A garden of delights for the word obsessed: a funny, amazing, and even profound world tour of the best of all those strange words that don't have a...
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Sep 26, 2008
Ronny
rated it: 
This is the first time I write my review in English, because –like the book itself—it is intended to English speaking reader. And my recommendation is: don’t expect this book to be a reliable reference.
This book is a compilation of foreign words about concepts or expressions which cannot be conveyed in English language. But the problem is the author doesn’t seem to understand the context which these words are used.
The obvious examples for me is the use of Indonesian words More...
This book is a compilation of foreign words about concepts or expressions which cannot be conveyed in English language. But the problem is the author doesn’t seem to understand the context which these words are used.
The obvious examples for me is the use of Indonesian words More...
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Feb 03, 2009
David
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Another problematic entry in the dictionary sweepstakes. Based on this book (there's a followup volume, "Toujours Tingo", which I haven't read), and the author's own website:
http://themeaningoftingo.blogspot.com/
one is forced to the inexorable conclusion that Monsieur J de B is
* extraordinarily gullible
* incredibly lazy
* a cynic who is onto a good thing and not above milking it for all it's worth
* some disturbingly human combi More...
Nov 14, 2010
Margherita Dolcevita
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Questo libricino è geniale! Parola di kudpalu (ovvero donna coi capelli spettinati), è un piccolo vocabolarietto di parole da tutto il mondo letteralmente intraducibili se non con strane perifrasi, insomma parole che non trovano un'unica parola corrispondente in inglese (ma anche in italiano).
Alcune, così, prese qua e là:
mahj: l'essere belli dopo essere stati ammalati
koro: la paura che il proprio pene si restringa nel proprio corpo
rujuk: sposare di nuovo la donna da cui si è già divorziato
farik: More...
Alcune, così, prese qua e là:
mahj: l'essere belli dopo essere stati ammalati
koro: la paura che il proprio pene si restringa nel proprio corpo
rujuk: sposare di nuovo la donna da cui si è già divorziato
farik: More...
Nov 24, 2011
Haje
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This text is a review (okay, more like a rant) about The meaning of Tingo, written by Adam Jacot de Boinod. The book is a collection of funny, unique and weird words and phrases from a lot of different languages. It is expected to be a bestseller. If it is, I’m going to be sad, because Boinod misses the point entirely.
Via Metafilter, I stumbled across An article in the Independent, which is essentially a commercial banner for a new book – The meaning of Tingo – to be released later thi More...
Via Metafilter, I stumbled across An article in the Independent, which is essentially a commercial banner for a new book – The meaning of Tingo – to be released later thi More...
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Sep 21, 2009
Robert
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I hesitate to put this in the "read" category, because I didn't read the entire book. On the other hand, it's basically a dictionary, so it's a bit hard to read the entire thing.
But what a dictionary! Very entertaining words from around the world that take an entire English sentence to explain. Some are amusing, some may tell you what matters to another culture, and some will make you think, "I wish we had that in my own language." I think my favorite is " More...
But what a dictionary! Very entertaining words from around the world that take an entire English sentence to explain. Some are amusing, some may tell you what matters to another culture, and some will make you think, "I wish we had that in my own language." I think my favorite is " More...
Jan 08, 2012
Mel
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A really lovely and interesting book on words in other languages that have no English equivalent. For example: tingo means to slowly steal thing from your friend's house by borrowing each item one by one. The book also had some really nice tidbits about other languages in it, like the longest word, shortest word, etc.
My few minor complaints is that while it was organized really nicely, it ended kind of abruptly. The first chapter was related to "hello" and I kind of expected More...
My few minor complaints is that while it was organized really nicely, it ended kind of abruptly. The first chapter was related to "hello" and I kind of expected More...
Oct 19, 2011
Maddy
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It's not so much the words (which as many reviewers have pointed out, are often used out of context) as much as the idea that a certain sentiment/idea/situation happens often enough in a certain culture for it to merit an actual word. It's like <a href=http://folk.uio.no/alied/TMoL.html">The Meaning of Liff</a>, only real. Better check with a native speaker first, however, before throwing any of these around.
I love how certain Filipino words made it here: "maganda More...
I love how certain Filipino words made it here: "maganda More...
