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 Unfortunately, the language has now been largely superseded by Ts’amakko, a neighbouring East Cushitic language and is on the verge of extinction.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.
The longest word in the Oxford English Dictionary is “pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis”, a technical term for a lung disease caused by inhaling very fine silicate or quartz dust.
A ‘Spoonerism’ occurs when sounds or letters in words are inadvertently switched. This term derives from Reverend William Archibald Spooner, a scholar who was known for making this kind of verbal slip. An example of this phenomenon is saying “Is the bean dizzy?” instead of “Is the dean busy?”.
There is a stunning Arabic word called “ya’aburnee”. It translates to “You bury me”, and expresses the hope that a loved one will outlive you, because of how unbearable it would be to live without them.
“Tarab” is a term used in Arabic culture to describe the profound emotional effect one can have while fully immersed in music. The verb itself translates to ‘a heightened sense of emotion or excitement’. The origins of Tarab trace back to Sufi traditions, Quran recitation, and religious practices. Tarab music is particularly popular in countries such as Egypt, Lebanon and Syria.
The term is not merely a descriptor, it is ingrained in cultural traditions, and reflects a belief that music can connect individuals on a deeper spiritual level.