it seems people usually understand “nothing” as dark, black. in the techno subculture, where “we don’t show off” — people choose no colour — black colour. in other words - blank, empty.
wait, but blank means white in a number of languages. first i know it from esperanto, where blanko is white. ‘blanc’ in french means white. ‘blanco’ in spanish. ‘bianco’ in italian.
so emptyness, depending on perception, can be black or white. or other colour?
indeed, if we think in rgb colourspace way, then nothing — 0, 0, 0 is black. however, in cmyk way, nothing is when you print nothing on a white paper. so nothing is actually white. so is the paper. in number of languages empty list of paper is blank.
#perception #colour #language #techno #esperanto #french #spanish #italian #zero #nothing #empty #culture
#գիրք
@{ քամի ; o_o@spyurk.am} 03.03.2019, 3:52:59
https://vahagnakanch.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/modern-eastern-armenian.pdf
#armenian #հայերէն #արեւմտահայերէն #լեզու #language
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8R76gTRM6A
surprisingly this guy knows what he tells. about #armenian #language in #russian.
the problem with esperanto, i understand today, is that, if many people adopt it, and it’ll become really alive, if tumblr kids will write in it, they’ll screw the language up, it won’t be the language without exceptions, because humans are the creatures who treat languages freely, so it would loose its essential properties of the language which is easy to learn, has no exceptions, etc.
#esperanto #language
“The great difficulty is thus considering the unity of the many and the multiplicity of the unity. Those who see the diversity of cultures tend to overlook the unity of mankind; those who see the unity of mankind tend to dismiss the diversity of cultures”. Edgar Morin, L’identité humaine.
https://hdelhumeau.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/language-and-globalization/ #globalization #language
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/globalization-helps-preserve-endangered-languages
do you think globalization harms or helps more small community languages? how globalization and colonization differ in that respect? how globalization relates to decolonizatdon processes?
#globalization #colonization #decolonization #language
on conlangs https://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/101265/constructed-languages #language #conlang
this guy suggests to use separate stream for each of the languages you write in.
so that’s good i have two separate streams. i even think, what if i move English language posts from my earlier account to this stream, and if db hacks would help me. #diaspora #language
you use VAR because you want to get the pointer to the array, instead of copying the whole array to the procedure’s stack.
so the suggestion was that if you want to make sure the array won’t be modified, you use “-” mark.
what about optimizations, they say, that in principle compiler can understand that you did not write to the passed array, and instead of passing it to the procedure by value (by copying the whole array), pass it by reference (by copying only pointer to it).
i disagree, because i believe, it is important to mark your intentions. if you intent to make sure you pass it read-only, you pass it with “-”, if you intent to pass it read-write, you pass it just with VAR. passing with ‘OUT’, when you cannot read it, but can only write to it is not supported in Oberon.
@{Antranig Vartanian ; antranigv@spyurk.am} 01.06.2017, 19:08:27
#oberon #programming #language #design ##
During and after wwii many ethnic germans were expelled: firsly, afaik from Baltian countries, as a result of Stalin/Hitler agreement (division of Poland, Baltia…) and later also from Poland, Chekhoslovakia.
To describe these people in FRG the word ‘vertriebene’ (expelled) have been used. While in GDR the word was ‘umsiedler’ (resettled).
#politics #words #german #language #expell #resettle #vertriebene #umsiedler #freedom
the first part comes from ‘chocolate’, the second part is french diminutive, like in cigar - cigarette.
#language #chocolate #schogetten #brand #german
my friend from Germany, Dominik, bought this book, to learn Armenian. But, apparently, it’s not a very good book to study with. The author is an Armenian from Germany, who probably changed his surname Avakian to Avak. And he does not know Armenian well, from the book I understand that he is someone who probably left Armenia in late 70ies, early 80ies.
My friend is amused with the photo on the cover - guys in black jackets, and there are similar photos inside, they are also amusing to me, but still, something disturbs me, because Armenia cannot get known only by that limited subset which he represents on his photos.
He obviously does not know Armenian language well. He uses Russian words often probably he does not know Armenian ones, those which are in use in today’s Armenia.
Also, notice the difference in quality between shots I made with Fuji x100, and Jolla phone.
