#linguistic unity

[alpaca-clouds]

Linguistic Diversity

As you know, I decided to join a party and become politically active in the real world. And while two weeks ago on the election Sunday we were watching the live stream with everyone from the party, there was a question coming up: "Who the fuck are the SSW?" Because this party got ONE seat in the parliament. Which is not a lot, but more than the FDP and BSW got. lol

Now, I knew this, because I spent a lot of time in my early childhood in Northern Germany, where the party is from. The SSW is the "Süd Schleßwiger Wählervereinigung". Which is a party from Northern Germany who is fairly left wing and stands in for the rights of linguistic minorities in Northern Germany.

You know how a lot of indigenous languages were almost eliminated by being forbidden and people forgetting them eventually? How we just barely managed to save some languages of the polynesian language families? Or how one indigenous language was literally saved through a dream quest?

Yeah, here is the thing: The world was a lot more linguistically diverse until fairly recently. Because not all what is France today spoke French for the longest time. Not every area where today folks speak German, spoke German 300 years ago. There were a whole lot more languages in the different countries.

Now, obviously, a lot of those languages are related to one another. Basically what happened was: Due to travelling being a whole bigger pain in the ass before trains and cars and stuff, so people more rarely travelled further. And because people were more isolated from one another, more people developed their own dialects, that over time developed into their unique languages.

In Northern Germany there are several languages that were kept alive over the years. Most notably Friesisch, especially as the Frisians do identify as their unique culture apart from the rest of Germany. Still, there is a lot of fighting for the language to be still taught in the local schools and such. Same goes for other languages and dialects that are being spoken in that area.

And the same is true for most European countries. Usually within the borders of each European country there are at least three or four unique languages, that are being spoken by some minority within the country, but have to fight to survive.

A lot of countries love to push for everyone to speak the same language within the "nation". But through this they often eradicate old languages, even though this is also a type of diversity that is quite valuable.

[billeeswords]

notre beau ciel

the beautiful sky. endless, endless , boundless and bright with the magic of a million stars. the possibilties of each painted stroke of light and colours of wonder. where do you believe the sky is most beautiful?

the high skies of Kabul, where the stars shimmer without faultering? or the dawn of the country side village of Saint-Cirq-Lopopie? maybe Kaiua at dusk, where the rasys of last light radiate throughout the dark sky before illuminating it radiantly? before exposing the beauty the dark had hidden? is the sky more beautiful in the long night sky of Kugluktuk, eternal, raw and open? oh, our beautiful sky. one of wisdom carried through time and the endless gift of its capturing awe. and yet, still, it cannot be said where it is most beautiful?

perhaps it is because unlike us, our sky does not discriminate. it gifts us with beauties and perfections, so that no one person can say that the sky does not capture a piece of their soul, strumming a cord that otherwise cannot be heard, carrying with it a lingering mystery. only its presence and perception can provide an answer to it. oh, the sky. the belle of the mortals, for it is one thing that blesses all.

Le ciel est le seul refuge

-billee jay

[chickennoodlechailatte]

I reckon the australians have the market cornered on bloody: bloody hell, bloody oath, it just sounds bloody right

bastard sounds great in an irish accent. if an irish person calls you a 'daft bastard' it just feels right

the welsh have the monopoly on things ending in hell. fuckin hell and bloody hell hit different in a welsh accent. its like music to my ears

the scots have piss and shite for sure. "its pishin it doon out there" "this is a load of shite" absolute poetry

if i may speak for the english i think we do penis related words very well. dickhead, knobhead, bellend, etc.

and for all the shit we give them, you gotta admit that no one can deliver a 'goddamn' quite like an american. theres a certain weight to it that you just cant achieve in other accents. when an american says goddamn you know shit just got real

[insightfultake]

What If Hindi Became Mandatory in India? Examining the Challenges, Risks, and Cultural Impact

On many occasions, leaders in India have stressed the importance of promoting Hindi as a national language. Recently, Home Minister Amit Shah made a bold statement suggesting that one day, English-speaking Indians would feel ashamed for not knowing Hindi. While this comment has stirred debate, it also raises a serious question: what if Hindi suddenly became mandatory across India?

