Backup of my old LiveJournal blog
בקטגוריות: Uncategorized
5 Oct 2008Three linguistics notes tonight:
1) I’ve come across a cover version of Dylan’s All Along The Watchtower by one Dionysis Savopoulos, translated to Greek. The title is O Paliatsos Ki O Lisis, which translates as The Joker and the Thief – a fitting title taken from the song itself, but it’s the Greek etymology that interests me. Paliatsos is Joker, and seems to derive from the Italian Pagliaccio, which is a common role in the Commedia Dell’arte. Listi appears at first to be cognate with Hebrew ליסטים (listim), meaning thief, which is a very unusual word in the sense that it sounds like the masculine plural, but is both singular and plural.
2) Google Translate now supports Hebrew, but with the quality I’ve seen, maybe it’s best they skip it. It’s fine for single words or to get the general drift of a section, but useless for anything more. I’ve given it my usual monkey treatment, with predictable results:
Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey –> כולם יש לך מה להסתיר מלבד לי ולאחי קוף”’
3) The English expression “It’s all Greek to me”, signifying something totally incomprehensible, has a French equivalent – “C’est de l’Hebreu’”. It’s all Hebrew to me. This was actually said to my Grandmother in Paris, many years ago, to which she replied: “Yes, yes it is”.
פעם היה לי לייבג'ורנל. עכשיו הוא כאן, מגובה.
42 תגובות על Greek, Hebrew and all that lies between
spelljammer
5 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 21:54
I think it’s “All Along the Watchtower”. Can’t comment on the Greek name, of course 🙂
yggdrasil
6 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 07:37
It is, of course, and I know it. Just a brain fart. Thanks for the catch.
yggdrasil
6 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 07:37
It is, of course, and I know it. Just a brain fart. Thanks for the catch.
yggdrasil
6 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 07:37
It is, of course, and I know it. Just a brain fart. Thanks for the catch.
yggdrasil
6 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 07:37
It is, of course, and I know it. Just a brain fart. Thanks for the catch.
yggdrasil
6 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 07:37
It is, of course, and I know it. Just a brain fart. Thanks for the catch.
spelljammer
5 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 21:54
I think it’s “All Along the Watchtower”. Can’t comment on the Greek name, of course 🙂
spelljammer
5 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 21:54
I think it’s “All Along the Watchtower”. Can’t comment on the Greek name, of course 🙂
spelljammer
5 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 21:54
I think it’s “All Along the Watchtower”. Can’t comment on the Greek name, of course 🙂
Anonymous
7 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 08:44
Or chinese
French also has “C’est du chinois pour moi” (apparently, and this is according to a large study involving two people, this form is the only one used by the French Canadians, while in France they would know both).
Now “it’s all Chinese to me” is of course also the Hebrew form of the expression. Modern Hebrew did borrow some idioms from French, but not that many. It borrow much more from German, Russian, Yiddish and a host of Eastern European languages. So I wonder what version, if any, these languages have.
Anonymous
7 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 08:44
Or chinese
French also has “C’est du chinois pour moi” (apparently, and this is according to a large study involving two people, this form is the only one used by the French Canadians, while in France they would know both).
Now “it’s all Chinese to me” is of course also the Hebrew form of the expression. Modern Hebrew did borrow some idioms from French, but not that many. It borrow much more from German, Russian, Yiddish and a host of Eastern European languages. So I wonder what version, if any, these languages have.
Anonymous
7 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 08:44
Or chinese
French also has “C’est du chinois pour moi” (apparently, and this is according to a large study involving two people, this form is the only one used by the French Canadians, while in France they would know both).
Now “it’s all Chinese to me” is of course also the Hebrew form of the expression. Modern Hebrew did borrow some idioms from French, but not that many. It borrow much more from German, Russian, Yiddish and a host of Eastern European languages. So I wonder what version, if any, these languages have.
Anonymous
7 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 08:44
Or chinese
French also has “C’est du chinois pour moi” (apparently, and this is according to a large study involving two people, this form is the only one used by the French Canadians, while in France they would know both).
Now “it’s all Chinese to me” is of course also the Hebrew form of the expression. Modern Hebrew did borrow some idioms from French, but not that many. It borrow much more from German, Russian, Yiddish and a host of Eastern European languages. So I wonder what version, if any, these languages have.
Anonymous
7 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 08:44
Or chinese
French also has “C’est du chinois pour moi” (apparently, and this is according to a large study involving two people, this form is the only one used by the French Canadians, while in France they would know both).
Now “it’s all Chinese to me” is of course also the Hebrew form of the expression. Modern Hebrew did borrow some idioms from French, but not that many. It borrow much more from German, Russian, Yiddish and a host of Eastern European languages. So I wonder what version, if any, these languages have.