#armenian #language #book
Telling 26 of 28 EU countries that of course they can keep their cute little languages, but that all serious stuff (business, academic work, legislating) must be done in English, is asking them to accept second-class linguistic citizenship. Languages that are not used for science or business fail to develop the up-to-date vocabulary and style needed to do so. Over time, if neglected, they shrink to fewer and fewer domains. In the long run, they may be spoken only at home or between intimates, like Swiss German or Scottish Gaelic. Already today, in liberal and pro-American countries where English ability is outstanding, like Denmark or the Netherlands, people fear that their languages are considered fit for fewer and fewer arenas. Populist and xenophobic parties, the kind that say Europe tramples on national uniqueness, play on this fear.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2013/09/language-diversity
#language
i have found these photos here. vachagan made them back in the winter 2014.
that was the next day after a car crash accident. in front of me there were two girls and one guy from azerbaidjan. vachagan was asking them about differences and similarities between azerbaidjani and turkish language. they said that formerly they were watching movies on tv or in cinema in russian, they were receiving films from russia. now they receive films from turkey, with turkish translations. she said, when the film comes to the end i realize that i didn’t even notice that it was in turkish, not in azerbaidjani.
we also asked them about the orthography. she answered that they’ve changed orthography 5 times - they were writing with arabic letters, then, during short independence in 1918-20 in latin letters, then cyrillic letters, then now again latin. she said “our president gave a promise that in two years all books will be reprinted with the new orthography”. “and, did they manage to reprint them?” - i have asked. “no” - she answered.
also she said very interesting and typical thing for someone from a country with authoritarian regime: she said she does not see any other good candidate rather than their ilham aliyev. she said “if not him - then who?”. well, isn’t it obvious that he did everything for you to think like that, my dear?
then they started to ask us about the language. they’ve said “we know there are eastern and western armenian languages. do you understand each other? how do you live in one small country and speak two languages?”
i have answered, that well, languages do not differ that much, and we perfectly understand each other, except for a couple of words that may have a bit different meaning. and i have added, that western armenian is spoken in the west only - in europe, usa, latin america. not in armenia as a rule.
and she asked naively - “why?” i hate mentioning the “genocide” word and the theme, so i remained silent for some time.
then the azerbaidjani guy who sat next to her, a guy in a shirt with some horizontal fur line on it, he smiled happily and started to whisper something in her ear. his face exprecced great satisfaction.
she said “ah, i understand”.
#film #photo #zenit #helios #tbilisi #restaurant #girl #chatting #armenia #azerbaidjan #armenian #azerbaidjani #turkish #genocide #armenian-genocide #language #orthography #evening #talk
do you remember which language Paganel have learnt by accident? (: By accident - he intent to learn other language, but accidentally learned that language. (:
#paganel #language
toki pona translation of the Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a very important resource for learning the language. alas, it’s available only in archive now.
#toki_pona #holy_grail #monty_python #language #archive #transation
amazing story on how he wrote a C compiler in 40 days: http://www.sigbus.info/how-i-wrote-a-self-hosting-c-compiler-in-40-days.html
#compiler #programming #programming_languages #language
tale about context freeness.
it sounds the same, or almost the same, while the written chinese text features different hieroglyphs because of different meanings. I believe, the writing system has to be as context free as possible, but not more context free. (:
by the way in the second screenshot it’s already not joky comparison which shows traditional and simplified difference.
#context #context-free #context_free #chinese #lion #poet #shi #language #writing
In German there is a word Heimweh (from Heim, which stands for home. It means nostalgy for the home, longing for the home, country, homesickness), and
a word Fernweh, it’s antonym, which means longing for far-off places, desire to travel.
#german #language #deutsch #sprache #heimweh #fernweh
I woudl like to quote this post, instead of resharing because I don’t agree with everything there. I don’t think we have to forget our native languages, that’s why comparison to the switch from facebook to diaspora, which was made there seems deeply not right to me. I personally value my language, and it doesn’t make me feel good when I acknowledge threats it has.
Also, I have to say that I also fear simplicity in design. Simplicity can mean gaining flexibility and expressiveness, like in case with Oberon operating system and language, and it can mean something like Newlang, the language which was simple but was designed in order to rule those people.
Simplicity can also mean “don’t know what pointer is” which, I believe is wrong, because every programmer should know what pointer is. Simplicity can mean making phonemic orthography, and I am opponent of that. That approach, taken by communists, in my opinion, damaged Armenian orthography and language.
So I believe, simplicity does not always mean good design. However, good design is very often simple. Now the quote.
English vs. Esperanto:
English:
You sang nicely, AND You have sung nicely, AND You had sung nicely, AND You did sing nicely , AND You did use to sing nicely, AND You were singing nicely, AND You used to sing nicely.