[furyblaze76tm]

👩🏾‍🎓🤔♂️ Masculinity: Malevolent Narcissist Spiritually Linguistics

[english-lessons-bolzano]

https://www.instagram.com/privateenglish__lessons?igsh=MWlzcncwcWVleXljaw==

AMERICAN ENGLISH ACCENTS (accenti dell'inglese americano)

Silvio Pasqualini Bolzano inglese ripetizioni English insegnante teacher

[boneless-mika]

What's up with leftists on the internet just assuming all the rest of us are talking to bigots irl the same way as we talk to our friends who are leftists online?

[amateuranatomymechanic]

Uh???? A miserable little pile of secrets?,, checkmate liberal

ok, i'm getting confused again and i want to see trans people's general opinion on it cause you lot are the only ones i trust.

[news4nose]

Hindi Diwas is a celebration of our linguistic diversity and a tribute to the language that binds our nation together.

It’s not just about promoting Hindi but also about acknowledging that Hindi is the language that serves as a means to bring us all together and connect us in unity.

 As Indians, we understand the power of unity in this diversity, and we appreciate Hindi as a medium that strengthens our bonds with all our fellow countrymen. जय हिन्द, जय भारत। 

[word-for-today]

Two words you might not expect to share an etymology: faggot and fascist. Linguists have a few theories about how a word meaning “bundle of sticks” came to be a slur for gay men—probably a connection to back when gathering small sticks to start fires with was a light chore delegated to old women or young boys—but as a word for a bundle of sticks it’s a diminutive of fascis, the big bundle of rods used as a symbol for strength in unity (as pictured on the US dime)

(I really hope Tumblr is mature enough to handle a linguistic discussion of a slur……)

[serpineal]

random astro observations pt. 2 (vedic)

1. sidereal aquarius is the most “hidden” and mysterious out of the zodiac. the heart of aquarius, shatabhisha, is the pinnacle of that energy.

2. jupiter in shravana can create a linguistic master, especially for people born in rahu or jupiter mahadasha. most likely to speak more than 3 languages.

3. any planet falling in uttara phalguni can make you attractive to women for the significations of that planet. mars: body, sex appeal, physical stamina, strength, masculinity. venus: your voice, eyes, charm, style, artistic talents, etc.

4. luminaries in chitra can make a person shine so beautifully in any group, setting, etc. unforgettable allure. people may find it hard to forget the chitra native’s influence and impact.

5. bharanis love chitras. bharani’s symbol is the womb (creativity), and chitra’s deity is the designer of wombs (muse and inspiration to the creative). chitra tends to generate a lot of creative energy, beauty and sensuality which inspire bharani to create, love, and wonder. however, this relationship could be draining to the chitra native in the long run.

6. venus conj. moon can make someone deeply sensitive and delicate. very fond of children. high fertility in women (if not afflicted). this conjunction has an energy similar to that of rohini.

7. ashwinis love wearing their hair down. a free, wild mane is their signature look.

8. in man’s chart, unafflicted ketu in the 1st house blesses him with a strong body and tall stature. jupiter makes him the biggest and tallest in his family, especially if it’s in sagittarius or aspected by ketu.

9. venus conj. rahu is the beauty expert — beauty guru. beautiful, big eyes. attractive voice. brilliant mind. may be detached from their sexuality. cerebal understanding of sex.

10. venus conj. ketu, especially in navamsa, is a sign that the soul will master unconditional love in this lifetime. deeply sensual and seductive. strong, spiritual connection with the lover or spouse.

11. taurus is the square (stability), leo is the triangle (power), scorpio is the rectangle (security), aquarius is the circle/sphere (unity). just a thought i had.

“ namaste & have a great day <3

[talonabraxas]

