A true NY treasure! Delightful!
I asked my companion if he knew how to say "butterfly" in cat. After giving me a look that says, "You are one dumb bunny," he answered the question: "meeYOW"
I asked my companion if he knew how to say "butterfly" in cat. After giving me a look that says, "You are one dumb bunny," he answered the question: "meeYOW"
2
Alibangbang (Visayan) Ah-lee-bung-bung
Paru-paru (Tagalog / Filipino) Puh-roo puh-roo
Paru-paru (Tagalog / Filipino) Puh-roo puh-roo
1
Holly Tooker's butterfly enterprise impressed me immensely! I remember as a child in New Delhi chasing butterflies in our sunlit garden with the Hindi cry of "tidali!" although some of my Muslim buddies preferred their native Urdu term "parvaana!" Those were halcyon days that one recalls effortlessly. On the linguistic side, and without detracting in any way from William Beeman's writing on the subject, I did - not entirely facetiously - come up with a new word for that beautiful winged insect amongst my friends, namely, the Spoonerized "flutterby" that at the very least has the merit of defining what the creature actually does, apart from looking pretty and iridescent on the fly.
8
I don't know what language is Madrahi. Pardon my ignorance. But I know "Patang-EE-yoo". It is the same word for butterfly in Gujarati language. It literally means - a baby-kite, a little-kite, a tiny-kite - an apt description in any language!
7
I'm delighted to be quoted in this article. Anyone wishing to read my paper on this topic can find it at
https://www.academia.edu/6868937/The_Elusive_Butterfly
https://www.academia.edu/6868937/The_Elusive_Butterfly
7
Professor Beeman,
Your list is interesting but may have an error or two. Butterfly in Gujarati language you list is: Popti. I have never heard that! It should be Patang-ee-yoo.
In some other languages I also noticed a resemblance to Locust. Have you listed locust and butterfly and compared? Just curious.
Your list is interesting but may have an error or two. Butterfly in Gujarati language you list is: Popti. I have never heard that! It should be Patang-ee-yoo.
In some other languages I also noticed a resemblance to Locust. Have you listed locust and butterfly and compared? Just curious.
2
I thoroughly enjoyed your learned article, especially your term 'repetitious sound symbolism' (RSS?) that encapsulates the prevalence in most cases of the letter 'p' repeated in languages as far apart geographically as the Samoan 'pepe' (which is not listed in your absorbing piece) and, say, the ubiquitous French 'papillon.' Perhaps a 'name your butterfly network' online is called for to 'capture' all the other terms used in this increasingly global world of ours to christen this perennial delight of Nature in flight.
2
You forgot Igbo - kpankpana
2
The Navajo (dine' bizaad) is "kalogi."
Anyone recognize any similarities to another Athapaskan (or for that matter, Asian) language?
Anyone recognize any similarities to another Athapaskan (or for that matter, Asian) language?
4
Very interesting. Being a language fan, I noticed this some years ago and started keeping a list of the word for butterfly in various languages. I was puzzled by the non-relatedness of the word in related languages (e.g. French, Spanish, Italian).
5
Schmetterling.
Holly Tooker is a unique and beautiful specimen.
13
Well, her Mandarin is good, but whomever transliterated it remains incorrect: it's a D sound, rather than a T, as such: HOO-DYEH. That's a bit more correct and standard, and most, if not all, Mandarin speakers will understand that, and not so much "HOOT-yee-EH".
Sorry.
Sorry.
2
Hi, John! You are right, of course, and if you play the audio of my saying various words, you will hear me say it correctly. My phonetic version is close to yours.
2
This is one of the most fascinating and uplifting stories I have read in a long time.
22
The metamorphosis of the caterpillar into the butterfly is a beautiful miracle. Holly Tooker has a gift for transforming a museum into an experience of cordiality. Lovely!
16
Terrific story. Hats off to Chris Norris — and to Holly Tooker.
22
Kudos to you, Holly Tooker!