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Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2007 January 4

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January 4

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Mutually unspeakable languages

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Are there any pairs of languages with no sounds in common? Failing that, what pairs of languages have the fewest sounds in common? --Carnildo 01:00, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I am pretty sure that the "a" sound, made by babies in "mama" is found in all cultures and languages. I would be surprised if a core group of vowel sounds is not also universal. JackofOz 03:15, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I wouldn't be so sure about the universality of [a,ɑ,ɐ,ʌ] – the grid at Persian phonology does not list any of them. Wikipeditor 04:05, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I can safely say No. All known languages have at least two of /p/, /t/ and /k/. --Ptcamn 04:22, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]
From an European standpoint, Chinese phonology could be considered rather particular, phonemes (sounds that differ between words' meanings) aren't evenly distributed between different languages, but for languages with few phonemes, such as Japanese, Hawaiian, Pirahã and Rotokas, there appears to be many sounds that are more common than others. Languages tend to keep "basic" phonemes that are easy to produce and discern in spoken language. 惑乱 分からん 15:10, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Maltese has some unusal sounds, like XX and QA (pronounced A) I don't know if this is what you meant but...Hidden secret 7 19:50, 8 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Also, the click consonants of the Khoisan language group.--AlexSuricata 11:27, 9 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

German translation help

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Would someone mind adding English translations for the descriptions of two images on Commons? The images are Image:BRD - Kamerun.jpg and Image:Länderspiel Deutschland - Kamerun.jpg. I'd like to add one of them to an article here on en, but it'd be nice to know the details first. Thanks! — BrianSmithson 01:26, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Done. Wikipeditor 04:17, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Awesome, thanks! I'll update Cameroon immediate with the caption. — BrianSmithson 06:15, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

proper usage of capital letters

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What is the correct usage of capitals for the "main Hawaiian Islands"? Should it be "Main Hawaiian Islands" or "main Hawaiian Islands" or "main Hawaiian islands"? Jenmetz 02:03, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The name of the place is "Hawaii", not "the Hawaiian Islands". There are of course Hawaiian islands, but as "islands" is not part of the name, there's no need to capitalise "islands" except in a title or a heading. Same for "main" - no need to capitalise it except as the first word of a sentence, or in a title or heading. JackofOz 03:10, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Right answer, wrong reason, I'd say. Hawaii is the name of the state, but Hawaiian Islands is the name of the island group. However, it is not usual to use "main" with the name of an island group as a way of referring to the main islands of that group. So "Hawaiian" here must be either the adjective for the state, or the adjective for the island group; and either way we end up with "main Hawaiian islands". --Anonymous, January 4, 05:54 (UTC).
In what context would one refer to the "Hawaiian Islands" with the word "islands" capitalised? JackofOz 09:21, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]
When used as the name of the island group as a whole, as in our article Hawaiian Islands.  --LambiamTalk 10:09, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I guess the difference is between the islands as political and geographical entities, in the same way as one refers to the British Isles as a geographical entity (hence 'Isles' is capitalised). --Richardrj talk email 10:30, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Very educational, thanks indeed. In checking this out, I also discovered that the official name of Fiji is "The Republic of the Fiji Islands", yet we have no page for "Fiji Islands" as geographical entities. I wonder why that is. JackofOz 21:08, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Also note that Hawaii is one of the Hawaiian Islands, along with Maui, Oahu and the rest. Not all of the Hawaiian Islands are part of the state of Hawaii, see Midway Atoll. StuRat 22:43, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, Stu. I've amended the opening of Hawaiian Islands to reflect this. Previously it claimed that the entire archipelago (19 islands) and the state of Hawaii were one and the same. JackofOz 23:57, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the help. Something that was not mentioned, however, was the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI)and its all capitals spelling. This is generally how these islands are referred to. They are part of the Hawaiian Islands, but grouped in a different geographic location. So...should it be Main Hawaiian Islands after all? Jenmetz 03:11, 5 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

crossword help needed

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northeasternmost tip of main land briton (4,7)

fragant shrub (taking water ?)(8)

precision (7)(can it be quality)

drive out (5) is roust correct?

very keen individual (5,6)

inject drug - principal rail connection(8;4,4)

home made liquor (6,5)

visually astounding (11)

provide with fresh energy (as battery)(8)

gather information from returning agent (7)

bird that delivers babies?(5)

i hope u will be able to help me with these Mi2n15 04:53, 4 January 2007 (UTC) precision (*o*****)[reply]

Mi2n15 05:40, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Crossword Clue

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While we've got this going...

Country of fun sets out rules? (5,2,4)

doktorb wordsdeeds 11:12, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

state of play. --Richardrj talk email 11:17, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]


Heh, woo :) doktorb wordsdeeds 11:34, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Translation to English.

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Could someone please translate this into simple english for me.

1.Je dois couper celte plante Maman! "I must cut that plant (down), mother!"Grutness...wha? 23:41, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

2.Je dois absolument grimper cette plante! "I absolutely must climb that plant!"Grutness...wha? 23:41, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

3.Nous avons besoin d'argent, Jacques. Nous devons vendre la bicyclette. We need some money, Jacques. We're going to have to sell the bicycle. --Richardrj talk email 22:52, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

4.Aie!On doit descendre tout de suite! "Yikes - I must (literally one must) go down immediately!"Grutness...wha? 23:41, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

5.M.le géant, vous étes riche. Vous devez étre généreur! "Mister giant, you are rich - you ought to be generous"Grutness...wha? 23:41, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

6.Fais attention! Tu dois planter ces graines immédiatenient! "Listen to me (literally "make attention")! You must plant these seeds immediately!" Grutness...wha? 23:41, 4 January 2007 (UTC) Thank you.[reply]

"Jacques et le beanstalk", perhaps? Grutness...wha? 23:41, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

With a bicycle instead of a cow; too cruel to sell a cow? Skittle 01:06, 5 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Some spelling corrections: 1. celte → cette. 5. généreur → généreux. 6. immédiatenient → immédiatement.  --LambiamTalk 01:11, 5 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]
"Le beanstalk"? Clarityfiend 02:38, 5 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]
My knowledge of French only stretches so far :) Grutness...wha? 12:48, 6 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]
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