Language names can be influenced by historical power dynamics, mutual miscommunication, and pejorative naming.
Translating language names requires considering historical and cultural context to avoid miscommunications and inaccuracies in translation.
Deep dives
Language Names and Their Complexity
Language names can be complex and nuanced, often presenting challenges when referring to different languages. Exploring the topic of language names, this podcast episode delves into the fascinating world of endonyms (names used within a community) and exonyms (names given by outsiders). The complexity arises from various factors such as historical power dynamics, mutual miscommunication, translation practices, and pejorative naming. Examples include the German language (referred to as Deutsch, Aleman, or German), Australian Indigenous languages with their exonyms and endonyms, and the diverse names for Creole languages. The episode recognizes the importance of using language names preferred by the communities themselves and encourages respectful attitudes towards name changes and adaptations.
Navigating Language Names Globally
The podcast discusses the inconsistencies and variations in language names across different regions. It highlights the differences between endonyms and exonyms, showcasing examples like Italian and Italiano, Navajo and Dine, and languages in Canada's indigenous context. The episode also touches on the use of acronyms for language names and explores the implications of power dynamics, colonial history, and cultural context on language naming practices. It emphasizes the significance of respecting the preferences of language communities and acknowledging the ever-changing nature of language names.
Translating Names and Miscommunication
The podcast explores the challenges of translating language names and the miscommunications that can arise. It delves into instances where language names are directly translated or partially translated into other languages. Examples include the name Lightwulbury (an indigenous Australian mixed language) translating as Lightwulbury from Wulbury Rameku and the Mihmak language known as Maliseet due to a misunderstanding of the phrase 'they speak slowly' in a neighboring indigenous language. The episode highlights the importance of considering the historical and cultural context when translating and providing language names.
Power Dynamics and Indigenous Language Naming
Focusing on indigenous language naming practices, the podcast elucidates the power dynamics inherent within the process. It discusses the pejorative exonyms assigned by outsiders to indigenous languages and the implications of colonial history. Examples include the naming of the Mein language as Mihmak by the Mi'kmaq people and the renaming of the Kagat language to Shuba. The episode emphasizes the need for sensitivity and respect in language naming, as well as recognizing the self-determination of indigenous communities in choosing their own language names.
Language names come from many sources. Sometimes they’re related to a geographical feature or name of a group of people. Sometimes they’re related to the word for “talk” or “language” in the language itself; other times the name that outsiders call the language is completely different from the insider name. Sometimes they come from mistakes: a name that got mis-applied or even a pejorative description from a neighbouring group.
In this episode, your hosts Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne get enthusiastic about how languages are named! We talk about how naming a language makes it more legible to broader organizations like governments and academics, similar to how birth certificates and passports make humans legible to institutions. And like how individual people can change their names, sometimes groups of people decide to change the name that their language is known by, a process that in both cases can take a lot of paperwork.
Read the transcript here: https://lingthusiasm.com/post/707010521186107392/transcript-episode-76-where-language-names-come
Announcements:
We’re doing another Lingthusiasm liveshow! February 18th (Canada) slash 19th (Australia)! (What time is that for me?) We'll be returning to one of our fan-favourite topics and answering your questions about language and gender with returning special guest Dr. Kirby Conrod! (See Kirby’s previous interview with us about the grammar of singular they.)
This liveshow is for Lingthusiam patrons and will take place on the Lingthusiasm Discord server. Become a patron before the event to ask us questions in advance or live-react in the text chat. This episode will also be available as an edited-for-legibility recording in your usual Patreon live feed if you prefer to listen at a later date. In the meantime: tell us about your favourite examples of gender in various languages and we might include them in the show! www.patreon.com/lingthusiasm
In this month’s bonus episode we get enthusiastic about some of our favourite deleted bits from previous interviews that we didn't quite have space to share with you. Think of it as a special bonus edition DVD from the past two years of Lingthusiasm with director's commentary and deleted scenes from interviews with Kat Gupta, Lucy Maddox, and Randall Munroe.
Join us on Patreon now to get access to this and 70+ other bonus episodes, as well as access to the Lingthusiasm Discord server where you can chat with other language nerds, and get access to our upcoming liveshow! www.patreon.com/lingthusiasm
For the links mentioned in the episode: https://lingthusiasm.com/post/706926160206086144/episode-76-where-language-names-come-from-and-why
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