Which term is being referred to with “reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits”?
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Which term is being referred to with “reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits”?
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
In The Colour of Magic, on page 46 of my copy, Twoflower says this word:
“Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?”
Which term is being referred to above?
It seems to be like “in-sewer-ants-policy”, i.e. a term that they don’t have a word for in the language (“insurance policy”), but I can’t figure out what it’d be.
I asked two people who couldn’t figure it out, either.
discworld language-explanation
|
show 6 more comments
In The Colour of Magic, on page 46 of my copy, Twoflower says this word:
“Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?”
Which term is being referred to above?
It seems to be like “in-sewer-ants-policy”, i.e. a term that they don’t have a word for in the language (“insurance policy”), but I can’t figure out what it’d be.
I asked two people who couldn’t figure it out, either.
discworld language-explanation
5
Maybe provide a bit more context for this?
– JMac
yesterday
3
@JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.
– Valorum
yesterday
3
@Valorum I had read this part of the book and couldn't remember what it was referring to without seeing the answers. It seems strange to me. Does Twoflowers actually say "Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?" (doesn't seem right) or was that something Rincewind was thinking after Twoflowers tries to explain to him what he does?
– JMac
yesterday
4
@JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"
– Valorum
yesterday
3
@Randal'Thor Yes. That's weird.
– only_pro
16 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
In The Colour of Magic, on page 46 of my copy, Twoflower says this word:
“Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?”
Which term is being referred to above?
It seems to be like “in-sewer-ants-policy”, i.e. a term that they don’t have a word for in the language (“insurance policy”), but I can’t figure out what it’d be.
I asked two people who couldn’t figure it out, either.
discworld language-explanation
In The Colour of Magic, on page 46 of my copy, Twoflower says this word:
“Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?”
Which term is being referred to above?
It seems to be like “in-sewer-ants-policy”, i.e. a term that they don’t have a word for in the language (“insurance policy”), but I can’t figure out what it’d be.
I asked two people who couldn’t figure it out, either.
discworld language-explanation
discworld language-explanation
edited 1 hour ago
NotThatGuy
1093
1093
asked yesterday
StormblessedStormblessed
3,09511346
3,09511346
5
Maybe provide a bit more context for this?
– JMac
yesterday
3
@JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.
– Valorum
yesterday
3
@Valorum I had read this part of the book and couldn't remember what it was referring to without seeing the answers. It seems strange to me. Does Twoflowers actually say "Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?" (doesn't seem right) or was that something Rincewind was thinking after Twoflowers tries to explain to him what he does?
– JMac
yesterday
4
@JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"
– Valorum
yesterday
3
@Randal'Thor Yes. That's weird.
– only_pro
16 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
5
Maybe provide a bit more context for this?
– JMac
yesterday
3
@JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.
– Valorum
yesterday
3
@Valorum I had read this part of the book and couldn't remember what it was referring to without seeing the answers. It seems strange to me. Does Twoflowers actually say "Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?" (doesn't seem right) or was that something Rincewind was thinking after Twoflowers tries to explain to him what he does?
– JMac
yesterday
4
@JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"
– Valorum
yesterday
3
@Randal'Thor Yes. That's weird.
– only_pro
16 hours ago
5
5
Maybe provide a bit more context for this?
– JMac
yesterday
Maybe provide a bit more context for this?
– JMac
yesterday
3
3
@JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.
– Valorum
yesterday
@JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.
– Valorum
yesterday
3
3
@Valorum I had read this part of the book and couldn't remember what it was referring to without seeing the answers. It seems strange to me. Does Twoflowers actually say "Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?" (doesn't seem right) or was that something Rincewind was thinking after Twoflowers tries to explain to him what he does?
– JMac
yesterday
@Valorum I had read this part of the book and couldn't remember what it was referring to without seeing the answers. It seems strange to me. Does Twoflowers actually say "Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?" (doesn't seem right) or was that something Rincewind was thinking after Twoflowers tries to explain to him what he does?
– JMac
yesterday
4
4
@JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"
– Valorum
yesterday
@JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"
– Valorum
yesterday
3
3
@Randal'Thor Yes. That's weird.
– only_pro
16 hours ago
@Randal'Thor Yes. That's weird.