Yab-Yum Wisdom and compassion can become one. What is Yab-Yum? Yab-yum is a symbolic representation of the union between a male deity (yab) and a female deity (yum). The term itself originates from Tibet, where the word "yab" represents the masculine aspect, often referred to as the Father associated with wisdom and compassion, and "yum" represents the divine feminine, embodying the role of the Mother often associated with bliss and emptiness. In artistic depictions, yab-yum is represented by a male deity in a seated position, often portrayed as a peaceful and enlightened Buddha or a deity like Vajrasattva, and a female deity sitting or standing in the lap of the male deity, embracing him. The female deity is often portrayed as a compassionate figure, such as the goddess Tara or the consort of the male deity. The Spiritual Symbolism of Yab-Yum An iconic image associated with tantra, the yab-yum position holds significant prominence within both Hindu and Buddhist tantric art. The posture transcends the boundaries of conventional human sexuality and delves into a realm of divine and cosmic union. At its core, the image embodies the concept of duality, therefore represented through the masculine and feminine union but gives direction towards a state of non-duality, or Advaita, where the illusion of separation dissolves, and a profound unity is experienced. It represents the profound understanding that existence arises from the interplay of opposites and that the ultimate reality encompasses both the manifest and the formless. The yab-yum position signifies the merging and harmonizing of opposing forces. It represents the balance and integration of polarities within oneself and the universe. The masculine and feminine energies are seen as complementary aspects that together form a complete whole. In essence, the yab-yum symbolizes the union of wisdom and compassion, form and formlessness, masculine and feminine, and represents the inherent unity and interconnectedness of all things in the tantric worldview. The fundamental concept of 'Advaita,' or non-duality within Yab-Yum In Sanskrit, the term, advaita means non-duality. It is also a concept commonly associated with Advaita Vedanta but equally relevant in the profound teachings of tantra. To understand the concept of Advaita, one must carefully deconstruct the linguistic implication of the term Advaita or its English translation 'not-two-ness.' Here the words do not suggest becoming one or infusion; it does not imply a merging into homogeneity. Instead, it represents a state where separation, division, and the illusion of individual identity cease to exist while the diverse elements retain their inherent nature. It is a state of neither loss nor acquisition. This understanding eludes the grasp of the rational mind, which can only comprehend the world in terms of singularity or plurality. Therefore, the yab-yum depiction of the union of a male and female deity highlights the fundamental principle that the apparent duality between self and other, subject and object, is illusory. It alludes to the understanding that the true nature of reality transcends dualistic distinctions signifying the inseparability and interdependence of the masculine and feminine energies, symbolizing the dissolution of all dualities but not infusing into a singularity. Vajrasattva and his consort in Yab-Yum Vajrasattva is the embodiment of purity and compassion and, in his solitary form, is a familiar subject in Buddhist art. However, although less frequently, Vajrasattva is depicted with his consort in the yab-yum posture, alluding to a profound father-mother aspect of Vajrasattva. In the Yab-Yum depiction, he is joined by his consort, Vajratopa or Vajragarvi. The consort is often depicted holding a Kartika in her right hand and a kapala in her left, symbolizing the transformative and nurturing aspects of the feminine principle. Mahayana Pilgrim

[margaretkart]

Was there ever any kind of racism or nationalism between city states in ancient greece?

Yes, more accurately, ethnocentrism or tribalism between city-states in ancient Greece.

Greeks strongly identified with their own πόλη (city-state) like Athens, Sparta, Corinth, or Thebes rather than with a unified Greek identity. While they did share language, religion, and customs, loyalty to one's city often came first, and inter-polis rivalry was fierce.

Athenians often viewed themselves as the most civilized and intelligent Greeks.

Spartans believed they were the only truly disciplined and noble Greeks.

Thebans were often distrusted by other states and seen as unpredictable.

There were cultural and linguistic differences between Dorians (Sparta, Corinth) and Ionians(Athens, Euboea), which sometimes carried superiority complexes or prejudice:

- Dorians were seen as militaristic and austere.

- Ionians were viewed as more cultured but also more decadent.

- Athenians sometimes portrayed others as less rational or more barbaric, even if they were Greek.

- The term "barbaros" originally meant non-Greek, but Greeks could insult each other with terms implying one was closer to barbarism than true Hellenism.

City-states often allied with Persia (a major enemy) against each other. For example:

- Thebes sided with Persia during the Persian Wars.

- Greek civil wars, like the Peloponnesian War, were brutal and full of nationalist hatred, propaganda, and dehumanization of the enemy.

There was an idea of shared Hellenism (especially during the Persian invasions or the Olympic Games), but it was often overshadowed by practical rivalries. Unity tended to arise only when a foreign threat appeared and even then, not all Greek city-states joined in.

[blackstarlineage]

30 Ways Modern-Day Africans Still Exhibit a Colonial Mindset: A Garveyite Analysis

Marcus Garvey’s Pan-Africanist philosophy emphasized self-reliance, cultural pride, and the rejection of colonial influence. However, many Africans today still exhibit behaviours and attitudes rooted in a colonial mindset. Below are 30 examples, explained and analyzed in depth, from a Garveyite perspective:

1-10: Cultural Influence and Identity

1. Preference for European Standards of Beauty

Example: Many Africans prioritize lighter skin, straight hair, and European features over natural Black aesthetics.

