Ooo... shiny...

[neotoma]

The fact that I found a Proto-Indo-European dictionary-translator with accompanying word list, is probably not good, just from a time-consumed-by-nifty-tool perspective.

It's like finding the Latin Dictionary and Grammar Aid.

I am slightly confused that there is a word in the PIE word list for 'brass' but not 'bronze', since they are not the same alloy, but maybe that wasn't a distinction made during the PIE period..?

Comments

[ellen_fremedon]

but maybe that wasn't a distinction made during the PIE period..?

Correct.

[neotoma]

Yeah, I realized that after about a half hour of going '???'

I mean, *we* see a big difference between brass and bronze but back then they were probably all 'copper alloy! which is stronger than copper! neat!'

[ellen_fremedon]

Or, in a lot of times and places, "Hey! This copper doesn't bend like the other copper! I bet you could even make a spearhead out of it!"

[neotoma]

I really was just looking to see what it would sound like if I named a character 'Bronze Horse' -- that would be a suitably badass name for a culture that hadn't gotten to iron and steel yet, right?

[ellen_fremedon]

Anything with 'horse' in it would probably be suitably badass.

[neotoma]

Given that horses were associated with the elite and the gods?

[ellen_fremedon]

And hugely important to subsistence and economics, yes.

[neotoma]

Just looking through the word list, I'm finding it interesting what plants and animals we have PIE words for, and which we don't... and how there seem to be at least *four* words for terms like 'hair' and 'penis'...

Humanity really doesn't change that much, hmmm? ;)

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

They were important and subject to damage.

[ellen_fremedon]

Also two entirely different words for "to fart loudly" and "to fart quietly."

[neotoma]

:D Oh, humans. We're kind of predictable.

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

Yes, and someone got fart humor in due South (looks at PG).

=)

[neotoma]

The words or the things themselves?

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

The phalluses(phalli?)[can you tell I never took Latin?] and the hair.