#i love languages

[caracaracal]

one of my absolute favorite aspects of spanish (the language) is the -ito suffix for things that are cute/small/adorable. i love that there's a whole "name (affectionate)" grammatical structure, it's SO FUCKING CHARMING

[oonightmareoo]

DP x DC Prompt Language Barriers

     When the creature- no, being stepped through the portal, Bruce didn’t know what to expect.  He’d created as many plans as he possibly could regarding everything he knew about the entity, which was frustratingly not enough for even twenty possibilities.  Depending on how the meeting went, it was highly possible he’d be cobbling together a plan based on contingencies for Darkseid, Klarion, hell even Superman.  He didn’t know what to expect, just enough to know that the entity was more powerful than anything and anyone that Constantine could think of.

     The first part of the entity visible through the vertical Lazarus portal - and wasn’t that worrisome by itself - was their feet.  Clad in white boots, ones that seemed impractical as anything more than a fashion statement, platforms that led up to buckles and even some chains and ended just below the knee.  The being’s legs were clad in black, a material that looked like something halfway between Kevlar and leather.  They had a black tunic, with intricate silver designs embroidered into the fabric, with long sleeves that tucked into archery gloves, also of a white material.  Over the right shoulder, a white fur-trimmed cape was draped, flapping in the wind that only seemed to affect the entity, with the inside fabric showcasing what appeared to be multiple galaxies.  The entity’s face suggested they were a male-inclined being, taking the form of a young adult male, Caucasian - lacking in melanin but outside of that and the pure white hair, there seemed to be no other signs of albinism - with unnervingly green eyes which swept across the gathering as the entity adjusted one of their gloves.  Elfin ears and sharp teeth completed the look of other as the entity grimaced at what they saw.

     Yet, despite how much this being looked like they’d just stepped outside of one of Tim’s video games, the most eye-catching parts were the glowing ice crown and the gently flaming ring.

     Before anyone could address the entity once the portal had closed, they looked over their own form as if checking something.  Then, holding a finger up when someone tried to speak, looked down at the summoning circle as if to read it.  Slowly turning in a circle, catching at one part, then turning towards Constantine.  “Come hither.”  The entity beckoned the magician as the otherworldly voice echoed in the room.

     “As if, I’m not falling for such a blatant trick, mate.”  Understandably, Constantine was resistant.

     The entity rolled their eyes.  “Your foolish mortal mind will not be capable of understanding mine words.  The rune is doomed.”  It was more obvious now that the being’s words were being translated, words continuing even though the entity’s mouth was shut.  “Even should I attempt thine language, it would be impossible for mere mortals to comprehend.”

     “Yeah?  And you know how to improve a summoning circle?”  Bruce frowned; if the being was truly as powerful as Constantine said they were, then why was he antagon- pride.  Constantine’s pride as a magician was being insulted when another pointed out the flaws in his magic.

     The entity’s grin was too wide with too many teeth, “undoubtedly.”

[little-ineffabilities]

I’ve been seeing quite a few of you talk about how Kurt calls Logan “Liebchen” - and how that is German for “sweetheart” or “dear”

And while this is true, it’s a little more than that! So to add fuel to your lovely Logurt fire:

You see Liebe is the German word for love- so it functions as a prefix here, creating basically a petname of, “my love” - as apposed to Schatz (Treasure) which is a more general endearing term!  

Liebe as a prefix also means “favorite” like Lieblingsbuch (my favorite book) - so it’s the equivalent of saying “My favorite person” as well as being a very close term of endearment!

Also~ It’s not “Liebling” it is “Liebchen” - which is a more common slang term or way of changing the term. When you add “Chen” to the end of a German word you are inherently calling the thing Smaller, cuter, or saying it with more affection! (I like to lean into that smaller adjective because it’s funny)

soooo~ basically Kurt is calling Logan “My short, sweet, favorite love” (Which I like to believe he is making fun of Logan’s height while calling him an affectionate name hehehe + “Liebchen” is usually mocking anyways)

[robs-your-robins]

I saw you use nonny in one of your replies to an ask, nonny means little girl in chhattisgarhi. Are you by chance chhattisgarhi??

I'm not, I'm afraid. I just use nonny as in Anon sometimes but this was super cool to learn!

[linguenuvolose]

One of my recent favourite linguistic phenomena are words for geological aspects that are only used about nature in the region where the language is spoken.

Like in Swedish “fjäll” refers to mountains above the tree line, exclusively in the Nordic countries. It’s not that that’s the name of our mountain range, it’s just what we call mountains here. I can’t say that I’m going to the Italian “fjällen” because they do not exist. I’d have to say “berg” which is a more general word for mountain (which can also be used for Nordic mountains of course, although “fjällen” is way more common and also gives a very different picture in my opinion). Another example would be “älv” (big river) and, interestingly according to the dictionary of the Swedish Academy, a similar but not exactly equivalent feature, “flod”, has the usage note “mainly describing a feature abroad”. Personally I had never thought of this and to me there could be a “flod” in Sweden but not an “älv” abroad.

What fascinates me about this is that these are in no way features unique to here. Like how you’d think a “fjord” has a specific name because it’s so common in Norway and so uncommon elsewhere. Both “fjäll” and “älvar” are extremely common everywhere so why are they only used for our “fjäll” and “älvar”?

Anyway if anyone knows if this phenomenon has a name, if it has been studied and, most importantly, if you can think of any of these in your own language I’d love to hear about it!

[lisaabunny]

everyday is just comme ci, comme ça

[strabius-berry]

So if it wasn't clear, the Spanish dub changes the war between Australia and New Zealand into Argentina and Uruguay. Here's my breakdown of some of Jax the Argentinian Extremist's lines.

And I just wanted to include Caine's line too.

Clips of the Spanish Dub: [Part 1][Part 2]

[stepstofluency]

new tips from your bestie 💌

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