Analysis: Skin-lightening creams and the global embrace of Eurocentric beauty ideals reflect internalized inferiority and rejection of African identity.

2. Disdain for African Languages

Example: African children are often discouraged from speaking native languages in favour of English, French, or Portuguese.

Analysis: Linguistic erasure ensures dependency on colonial languages for governance, education, and international relations.

3. Glorification of Western Education

Example: Degrees from European or North American universities are valued more than African ones.

Analysis: This reinforces the notion that African intellectual systems are inferior, perpetuating brain drain and dependency.

4. Adoption of Western Names

Example: Africans often give their children Western names instead of traditional African ones.

Analysis: This signifies a rejection of African heritage in favour of aligning with Western norms.

5. Colonial Religious Practices

Example: Christianity and Islam dominate African spiritual practices, while indigenous beliefs are demonized.

Analysis: Religion was used as a colonial tool to pacify and control, and its dominance reflects ongoing psychological colonization.

6. Rejection of African Fashion

Example: Western suits and dresses are deemed more "professional" than African attire in workplaces.

Analysis: Clothing reflects identity, and the preference for Western styles reinforces the idea that African traditions are primitive.

7. Accent Bias

Example: Africans with European or American accents are viewed as more intelligent or credible.

Analysis: This bias reflects internalized colonial superiority.

8. Neglect of African History

Example: African curricula prioritize European history over African empires like Mali, Songhai, or Great Zimbabwe.

Analysis: This erasure perpetuates ignorance about Africa’s rich heritage and contributions to civilization.

9. Worship of Western Entertainment

Example: Hollywood and European music dominate African media, sidelining local industries.

Analysis: This promotes cultural dependency and undervalues African creativity.

10. Desire to Migrate to the West

Example: Many Africans dream of emigrating to Europe or the U.S. for a "better life."

Analysis: This mindset undermines the potential of building strong nations on the continent.

11-20: Political and Economic Dependence

11. Reliance on Foreign Aid

Example: African governments often depend on Western aid for development projects.

Analysis: This fosters dependency and allows Western nations to control African policies.

12. Colonial Borders

Example: African nations still adhere to arbitrary colonial borders that divide ethnic groups.

Analysis: The refusal to renegotiate these borders reflects a lack of sovereignty and Pan-African unity.

13. Imitation of Western Governance

Example: African governments replicate Western political systems, often failing to adapt them to local contexts.

Analysis: Blind imitation undermines the development of systems rooted in African traditions and needs.

14. Dependence on Western Currencies

Example: The CFA franc, used by West and Central African nations, is controlled by France.

Analysis: This reflects continued economic colonization and inhibits financial independence.

15. Exploitation of Resources by Foreign Corporations

Example: Multinational companies exploit Africa's oil, minerals, and agriculture with little reinvestment.

Analysis: Africans prioritize Western partnerships over local ownership and control.

16. Outsourcing Security to Foreign Powers

Example: French troops stationed in Africa under the guise of fighting terrorism.

Analysis: This reinforces the narrative that Africans can not secure their own nations.

17. Preference for Imported Goods

Example: Imported clothing, food, and technology are seen as superior to local products.

Analysis: This devalues African production and stifles economic growth.

18. Neocolonial Debt Traps

Example: African nations take loans from institutions like the IMF, leading to perpetual debt.

Analysis: These loans come with conditions that undermine sovereignty.

19. Overdependence on Western Technologies

Example: Africa imports most of its technology rather than building local industries.

Analysis: This dependency stifles innovation and economic independence.

20. Election Interference by Western Powers

Example: Western nations influence African elections through funding or propaganda.

Analysis: This undermines democratic processes and reinforces external control.

21-30: Social and Psychological Patterns

21. Black Elitism

Example: Africans educated in the West often look down on those educated locally.

Analysis: This creates divisions within African societies and perpetuates classism.

22. Hostility Toward Pan-Africanism

Example: Resistance to efforts to unify Africa economically or politically.

Analysis: Colonial powers instilled fear of unity to prevent collective strength.

23. Undervaluing African Labour

Example: African workers are underpaid while foreign workers are overpaid for similar roles.

