Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2012 May 13

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May 13

What is the correct reading for "鹿目?"

How is this supposed to be read? To my knowledge, "鹿目" can be read as "Kaname", but Google Translate insists that it is read as "Kanome". "鹿" can be read as "shika" and "目" can be read as me, but which is the correct reading? Narutolovehinata5 ^tccsdnew 11:14, 13 May 2012 (UTC)

It depends. 鹿目の滝, a water fall in Kumamoto, is Kaname no Taki. 鹿目まどか, an anime character, is Kaname Madoka. But 鹿目善輔, an Imperial Japanese navy officer, was Zensuke Kanome. 鹿目由紀, a playwright, is Yuki Kanome. 鹿目付, a historical post of deer keeper in Nara was Shikametsuke. Oda Mari (talk) 16:59, 13 May 2012 (UTC)

Hand meaning skill

Is there a period in time (century) when "hand" or "hands" had more of a meaning of "skill" than today? When did this usage begin? Example: This was made by my hand meaning, "This was made by my skill." Another example: These purses were made by my hands meaning "These purses were made by my skills."--Christie the puppy lover (talk) 12:17, 13 May 2012 (UTC)

I don't see either of those as meaning "skill(s)", specifically. 86.181.205.76 (talk) 13:56, 13 May 2012 (UTC)

It doesn't really mean skill, it just means you made it yourself. Although there's a nuance there, suggesting skillful work, otherwise why bring it up? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:47, 13 May 2012 (UTC)

The information at wikt:hand includes this definition.

• Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.

Then it includes a quotation of this statement by Joseph Addison in The Spectator on October 2, 1712.

• My friend Will Honeycomb has told me for above this half year, that he had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator, and that he would fain have one of his writing in my works.

—Wavelength (talk) 19:19, 13 May 2012 (UTC)

The OED has as its meaning 11 for hand: "Capacity of doing something with the hand, and hence of doing generally; skill, ability, knack", with quotations from 1398 to 1881. However, the use seems obsolete to me, except in a few set phrases such as try one's hand and a dab hand. --ColinFine (talk) 22:12, 13 May 2012 (UTC)

I can't give dictionary references, but "hand-" as a prefix can infer quality even today. Words like "handmade" and "handcrafted" carry a whiff of the master artisan, whereas "homemade" sounds like someone on their third carpentry or knitting project. --NellieBly (talk) 19:26, 14 May 2012 (UTC)

From my reading of (well-researched) novels (such as many by Ellis Peters) set in Mediaeval England, the term "he is a man of his hands" (which might be used in reference to oneself, e.g. "I am a man of my hands") meant in that milieu that the man referred to was trained in the armed combat skills required by a squire, knight or other fighting man, such as the use of mace, sword, dagger, etc. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 84.21.143.150 (talk) 11:38, 14 May 2012 (UTC)

Question for ColinFine: Can you give me the quotation of what the OED shows for 1398? Thanks bunches.--Christie the puppy lover (talk) 18:53, 14 May 2012 (UTC)

If I may substitute for Colin, it says:

"1398 TREVISA Barth. De P. R. v. xxviii.(1493) 137 We sayen thyse haue a good hond, that is to vnderstonde, a good crafte of wrytynge other of payntynge."

{The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.197.66.211 (talk) 00:28, 15 May 2012 (UTC)

I must hand it to all you excellent editors for giving me a hand at this question. Thank you.--Christie the puppy lover (talk) 16:03, 16 May 2012 (UTC)

In today's English, what would "wrytynge" be and what might "payntynge" be?--Christie the puppy lover (talk) 17:28, 17 May 2012 (UTC)

"Writing" and "painting" (and other is "or"). Deor (talk) 18:44, 17 May 2012 (UTC)

Hakuna matata

Hi. How does one say Hakuna matata in the Pirahã language? Thanks. ~AH1 ^(discuss!) 21:21, 13 May 2012 (UTC)

How does one say "Inutile est" in the Lower Elbonian dialect of Vedic Sanskrit? -- AnonMoos (talk) 04:30, 14 May 2012 (UTC)

If you're wondering what native expression in Pirahã most closely captures the flavor of "hakuna matata", you're asking a very esoteric question that is not likely to be answered here. If you email your question to a Pirahã specialist, you might receive a helpful reply. Unfortunately, you'll have no way of knowing if the translation you've been given is accurate, or if the linguist is just humoring you with a random sequence of letters. LANTZY^TALK 12:23, 14 May 2012 (UTC)

By far the leading Pirahã expert in the English-speaking world is Daniel Everett (though not all his conclusions are undisputed by other linguists), so AstroTurf001 could have cut out the middleman and wasted Everett's time, instead of semi-trolling here... AnonMoos (talk) 12:54, 14 May 2012 (UTC)

"ever" in Spanish

Let say I want to say. It is the hardest thing "ever"!. I meant like It is the hardest thing from the beginning of time to this moment! How do i say it in spanish? The word "ever"! Thanks!Pendragon5 (talk) 22:15, 13 May 2012 (UTC)

Es la cosa más difícil de todos los tiempos. Lesgles (talk) 02:37, 14 May 2012 (UTC)

Or simply Es lo dificilísimo. LANTZY^TALK 07:48, 14 May 2012 (UTC)