Myth and Language

As I noted earlier, I am a philologist. For those of you who are unaware of that term, it can loosely be defined as a language geek. As such, I study languages just for the heck of it.

One thing to be noted about language is that much of culture is defined by them. We know what we know because our language allows us to know it. It is interesting to note that essentially all cultures of two creation stories: one, of the man, the other, of man's language.

Just as myth offers a glimpse into man, language provides a different angle. If someone tells me his favorit myth (assuming he knows many) I can tell you something about that person. Likewise, is someone tells me their favorit language (Tolkien's was Finnish, though he could not speak it), I can tell you something different about them.

(Shakespeare people, I'll get around to talking about the Bard eventually).


Tanyt Mariaimb, œndamb al inditarumbik, umbik Baelinœrl yshndilik.
Irumba anagarmenimbwal omba ndi ysha olientik
Anagarmynimbwal umbik ba hetelmaond nda yshaolianteitsh, Ieshuaond.
Andakish Mariaiamb, iliandi Veambariitsh,
Arʤaipriŋgtambir atmbi [at]arishilik,
Irumba œl kaniɱvaik mbapɸambiitsh.
Veambily.