Analysis: This reflects an internalized belief in the superiority of non-African expertise.

24. Neglect of Local Agriculture

Example: African nations import staple foods like rice despite fertile lands.

Analysis: This prioritizes foreign economies over local food sovereignty.

25. Demonization of Traditional Medicine

Example: Preference for Western pharmaceuticals over indigenous remedies.

Analysis: This reflects distrust in African innovation and healing systems.

26. Preference for Colonial Languages in Art and Literature

Example: Writers and artists creating works in English or French to gain Western recognition.

Analysis: This marginalizes African languages and creativity.

27. Inferiority Complex Toward Western Nations

Example: Africans praise Western infrastructure while criticizing their own.

Analysis: This self-perception hinders the belief in African potential.

28. Overlooking the African Diaspora

Example: Africans often ignore the struggles and contributions of African Americans, Caribbeans, etc.

Analysis: Colonial divisions still separate the global African community.

29. Dependence on Colonial Education Systems

Example: African nations still use colonial curricula with minimal African content.

Analysis: Education is a tool of control, and this reflects ongoing intellectual colonization.

30. Hostility Toward Repatriation

Example: Africans discouraging descendants of the enslaved from returning to Africa.

Analysis: This reflects colonial teachings that Africa is undesirable or unworthy.

Garveyite Call to Action:

Marcus Garvey warned against mental colonization and called for:

Reclaiming African identity: Embrace African languages, cultures, and traditions.

Economic independence: Build industries, control resources, and support local economies.

Pan-African unity: Foster solidarity among Africans worldwide.

Rejection of Western validation: Recognize that Africa’s greatness does not depend on foreign approval.

“Liberate the minds of men, and ultimately, you will liberate the bodies of men.” – Marcus Garvey

[literaryvein-reblogs]

More French Loans in Middle English

Loan Word - vocabulary borrowings

Borrow - to introduce a word (or some other linguistic feature) from one language or dialect into another

Leisure and the arts art, beauty, carol, chess, colour, conversation, courser, dalliance, dance, falcon, fool, harness, image, jollity, joust, juggler, kennel, lay, leisure, literature, lute, melody, minstrel, music, noun, painting, palfrey, paper, parchment, park, partridge, pavilion, pen, pheasant, poet, preface, prose, recreation, rein, retrieve, revel, rhyme, romance, sculpture, spaniel, stable, stallion, story, tabor, terrier, title, tournament, tragedy, trot, vellum, volume

Science and learning alkali, anatomy, arsenic, calendar, clause, copy, gender, geometry, gout, grammar, jaundice, leper, logic, medicine, metal, noun, ointment, pain, physician, plague, pleurisy, poison, pulse, sphere, square, stomach, study, sulphur, surgeon, treatise

The home basin, blanket, bucket, ceiling, cellar, chair, chamber, chandelier, chimney, closet, couch, counterpane, curtain, cushion, garret, joist, kennel, lamp, lantern, latch, lattice, pantry, parlour, pillar, porch, quilt, scullery, towel, tower, turret

General nouns action, adventure, affection, age, air, city, coast, comfort, country, courage, courtesy, cruelty, debt, deceit, dozen, envy, error, face, fault, flower, forest, grief, honour, hour, joy, labour, manner, marriage, mischief, mountain, noise, number, ocean, opinion, order, pair, people, person, piece, point, poverty, power, quality, rage, reason, river, scandal, season, sign, sound, spirit, substance, task, tavern, unity, vision

General adjectives active, amorous, blue, brown, calm, certain, clear, common, cruel, curious, eager, easy, final, foreign, gay, gentle, honest, horrible, large, mean, natural, nice, original, perfect, poor, precious, probable, real, rude, safe, scarce, scarlet, second, simple, single, solid, special, strange, sudden, sure, usual

General verbs advise, allow, arrange, carry, change, close, continue, cry, deceive, delay, enjoy, enter, form, grant, inform, join, marry, move, obey, pass, pay, please, prefer, prove, push, quit, receive, refuse, remember, reply, satisfy, save, serve, suppose, travel, trip, wait, waste

Turns of phrase by heart, come to a head, do homage, do justice to, have mercy on, hold one’s peace, make complaint, on the point of, take leave, take pity on

Part 1 ⚜ Source ⚜ More References: Middle English ⚜ Word Lists