– only_pro
16 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
The word is "echo-gnomics" ("economics")
An echo is a reflected sound; gnomes live underground.
Etymologically, "gnomes" [mythology] are described as "a legendary race of human-like beings, usually imagined as short and possibly bearded males, who inhabit the inner parts of the earth and act as guardians of mines, mineral treasure, etc." (Source: wiktionary)
Apparently I've played too much D&D where gnomes aren't specifically tied to the underground.
5
And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!
– ruakh
yesterday
9
Those are gnomish felons, @ruakh. Gardens are the penal colonies of the gnome race, much like Australia was for Britain at one point. The bright clothing is both a punishment and a guard against escape.
– Paul
yesterday
1
In D&D, gnomes have night vision and live in burrows, so they are pretty tied to underground. Are you mistaking them for halflings?
– Matthieu M.
yesterday
add a comment |
Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book (emphasis added):
Bloody hell, he thought. He’s alive! Me too. Who’d have thought it? Perhaps there is something in this reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits? It was a cumbersome phrase. Rincewind tried to get his tongue around the thick syllables that were the word in Twoflower’s own language.
“Ecolirix?” he tried. “Ecro-gnothics? Echo-gnomics?”
That would do. That sounded about right.
As with 'insurance', the concept of 'economics' (a reflected sound is an echo, underground spirits are gnomes) is largely unheard of in that part of the disc. Rincewind describes it as 'financial wizardry' (emphasis added):
“Well, my point is, you see, that gold also has its sort of magical field. Sort of financial wizardry. Echo-gnomics.” Rincewind giggled.
28
Might be worth pointing out that echo-gnomics would be pronounced economics, something that wouldn't be immediately obvious to people fortunate enough to have been raised speaking languages with rational spelling.
– terdon
yesterday
2
While a fair point, in my accent at least, echo-gnomics and economics sound quite different!
– Two-Bit Alchemist
18 hours ago
8
@Two-BitAlchemist - I really can't be held accountable for the way that you colonials butcher the English language
– Valorum
18 hours ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
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votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
The word is "echo-gnomics" ("economics")
An echo is a reflected sound; gnomes live underground.
Etymologically, "gnomes" [mythology] are described as "a legendary race of human-like beings, usually imagined as short and possibly bearded males, who inhabit the inner parts of the earth and act as guardians of mines, mineral treasure, etc." (Source: wiktionary)
Apparently I've played too much D&D where gnomes aren't specifically tied to the underground.
5
And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!
– ruakh
yesterday
9
Those are gnomish felons, @ruakh. Gardens are the penal colonies of the gnome race, much like Australia was for Britain at one point. The bright clothing is both a punishment and a guard against escape.
– Paul
yesterday
1
In D&D, gnomes have night vision and live in burrows, so they are pretty tied to underground. Are you mistaking them for halflings?
– Matthieu M.
yesterday
add a comment |
The word is "echo-gnomics" ("economics")
An echo is a reflected sound; gnomes live underground.
Etymologically, "gnomes" [mythology] are described as "a legendary race of human-like beings, usually imagined as short and possibly bearded males, who inhabit the inner parts of the earth and act as guardians of mines, mineral treasure, etc." (Source: wiktionary)
Apparently I've played too much D&D where gnomes aren't specifically tied to the underground.
5
And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!
– ruakh
yesterday
9
Those are gnomish felons, @ruakh. Gardens are the penal colonies of the gnome race, much like Australia was for Britain at one point. The bright clothing is both a punishment and a guard against escape.
– Paul
yesterday
1
In D&D, gnomes have night vision and live in burrows, so they are pretty tied to underground. Are you mistaking them for halflings?
– Matthieu M.
yesterday
add a comment |
The word is "echo-gnomics" ("economics")
An echo is a reflected sound; gnomes live underground.
Etymologically, "gnomes" [mythology] are described as "a legendary race of human-like beings, usually imagined as short and possibly bearded males, who inhabit the inner parts of the earth and act as guardians of mines, mineral treasure, etc." (Source: wiktionary)
Apparently I've played too much D&D where gnomes aren't specifically tied to the underground.
The word is "echo-gnomics" ("economics")
An echo is a reflected sound; gnomes live underground.