Esperanto:
#esperanto #design #simplicity #comparison #english #orthography #phonemic_orthography #language #armenian #oberon #programming #pointer #flexibility #expressiveness
I had to enter that building, which is called “Dom Moskvy”, exactly like that, there is no translation to Armenian or English, so it does not call “House of Moscow” or something like that. Whatever, I had to enter it. I have entered it, and there are several doors, transparent doors. all of them - locked. I was waiting for some of them to open. No electronics, of course. It is called “Moscow”! Okay, how do I enter this? And then I notice the piece of paper with inscription - “ВХОД”. Just a piece of paper. It means “Entrance” in Russian. Okay, I was thinking where to push, eventually just pushed glass and entered the building.
After I had my conversation at reception I told them:
— you know, it was kinda hard to understand where to go at the entrance.
— there is an inscription - “Vkhod” - she told me.
— yes, but first it’s necessary to notice that, and secondly - I don’t read Russian.
Now yes, I read Russian. I know it perfectly. And I like that I know it perfectly. (: But almost all of my friends - don’t, since they were raised or even born in Syria, Iran, Netherlands, USA, etcetera. And I know how they suffer from the assumptions that each and every Armenian has to know Russian. This is one of those situations - it’s a trifle, but you don’t feel comfortable because of that trifle. Same is at the train station. Since Russia got our railways, they don’t write the list of races in Armenian. Only in Russian. When I asked at the cashier’s desk - they told me - “you can ask us, if you are illiterate, and we can explain you”. Okay, what if I don’t want to ask, can you print it in Armenian as well? “No”, - they said. “We won’t”.
So I told her I don’t know Russian. Can they print the same paper in Armenian, indicating that it’s an entrance?
— No - she answered. It’s a Russian building.
And that’s not a good thing to tell if you want someone just to leave. What does it mean it’s a Russian building? It means you expect only people who knows Russian? You have hell of offices in this buildings, are you sure no other person can come?
— It’s located in Yerevan, Republic of Armenia - I said. We have the law regarding the language.
She didn’t even want to talk about it. “It’s a Russian building” - she said. - “That’s all. We won’t add another inscription”.
That’s it.
I don’t feel happy because of similar stories. I don’t feel happy at all.
#russian #armenian #armenia #language #imperialism #expansion
russian is a very interesting language. they have this “общаться” (intercommunicate), then “общество” (society), which becomes “сообщество” (community) and they also have this word “сообща” - to do something together, verbatim - by communicating with each other.
#russian #language #words
Yesterday I was thinking that Orwell is a very close writer to me. Not Kafka, for instance. George Orwell. I often repeat that language related questions are political. It turned out Orwell has a text about it.
A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks …… English …… becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.
http://wikilivres.ca/wiki/Politics_and_the_English_Language
#language #orwell #politics #english #george_orwell
critics of go http://dtrace.org/blogs/wesolows/2014/12/29/golang-is-trash/
#critics #golang #google-go #go #programming #programming-languages #plan9 #assembler #language #design
I have translated one of comments from here
I believe it’s not possible to look at the problem of language in Ukraine from the refined point of view.
Let’s ask the question - should you invite relatives to your house? Yes. But what if relatives are thieves? Then you should not. This is the difference between the “refined” and real question.
In the refined way, - two language state and calling relatives for a dinner is a good way, but in realistic way - it’s dangerous.
Thus I would like to stress two problems. Even three.
First - attacks on neighbor states are started from mentioning Russian speaking people. By mentioning so called compatriots - though it’s hard in Russia, after the defeat of USSR. Everybody is compatriot.
And the second question. Isn’t aversion of a language a reflection? Dislike toward Russian was born in Latvia, Ukraine, may be Georgia. Not because the language is bad, but because it serves as Trojan horse.
It is used to ride in, and then bereave of land. Thus, it is necessary to blame not the language, and not play games by using it, as Kremlin is doing, but give up using the language as a mean of taking away the lands. That’s it.
And supplementary question - why nobody worries about language in Asia? Why only Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, and Georgia?
Why we see that in East European countries, but not in Asia, where it’s stronger?
And the last. Recently, by jesting Klichko, separatists uploaded a video. He makes a slip in speaking.
But I wonder. Klichko, when he was speaking in one of the Kiev schools, speaks great, pure Russian language. And kids can understand him. Ukrainian major, Ukrainian kids, but the language of communication - Russian. That’s even after annexation of Crimea and fire in Donbass.
