italki - Anvil, sickle and scythe - words we often don't learn in our target languages Yesterday I started a

Miriam

Anvil, sickle and scythe - words we often don't learn in our target languages

Yesterday I started a discussion about the expression "caught between a rock and a hard place" and similar sayings: <a href="https://www.italki.com/discussion/228638" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.italki.com/discussion/228638</a>;. It turned out, that one synonymous phrase "between the hammer and the anvil" also exists in German and Arabic. This reminded me of a discussion in another language forum where the OP posted a picture of things we normally know in our mother tongue but often not in our target languages. There was also a picture of an anvil and honestly, I learnt the word "anvil" only then, because before I apparently never needed to talk about anvils in English. I showed the picture to my ten year old son and he immediately said "Easy. That's an anvil." I was astonished that he, who is still on an A2 level in English would know such a word but it turns out that anvils are quite common in the computer game Minecraft, so gaming does have positive side effects for kids...

Be honest: Could you translate "between the hammer and the anvil" directly in your target language? What about "hammer and sickle"? Do you know how to say "scythe" in any other language than your own? (Btw, the Grim Reaper, is called Sensenmann, i.e. "scythe man", in German). And if you're a non-native English speaker who also studies other languages, why do you know these words in English but not your other target languages?

Well, you might say that anvils, sickles and scythes aren't common household appliances nowadays. Ok, could you express the following everyday sentences with ease in your target languages then?

Your fly's open.

The zipper is broken.

Do you need help tying your laces?

Where's the whisk?

Honestly, I would struggle to translate those sentences even into my stronger target languages.

The German equivalents are quite funny, so I'll provide them here with literal translations.

fly = Hosentür (pants door)

zipper = Reissverschluss (rip fastener)

laces = Schnürsenkel (lace lace; to lace = schnüren; Senkel = a lace)

whisk = Schneebesen (snow broom)

What are words that you use on a daily basis in your mother tongue but wouldn't know in your target languages?

Feb 26, 2020 11:56 AM

Comments · 8

@John

That is interesting information about Turkish. Yes, often different concepts exist in the various language. LIke in Russian, there are different words for light blue and dark blue. Would be interresting to know why there is an extra word for dirty dishes in Turkish.

@Nada

Yes, in the other thread Abdullah mentioned the Arabic version of "between the hammer and the anvil". I wonder why this saying is known in different languages.

@Richard

Where did you find those numbers? I guess it's safe to say that a hammer is still a common tool in every household, while many people don't see the need to have an anvil or a scythe at home. I think the use of the word sickle increased because during communist times the hammer and the sickle were common symbols, so people would also write about it: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammer_and_sickle" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammer_and_sickle</a>;. Also, I think nowadays it's most commonly used in the word "sickle cell disease/anemia", a disease that was only discovered in the late 19th century and officially named in 1922 (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle_cell_disease" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle_cell_disease</a>;).

Also, I guess that there are way more idioms in English containing the word "hammer", than the other ones.

February 26, 2020

Bulaştirmak to contaminate is the logic and thinking [ I think after several dictionary searches]

It has occurred to me that I tend to use the word 'irrespective' somewhat often.

Now idea how to say it in any other language.

Your sentences are relatively easy in my target language.

Your fly's open. FermurIN açik

The zipper is broken. Fermuar bozulDU

Do you need help tying your laces? [eger] Lacrs bağlamma yardima ihityacınız var mı?

Where's the whisk? çırpma teli nerede [whisk where?]

number three for the laces I am not 100% sure upon there may be a set phrase

February 26, 2020

I know the Bengali words for hammer and sickle, the latter mostly courtesy ex USSR. I have no clue how an anvil is called. Words like lace and zipper are directly borrowed from English.

February 26, 2020

Hello Miriam,

Anvil and scythe are new words to me but I know sickle. “Between the hammer and the anvil” has its equivalent in Arabic “بين المطرقة و السندان" but I am not able to translate it into Spanish and high is my target language because I am of a very basic level.

February 26, 2020

This is particularly difficult in my target language you not only have to learn new singular words.

You also have to learn a new logic and way of thinking.

You have to learn two or three new singular words [where one is used in your native language] and for which context and situation one of the extra words is used. You also have to learn to think in phrases the new Language is 'phrasal' very much so.

You have to treat verbs a little differently also. The word before the verb makes the phrase and a verbatim in a direct English translation it seems to be nonsense.

two words I was just reminded about and relearnt are

Tabak = dishes, just dishes that would be purchased at a shop or stored in a cupboard

BulaşIk = the dirty dishes after finishing a meal etc.

I Made the mistake of saying I need to buy new bulaşik after two dishes shattered in the oven.

February 26, 2020

Miriam

Language Skills

Chinese (Mandarin), Finnish, French, German

Learning Language

Chinese (Mandarin), Finnish

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