Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
- Herra Ratatoskr
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
It's cognate with slay, but it has undergone some semantic drift in this case.
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
Does it still mean something violent/negative?Herra Ratatoskr wrote: ↑07 May 2019 20:25It's cognate with slay, but it has undergone some semantic drift in this case.
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
To clarify, is this a meaning that "slēan" did not have in Old English?
- Herra Ratatoskr
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
No, it didn't have the same meaning in Old English. It's less physically violent.
Also, I kind of messed up answering the question you asked about being related to slay. It's a descendent of sleġe, which meant "hit, blow", and is ultimately a derivative of the same root as "slay", but not directly a descendant of Old English slean. Sorry for any confusion that caused.
Also, I kind of messed up answering the question you asked about being related to slay. It's a descendent of sleġe, which meant "hit, blow", and is ultimately a derivative of the same root as "slay", but not directly a descendant of Old English slean. Sorry for any confusion that caused.
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
Oh, no worries! Thanks for the clarification. I figured it was probably a noun since it's the second half of the compound and the whole word is a noun.
Anyway, does it refer to some kind of non-physical aggression?
Anyway, does it refer to some kind of non-physical aggression?
- Herra Ratatoskr
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
If you're being VERY generous with the term "aggression", it probably could, but it probably wouldn't be how most people would think of it.
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
Hmm…
Is bifje a verb?
Is bifje a verb?
- Herra Ratatoskr
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
Is it a weak verb?
- Herra Ratatoskr
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
From bifian “to shake, tremble”?
- Herra Ratatoskr
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
Yep, now you have to put the two together and figure out the semantic drift.
Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
I’m guessing it’s “seizure”
- Herra Ratatoskr
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
No, but you're definitely headed in the right direction. I imagine that you've got the "sleje" part right, but the the "bifje" part narrowed its meaning some (in a general way compare how specific English "starve" is versus German "sterben").
- Herra Ratatoskr
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
This one's seems to have sputtered out; are people still interested in trying to solve it? Or should we throw in the towel and let another person have a word?
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
I'm definitely still interested, but also thoroughly stumped, I'd say. I'll have to look back over what's been confirmed already to see if anything jumps out at me.
- Herra Ratatoskr
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
Hm, didn't really think this would be that hard to figure out. Maybe post what you think each part of the compound signify and I can give a hint based on that?
Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
For the record I’m also still interested but I’m kinda at a loss as well. On top of that, I have 4 new classes I’m teaching and I’ve been working on my thesis for my MA and I haven’t had much time for conlanging.Herra Ratatoskr wrote: ↑22 Aug 2019 03:53This one's seems to have sputtered out; are people still interested in trying to solve it? Or should we throw in the towel and let another person have a word?
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Re: Guess the Word in Germanic Conlangs
I think this sort of thing does tend to seem easier to whoever knows the answer. Also, I think I'm just not very good at guessing things like semantic drift.Herra Ratatoskr wrote: ↑22 Aug 2019 23:40Hm, didn't really think this would be that hard to figure out. Maybe post what you think each part of the compound signify and I can give a hint based on that?
I've tried to compile everything that's been confirmed so far.
bifjesleje
/ˈbɪv.i.ˌzɫɛj/
- A noun.
- No affixes are present.
- A compound of two roots ("bifje-sleje").
- A weak verb.
- Descended from Old English "bifian", but its meaning has narrowed (generally comparable to "starve" vs. German "sterben").
- A noun.
- Descended from Old English "sleġe" and cognate with "slay", but has undergone semantic drift.
- Has a violent/negative meaning, but less physically violent than "slay".
- Most people would not think of its meaning as a type of aggression.
While putting this together, I thought I'd finally figured it out, only to see that spanick had already guessed "seizure" in June. I know it's not that, but is it a medical term at all?