Anonymous
7 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 08:44
Or chinese
French also has “C’est du chinois pour moi” (apparently, and this is according to a large study involving two people, this form is the only one used by the French Canadians, while in France they would know both).
Now “it’s all Chinese to me” is of course also the Hebrew form of the expression. Modern Hebrew did borrow some idioms from French, but not that many. It borrow much more from German, Russian, Yiddish and a host of Eastern European languages. So I wonder what version, if any, these languages have.
luckluster
14 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 19:07
Your monkey treatment is actually very tough. I can’t find a way to translate that sentence to Hebrew. I’d say: לכולם יש מה להסתיר, חוץ מלי ולקוף שלי. It sounds OK, but looks bad on text (mostly because of “מלי”).
Anyway, since the translation tool works using comparing a lot of bilingual texts, they do get great results compared to other tools (although they are still far away from perfect). They managed to translate: “And remember kids, don’t try this at home!”. I guess that one of the problem is the lack of vowels in the holy language.
luckluster
14 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 19:07
Your monkey treatment is actually very tough. I can’t find a way to translate that sentence to Hebrew. I’d say: לכולם יש מה להסתיר, חוץ מלי ולקוף שלי. It sounds OK, but looks bad on text (mostly because of “מלי”).
Anyway, since the translation tool works using comparing a lot of bilingual texts, they do get great results compared to other tools (although they are still far away from perfect). They managed to translate: “And remember kids, don’t try this at home!”. I guess that one of the problem is the lack of vowels in the holy language.
luckluster
14 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 19:07
Your monkey treatment is actually very tough. I can’t find a way to translate that sentence to Hebrew. I’d say: לכולם יש מה להסתיר, חוץ מלי ולקוף שלי. It sounds OK, but looks bad on text (mostly because of “מלי”).
Anyway, since the translation tool works using comparing a lot of bilingual texts, they do get great results compared to other tools (although they are still far away from perfect). They managed to translate: “And remember kids, don’t try this at home!”. I guess that one of the problem is the lack of vowels in the holy language.
luckluster
14 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 19:07
Your monkey treatment is actually very tough. I can’t find a way to translate that sentence to Hebrew. I’d say: לכולם יש מה להסתיר, חוץ מלי ולקוף שלי. It sounds OK, but looks bad on text (mostly because of “מלי”).
Anyway, since the translation tool works using comparing a lot of bilingual texts, they do get great results compared to other tools (although they are still far away from perfect). They managed to translate: “And remember kids, don’t try this at home!”. I guess that one of the problem is the lack of vowels in the holy language.
luckluster
14 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 19:07
Your monkey treatment is actually very tough. I can’t find a way to translate that sentence to Hebrew. I’d say: לכולם יש מה להסתיר, חוץ מלי ולקוף שלי. It sounds OK, but looks bad on text (mostly because of “מלי”).
Anyway, since the translation tool works using comparing a lot of bilingual texts, they do get great results compared to other tools (although they are still far away from perfect). They managed to translate: “And remember kids, don’t try this at home!”. I guess that one of the problem is the lack of vowels in the holy language.
luckluster
14 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 19:07
Your monkey treatment is actually very tough. I can’t find a way to translate that sentence to Hebrew. I’d say: לכולם יש מה להסתיר, חוץ מלי ולקוף שלי. It sounds OK, but looks bad on text (mostly because of “מלי”).
Anyway, since the translation tool works using comparing a lot of bilingual texts, they do get great results compared to other tools (although they are still far away from perfect). They managed to translate: “And remember kids, don’t try this at home!”. I guess that one of the problem is the lack of vowels in the holy language.
luckluster
14 בOctober, 2008 בשעה 19:07
Your monkey treatment is actually very tough. I can’t find a way to translate that sentence to Hebrew. I’d say: לכולם יש מה להסתיר, חוץ מלי ולקוף שלי. It sounds OK, but looks bad on text (mostly because of “מלי”).
Anyway, since the translation tool works using comparing a lot of bilingual texts, they do get great results compared to other tools (although they are still far away from perfect). They managed to translate: “And remember kids, don’t try this at home!”. I guess that one of the problem is the lack of vowels in the holy language.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.
Anonymous
14 בNovember, 2008 בשעה 20:19
And in Finnish?
You think the French think Hebrew is a tough language?
In Finnish they say “Hyvää yötä” as “good night”. Baffled as to the pronunciation? Well, it sounds kinda like “hoo-va oo-e-ta”. And THEY say “It’s like Hebrew to me”. Yes, they say it. Weird Finnish.