Etymologically, "gnomes" [mythology] are described as "a legendary race of human-like beings, usually imagined as short and possibly bearded males, who inhabit the inner parts of the earth and act as guardians of mines, mineral treasure, etc." (Source: wiktionary)
Apparently I've played too much D&D where gnomes aren't specifically tied to the underground.
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
DavidWDavidW
4,57521753
4,57521753
5
And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!
– ruakh
yesterday
9
Those are gnomish felons, @ruakh. Gardens are the penal colonies of the gnome race, much like Australia was for Britain at one point. The bright clothing is both a punishment and a guard against escape.
– Paul
yesterday
1
In D&D, gnomes have night vision and live in burrows, so they are pretty tied to underground. Are you mistaking them for halflings?
– Matthieu M.
yesterday
add a comment |
5
And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!
– ruakh
yesterday
9
Those are gnomish felons, @ruakh. Gardens are the penal colonies of the gnome race, much like Australia was for Britain at one point. The bright clothing is both a punishment and a guard against escape.
– Paul
yesterday
1
In D&D, gnomes have night vision and live in burrows, so they are pretty tied to underground. Are you mistaking them for halflings?
– Matthieu M.
yesterday
5
5
And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!
– ruakh
yesterday
And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!
– ruakh
yesterday
9
9
Those are gnomish felons, @ruakh. Gardens are the penal colonies of the gnome race, much like Australia was for Britain at one point. The bright clothing is both a punishment and a guard against escape.
– Paul
yesterday
Those are gnomish felons, @ruakh. Gardens are the penal colonies of the gnome race, much like Australia was for Britain at one point. The bright clothing is both a punishment and a guard against escape.
– Paul
yesterday
1
1
In D&D, gnomes have night vision and live in burrows, so they are pretty tied to underground. Are you mistaking them for halflings?
– Matthieu M.
yesterday
In D&D, gnomes have night vision and live in burrows, so they are pretty tied to underground. Are you mistaking them for halflings?
– Matthieu M.
yesterday
add a comment |
Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book (emphasis added):
Bloody hell, he thought. He’s alive! Me too. Who’d have thought it? Perhaps there is something in this reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits? It was a cumbersome phrase. Rincewind tried to get his tongue around the thick syllables that were the word in Twoflower’s own language.
“Ecolirix?” he tried. “Ecro-gnothics? Echo-gnomics?”
That would do. That sounded about right.
As with 'insurance', the concept of 'economics' (a reflected sound is an echo, underground spirits are gnomes) is largely unheard of in that part of the disc. Rincewind describes it as 'financial wizardry' (emphasis added):
“Well, my point is, you see, that gold also has its sort of magical field. Sort of financial wizardry. Echo-gnomics.” Rincewind giggled.
28
Might be worth pointing out that echo-gnomics would be pronounced economics, something that wouldn't be immediately obvious to people fortunate enough to have been raised speaking languages with rational spelling.
– terdon
yesterday
2
While a fair point, in my accent at least, echo-gnomics and economics sound quite different!
– Two-Bit Alchemist
18 hours ago
8
@Two-BitAlchemist - I really can't be held accountable for the way that you colonials butcher the English language
– Valorum
18 hours ago
add a comment |
Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book (emphasis added):
Bloody hell, he thought. He’s alive! Me too. Who’d have thought it? Perhaps there is something in this reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits? It was a cumbersome phrase. Rincewind tried to get his tongue around the thick syllables that were the word in Twoflower’s own language.
“Ecolirix?” he tried. “Ecro-gnothics? Echo-gnomics?”
That would do. That sounded about right.
As with 'insurance', the concept of 'economics' (a reflected sound is an echo, underground spirits are gnomes) is largely unheard of in that part of the disc. Rincewind describes it as 'financial wizardry' (emphasis added):
“Well, my point is, you see, that gold also has its sort of magical field. Sort of financial wizardry. Echo-gnomics.” Rincewind giggled.
28
Might be worth pointing out that echo-gnomics would be pronounced economics, something that wouldn't be immediately obvious to people fortunate enough to have been raised speaking languages with rational spelling.
– terdon
yesterday
2
While a fair point, in my accent at least, echo-gnomics and economics sound quite different!
