Word for the Travel Wise (09/04/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Turkmens.com is the Internet’s number one site on everything Turkmen. If you want to hear Turkmen pop music, Turkmen classical music, see Turkmen horses, Turkmen art work and Turkmen artists you’ve found the right link. This was one of those countries I expected to google online and find nothing about, but this site alone proves I’m wrong. Of some of the more fascinating links I would check out the Turkmen museum which features Dr. Farzad Marjani’s private collection of jewelry. Impressive pieces. I wouldn’t mind owning something like the items seen there. Anyhow…

Today’s word is a Turkmen word used in Turkmenistan:

näche – how much?

Turkmen is the national language of Turkmenistan with some 3,430,000 speakers within the country and 3,000,000 throughout parts of Iran, Afghanistan and Turkey. The language is more closely related to Crimean Tatar and Salar and less closely related to Turkish and Azerbaijani. Wiki has good background info including additional learning links. If you’ve some knowledge of the lingo already visit this tmchat forum to learn by hanging out and chatting with other members. Same rule applies if you’re going to stop by this Dersat Turkmens page which says you can learn and has samples, tests and conversation, but it’s difficult to understand without basic skills in place. Transparent.com has Turkmen language software and LP’s Central Asia phrasebook has only a small section of Turkmen.

Word for the Travel Wise (09/03/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Just came across the tourism.uz site which I don’t recall seeing in the past and there is a bundle of useful information for travelers planning Central Asian Uzbek travel. This tip should be almost a no-brainer, but under their general info page they say not expect much of restroom facilities outside of major hotels and modern apartment buildings. So there you have it – don’t say I didn’t try to tell you so if you go looking for high-class potties.

Today’s word is a Uzbek word used in Uzbekistan:

hojathona – bathroom

Uzbek is spoken by 18.5 million in Uzbekistan and across Central Asia. It is the official language of Uzbekistan and classified as an Eastern Turkic language in the Qarluq. Wiki has great background on the lang as usual where as you can find an incredible list of the most common Uzbek words at this Introduction to Uzbek Language site. In addition to the wordlist there is also a small section for pronunciation and grammar.

Past Uzbek words: arzimaydi

Word for the Travel Wise (09/02/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

I’ve used climbing K2, the second highest mountain on Earth, as a conversation starter before, but it won’t keep me from using it again. After you see today’s word from one of the lesser spoken languages of Pakistan you’ll understand why.

Today’s word is a Khowar word used in Pakistan:

zoom – mountain

Khowar is classified as a Dardic language and is spoken by some 400,000 people in Northwest Pakistan. If you’re going over to the country try learning Urdu first. Online sources for Khowar are scarce.

Urdu is the official language of Pakistan, spoken by some 61 million natives and 104 million total. The language falls under the Indo-Aryan family, developed under Persian, Turkish, and Arabic. From my own Persian studies I’ve noticed several closely related if not exact same word. Unless someone out there has a few recommendations on learning Urdu on the web other than what is provided here, this could be a small challenge. For some basics on the script and general background info visit UK India. Otherwise I’d say it’s time to head over to My Language Exchange to find some native speakers looking to swap your lingo knowledge for theirs. Click here for a pretty good blog on a world of Urdu topics.

Past Urdu words from Pakistan: khatarnak, saman

Great Book: The Smaller Majority

by Erik Olsen on

I posted about this wonderful book way back when, but just dusted it off from my bookshelf and wanted to mention in again. The fact is, most of us who live in cities easily forget how much of the world is occupied by millions of little creatures who fill the forests, oceans, deserts, and so on across the globe. One scientist/photographer knows ths well, and he has published a lovely book of his photos about this little world of critters.

Called The Smaller Majority the book really lays out in the most vivid color how amazing the world beneath our noses really is. The book is the work of Piotr Naskrecki, the Director of the Invertebrate Diversity Initiative of Conservation International and Research Associate with the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University. His 268 page coffee table-style book is filled with some of the most amazing images you will ever see. Really nice.

Photo of the Day (9/2/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on


Looking at a photo like this one might imagine that the large group of villagers dressed in their everyday attire have come together to watch a wrestling match or two goats brutally head-butt each other, but in this case both guesses would be so wrong. This shot of on-lookers was captured by teokaye at a Tajik wedding. The children look on so intensely it really makes you wonder. He notes that 85% of everyone doesn’t participate and isn’t even invited at most Tajik village weddings. In Tajik culture it’s pretty much a given that they’ll show up. Only family and friends dance. Now that’s how you crash a wedding party!