Re: Directions

[Andrew Smith <hobbit@MAIL.EARTHLIGHT.CO.NZ>]

On Sun, 19 Apr 1998, Padraic Brown wrote:

> Kernu does something similar, except that the directions derived from
> natural sources are east and west, rather than north and south.  East is
> "suil" (to the Sun); west is "meir" (to the Sea); south is "geil" (to
> Gaul); and north is "seneis" (to the left) or "freid" (to the cold). All
> of these are dative nouns that function as adverbs.
>
> We've also got "est", "west", "sute" and "norte".  The latter seem to be
> handy with tourists and the like who aren't prepared for the
> idiosyncracies of the other system.
>
> So far as I know, Brithenig has at least "est" for east.  Based on that, I
> think it safe to assume similar common European forms for the other three.
>
Not sure yet.  I know that Brithenig certainly uses "druith", right, for
south.  Welsh is very resistant to using the common European forms, and
I'm wondering if Brithenig should be the same.  I'm reluctant to use west
because in Brithenig that should be pronounced and written as "gwest",
maybe "oest" if I use the common forms.  If I don't, then "est" will be
replaced as well, possibly with *orient/occident or with forms translated
from Welsh - not that I've figured out what they literally translate as,
if they do at all!

- andrew.

Andrew Smith                                  <hobbit@earthlight.co.nz>

MAN, despite his artistic pretensions, his sophistication, and his many
accomplishments; still owes his existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil
and the fact that it rains.
                                                           - Anonymous