– Two-Bit Alchemist
18 hours ago
8
@Two-BitAlchemist - I really can't be held accountable for the way that you colonials butcher the English language
– Valorum
18 hours ago
add a comment |
Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book (emphasis added):
Bloody hell, he thought. He’s alive! Me too. Who’d have thought it? Perhaps there is something in this reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits? It was a cumbersome phrase. Rincewind tried to get his tongue around the thick syllables that were the word in Twoflower’s own language.
“Ecolirix?” he tried. “Ecro-gnothics? Echo-gnomics?”
That would do. That sounded about right.
As with 'insurance', the concept of 'economics' (a reflected sound is an echo, underground spirits are gnomes) is largely unheard of in that part of the disc. Rincewind describes it as 'financial wizardry' (emphasis added):
“Well, my point is, you see, that gold also has its sort of magical field. Sort of financial wizardry. Echo-gnomics.” Rincewind giggled.
Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book (emphasis added):
Bloody hell, he thought. He’s alive! Me too. Who’d have thought it? Perhaps there is something in this reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits? It was a cumbersome phrase. Rincewind tried to get his tongue around the thick syllables that were the word in Twoflower’s own language.
“Ecolirix?” he tried. “Ecro-gnothics? Echo-gnomics?”
That would do. That sounded about right.
As with 'insurance', the concept of 'economics' (a reflected sound is an echo, underground spirits are gnomes) is largely unheard of in that part of the disc. Rincewind describes it as 'financial wizardry' (emphasis added):
“Well, my point is, you see, that gold also has its sort of magical field. Sort of financial wizardry. Echo-gnomics.” Rincewind giggled.
edited yesterday
Stormblessed
3,09511346
3,09511346
answered yesterday
ValorumValorum
418k11430393263
418k11430393263
28
Might be worth pointing out that echo-gnomics would be pronounced economics, something that wouldn't be immediately obvious to people fortunate enough to have been raised speaking languages with rational spelling.
– terdon
yesterday
2
While a fair point, in my accent at least, echo-gnomics and economics sound quite different!
– Two-Bit Alchemist
18 hours ago
8
@Two-BitAlchemist - I really can't be held accountable for the way that you colonials butcher the English language
– Valorum
18 hours ago
add a comment |
28
Might be worth pointing out that echo-gnomics would be pronounced economics, something that wouldn't be immediately obvious to people fortunate enough to have been raised speaking languages with rational spelling.
– terdon
yesterday
2
While a fair point, in my accent at least, echo-gnomics and economics sound quite different!
– Two-Bit Alchemist
18 hours ago
8
@Two-BitAlchemist - I really can't be held accountable for the way that you colonials butcher the English language
– Valorum
18 hours ago
28
28
Might be worth pointing out that echo-gnomics would be pronounced economics, something that wouldn't be immediately obvious to people fortunate enough to have been raised speaking languages with rational spelling.
– terdon
yesterday
Might be worth pointing out that echo-gnomics would be pronounced economics, something that wouldn't be immediately obvious to people fortunate enough to have been raised speaking languages with rational spelling.
– terdon
yesterday
2
2
While a fair point, in my accent at least, echo-gnomics and economics sound quite different!
– Two-Bit Alchemist
18 hours ago
While a fair point, in my accent at least, echo-gnomics and economics sound quite different!
– Two-Bit Alchemist
18 hours ago
8
8
@Two-BitAlchemist - I really can't be held accountable for the way that you colonials butcher the English language
– Valorum
18 hours ago
@Two-BitAlchemist - I really can't be held accountable for the way that you colonials butcher the English language
– Valorum
18 hours ago
add a comment |
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5
Maybe provide a bit more context for this?
– JMac
yesterday
3
@JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.
– Valorum
yesterday
3
@Valorum I had read this part of the book and couldn't remember what it was referring to without seeing the answers. It seems strange to me. Does Twoflowers actually say "Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?" (doesn't seem right) or was that something Rincewind was thinking after Twoflowers tries to explain to him what he does?
– JMac
yesterday
4
@JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"
– Valorum
yesterday
3
@Randal'Thor Yes. That's weird.
– only_pro
16 hours ago