Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2007 June 23

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June 23

"Rapier" in Hindi

Since it's not a weapon native to India, is there a translation of "rapier" into Hindi that would differentiate it from any other sort of sword? If so, could I get the transliteration of that? Krys Tamar 03:05, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

kirac (किरच) 196.12.53.9 07:10, 23 June 2007 (UTC)Vineet Chaitanya

Thank You Krys Tamar 23:42, 24 June 2007 (UTC)

Are there any words in Nepali that sound like...

... the English-language words mommy or mammy? If so, what do they mean? I particularly need to know if they have a negative (i.e. derogatory, vulgar, etc.) connotation. -- Thanks, Deborahjay 07:52, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

The word māmā means "uncle" (specifically a brother of the mother).[1]  --Lambiam^Talk 09:28, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

copyedit or copy-edit or copy edit?

one word, hyphen or space?

According to dictionary.com, copyedit is a word, and copy-edit is acceptable. Cambridge dictionary doesn't list it though, and would probably be "copy edit" in British English. So short answer, all three are technically correct. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 10:09, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

As to British usage, the OED lists the word under the hyphenated spelling copy-edit (although one of the quotations does spell it as "copy edit"). However, the entry is probably about 40 years old, which is long enough for usage to possibly have changed. --Anonymous, June 24, 2007, 00:20 (UTC).

Guantánamo Bay

The article says that the bay was originally named Guantánamo by the Taíno. Does anyone know what this word means (in the Carib language? the article isn't very clear on what language the Taíno spoke) 68.231.151.161 14:53, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

According to the article on Maipurean languages, Carib is related to, but distinct from Taíno, which is extinct. I don't know how well recorded Taíno was before it became extinct, probably hundreds of years ago. Its closest spoken relative is apparently Wayuu. However, it is possible that we can't know for sure what the name means. Marco polo 18:25, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

Machiavelli & Exclamation marks

I am currently reading Machiavelli's De Principatibus in translation, and I noticed the use of exclamation marks at several places. Did Machiavelli use exclamation marks, or is this my translator's bit of freedom?

As an example, in Chapter XVII (see wikisource):

“ Nevertheless a Prince should inspire fear in such a fashion that if he do not win love he may escape hate. For a man may very well be feared and yet not hated, and this will be the case so long as he does not meddle with the property or with the women of his citizens and subjects. ”

In my translation (which is Dutch) "or with the women" is written as "- and the women! -".

--User:Krator (t c) 23:46, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

Il Principe/Capitolo XVII at Wikisource reads (with my highlight!):

“ Debbe non di manco el principe farsi temere in modo, che, se non acquista lo amore, che fugga l'odio; perché può molto bene stare insieme esser temuto e non odiato; il che farà sempre, quando si astenga dalla roba de' sua cittadini e de' sua sudditi, e dalle donne loro: e quando pure li bisognasse procedere contro al sangue di alcuno, farlo quando vi sia iustificazione conveniente e causa manifesta; ma, sopra tutto, astenersi dalla roba d'altri; perché li uomini sdimenticano più presto la morte del padre che la perdita del patrimonio. ”

I see no exclamation marks. A.Z. 03:05, 24 June 2007 (UTC)

A more literal translation than the English above is:

... so long as he does not meddle with the property of his citizens and subjects, and with their women: ...

Macchiavelli's putting "and with their women" at the end produces a little jolt, and gives it an emphasis lost in the flatness of the English translation. I think that the Dutch translator, in that respect, was more true to M's intention.  --Lambiam^Talk 04:58, 24 June 2007 (UTC)

Thank you. --User:Krator (t c) 11:45, 24 June 2007 (UTC)