting a language together. It takes a lot of patience and revisiting concepts to refine the quality of the translation.
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Gurmit Singh's take on Julian Baggini's 100 thought experiments (yes, each and every one!) from the book of the same name.
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1 comment:
A desire to express a feeling (state of Mind) gives birth to a word. 'Gavagai' can mean 'food' or random as 'there..!' or with deeper meaning as 'Big Fat Black Rabit' depending on the vocabulary depth of a language. This richness of word makes a language more specific and expressive. There can be difference in feeling/mood for same thing in two languages. That is the reason why 100% translation is not possible always.
By the way, professor can cross check it by pointing a dog and say "Gavagai" and note the expressions of a tribe people.
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