And then, in the corridors, Klichko speaks Ukrainian, where he’s being “trapped” by separatists.
Can you imagine that any major in Russia can have a talk, even in a Russian village, in Ukrainian language?
Who is more tolerant then?
#Ukraine #Russia #language #law #tolerance #Ukrainian #Russian #Klichko #freedom
The dotted/striped areas show where multilingualism is common. I love this map because it shows how odd Hungary, Basque, Estonia and Finland are in Europe. You can also notice the split areas in Moldova, Serbia/Kosovo, Cyprus, Belgium, Lapland, India and the obvious Kurdistan. I noticed that Albanian and Armenian are unique, as well.
http://mapsontheweb.zoom-maps.com/post/90847865305/indo-european-languages-within-their-present-day
#internet #map #maps #albanian #albania #armenian #armenia #moldova #serbia #kosovo #cyprus #belgium #lapland #hungary #basque #estonia #finland #europe #language #languages
@{JayTea StillAliver ; jaytea@joindiaspora.com} hey hey, you were interested in translators, this is how translator.am works http://www.translator.am/en/abouttranslator.html
#translator #languages #programming #babel-fish #language
ասում է՝ մի փոխիր «на Украине » «в Украине»֊ով։ Ինչո՞ւ ոչ հակառակը, այս տեքստից բնաւ էլ պարզ չէ։
#մեդիավիքի #վիքի #վիքիպեդիա #վիկիպեդիա #ռուսերէն #Ուկրայինա #Ukraine #Russian #mediawiki #wikipedia #language
George Orwell Politics and the English Language
http://orwell.ru/library/essays/politics/english/e_polit
via @{qnarius@spyurk.am ; qnarius@spyurk.am}
#politics #language #orwell #george-orwell #literature #writing
When you know how to use console, it’s like when you talk to the computer. You actually write to the computer.
When you only know how to use mouse, it’s like when you don’t know the language and try to explain something with gestures.
Computer is tought to understand some gestures, but you cannot explain everything this way, without text.
(expressed by @{imandes (իմանդէս) ; imandes@spyurk.am} when I have showed him some of console power)
#literacy #computers #talk #computer #gestures #speak #language #text #console
#փաստորեն, #հայերեն ֊ը աշխարհի ամենա #փախած #տարօրինակ լեզուներից մեկն է, եթե հավատալ սրան։
hehe, so #Armenian is one of the weirdest languages according to this
#լեզու #լեզուներ #հետազոտություն #languages #research #language #պահ #ասումա #ուահ #քարտեզ
Our #research has provided an answer to an age-old question highlighted by Dr Jill Tarter of the #SETI Institute, ‘Are we alone?’ We can now unequivocally answer, ‘no.’ SETI’s search for non-human #intelligence in outer space has been found right here on #earth in the graceful form of #dolphins.
http://wakeup-world.com/2011/11/28/the-discovery-of-dolphin-language/ #dolphins #language #deciphering #seti #intelligence
spent several months programming in #Java. Contrary to its authors prediction, it did not grow on me. I did not find any new insights – for the first time in my life #programming in a new #language did not bring me new insights. It keeps all the stuff that I never use in C++ – inheritance, virtuals – OO gook – and removes the stuff that I find useful. It might be successful – after all, MS DOS was – and it might be a profitable thing for all your readers to learn Java, but it has no intellectual value whatsoever. Look at their implementation of hash tables. Look at the sorting routines that come with their “cool” sorting applet. Try to use #AWT. The best way to judge a language is to look at the #code written by its proponents. “Radix enim omnium malorum est cupiditas” – and Java is clearly an example of a #money oriented #programming (#MOP). As the chief proponent of Java at #SGI told me: “Alex, you have to go where the money is.” But I do not particularly want to go where the money is – it usually does not smell nice there.
#Stepanov #STL
http://www.stlport.org/resources/StepanovUSA.html http://norayr.arnet.am/weblog/2010/02/27/պատմություն-սրճի-հոտի-մասին/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvbf7wqwlbs #language #imperialism #culture
Our research has provided an answer to an age-old question highlighted by Dr Jill Tarter of the SETI Institute, ‘Are we alone?’ We can now unequivocally answer, ‘no.’ SETI’s search for non-human intelligence in outer space has been found right here on earth in the graceful form of dolphins. http://wakeup-world.com/2011/11/28/the-discovery-of-dolphin-language/ #dolphins #language #deciphering #seti #intelligence