The symbol “#” is commonly known as the hashtag today, but its original name is the octothorpe. The “octo-” prefix refers to its eight points, and “thorpe” was a playful addition. In the context of telephony, the octothorpe symbol was used on switchboards to represent the number “8” in the 1960s. The term “hashtag” gained prominence with the rise of social media.
The term “robot” was coined by Czech writer Karel Čapek (1880-1938) in his 1920 play “R.U.R.” It is derived from the Czech word “robota,” meaning forced labour. The play explores the consequences of creating artificial life to serve humans, and the word “robot” has since become ubiquitous in science fiction and technology discussions.
The ampersand symbol “&” originated as a ligature of the letters “e” and “t,” representing the Latin word “et,” meaning “and.” The symbol evolved from the handwritten combination of these letters into a distinct symbol over time. The term “ampersand” is a corruption of the phrase “and (&) per se and,” historically used when reciting the alphabet to acknowledge that “&” represented the word “and.” This linguistic evolution reflects the dynamic nature of symbols and their adaptation throughout history.
Did you know there’s no universal sign language? Each country, like the U.S. with ASL and the U.K. with BSL, has its own. In fact, there are an estimated 300 sign languages that are currently in use worldwide.
There is ‘International Sign’, which is not a full language but a cross-cultural communication method and is used globally at events like the Deaflympics. While more Western-friendly, it’s not as clear to those from Africa and Asia. Still, it shows how sign languages adapt for shared understanding.
Rotokas, spoken in the mountains of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, boasts one of the world’s smallest phonemic inventories with just 11 phonemes.
For comparison, English has 44 phonemes. A phoneme is generally regarded as “a set of speech sounds that are seen as equivalent to each other in a given language”. So even if the “k” sounds in the English word “kill” and “skill” are not exactly identical, we see them as equivalent within the language, and that’s why we call it a phoneme.
| The Guinness World Record for the most translations of a single document goes to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Available in over 500 languages, this foundational document has been translated more widely than any other text, emphasising its global significance in promoting human rights and dignity. |
In Chinese culture, the number 8 (“bā”) is considered highly auspicious due to its phonetic resemblance to the words for ‘wealth’ or ‘prosperity’ (发 “fa”) in Mandarin. This belief influences various aspects of life, from choosing phone numbers to determining significant event dates. The symbol for the number 8 (八) is embraced as a powerful symbol of good fortune and prosperity.
Hanami (花見) which translates to “flower viewing” in Japanese, is a traditional custom in Japan that involves appreciating the fleeting beauty of flowers. In this context, the term “flowers” (hana) typically denotes the blossoms of cherry (sakura) trees, and occasionally, plum (ume) trees.
‘Te Reo Māori’, the language of New Zealand’s indigenous Māori people, is an Eastern Polynesian language and part of the Austronesian family. The language has a rich oral tradition, with traditional stories and legends passed down through generations orally. A beautiful example of the poetic nature of Te Reo Māori is the word “Aotearoa,” meaning “land of the long white cloud,” which eloquently refers to New Zealand in Maori.
Ongota, also known as Birale, is a language spoken by a handful of individuals in Ethiopia’s Lower Omo Valley. Unfortunately, the language has now been largely superseded by Ts’amakko, a neighbouring East Cushitic language and is on the verge of extinction. The language is important for its significance in understanding the cultural heritage of the area, and for that reason it’s important to record it before it disappears.