Jun 10, 2010
Meaghan
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A delightful book for people interested in language and trivia. I found myself copying down words and phrases to incorporate into my vocabulary, including the Persian sanud, "the exercise of the mind upon an unprofitable subject"; the Japanese phrase suna o kamu yo na, "like chewing sand"; and the Indonesian desus, "a quiet and smooth sound as someone farting but not very loudly." I was kind of disappointed that there was no scatological section however; I know Penn
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Oct 21, 2007
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1334256.html[return][return]The author is a researcher for the Stephen Fry quiz show QI, and the book basically reads like an extended set of QI rounds about funny words in foreign languages, all mildly amusing. I spotted one spelling error - the excellent Serbian word inat is given as iant - and there may be others, but I will not be consumed by vengeful spite over it; also I imagine there is room for interpretation of some of the definitions, such as the 10 Albani
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Jun 11, 2011
Mark
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I love this type of book, although you probably will not read it from cover-to-cover. It is more like a dictionary where related words from different languages are grouped by some concept.
You can find all sorts of colorful words.
- Bakku-shan: A woman who appears pretty when seen from behind but not from the front.
- Sekaseka: To laugh without reason
The words may not make it into everyday language, but they are a great way to send a discrete message to the
You can find all sorts of colorful words.
- Bakku-shan: A woman who appears pretty when seen from behind but not from the front.
- Sekaseka: To laugh without reason
The words may not make it into everyday language, but they are a great way to send a discrete message to the
Feb 04, 2012
I found this while browsing on Amazon yesterday and immediately had to order a copy (used for 1 cent plus $4 shipping)
From the preview on Amazon...
Torschlusspanik, German for “the fear of diminishing opportunities as on gets older” .
Areodjarekpu, Inuit for “to exchange wives for a few days only”
nakhur, Persian for “a camel that won't give milk until her nostrils have been tickled”
From the preview on Amazon...
Torschlusspanik, German for “the fear of diminishing opportunities as on gets older” .
Areodjarekpu, Inuit for “to exchange wives for a few days only”
nakhur, Persian for “a camel that won't give milk until her nostrils have been tickled”
May 26, 2010
Jessica
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This book is great. It lists words from all over the world, some of them fascinating, some hilarious. It makes a great book to bring on a road trip, especially if you want to start a conversation.
I also like to read it just to get my creative juices flowing.
I also like to read it just to get my creative juices flowing.
Apr 26, 2009
Starfish
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Fun book, but let down a bit by my suspicion that the author isn't exactly an authority in any of the many cultures he takes the words he's compiled from -- still Stephen Fry endorsed it, and you can't really go wrong with Stephen Fry.
Jan 22, 2011
Pam
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I can't say I have read every word, but pretty funny definitions for words around the world. Tingo means to take all the objects one desires from the house of a friend, one at a time, by borrowing them.
Mar 29, 2009
Abigayle
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Brilliant idea for a book. I saw it at a bookshop years ago and flipped through it for ages but didn't buy it - but now I own it and I am THRILLED with it.
Aug 03, 2011
Marie
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I spotted a couple of inaccuracies en French but otherwise it's a really interesting and funny book. Some of the French expressions I didn't even know.
Mar 12, 2009
Sara
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Untranslatable words from almost every language. Tingo - meaning to borrow things slowly, one at a time, until the lender has nothing left.
Aug 06, 2011
Nicholas
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http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1705874.ht...
Sequel to The Meaning of Tingo, with more strange words from other languages. I actually found this a bit more impressive and better organised than the first volume, with some very interesting idioms which I may try out for myself: the Puerto Rican expression for being very nervous which translates as "like a crocodile in a wallet factory"; or the Swahili saying that the day you decide to leave your house naked is the day you bump in More...
Sequel to The Meaning of Tingo, with more strange words from other languages. I actually found this a bit more impressive and better organised than the first volume, with some very interesting idioms which I may try out for myself: the Puerto Rican expression for being very nervous which translates as "like a crocodile in a wallet factory"; or the Swahili saying that the day you decide to leave your house naked is the day you bump in More...
Nov 19, 2009
gerry
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Really great fun. For anyone interested in language this is an interesting, amusing and illuminating read.
Jan 15, 2009
Shanrina
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Not entertaining enough for me to overlook how poorly researched it was.
May 22, 2011
CuteBadger
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A collection of weird words from around the world and their origins.
Feb 05, 2010
Noah
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A thoroughly good read, and an interesting look at the way language shapes and in turn is shaped by culture.
Aug 24, 2011
J.M.
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Interesting book with some funny entries, but I was unable to read it from cover to cover. Many of the words seem unpronounceable to me, and there are no guides on how to say any of the foreign words. Also, I found a few instances where the author might have mentioned an odd English equivalent to a particular phrase but didn't. It made me question just how well he studied his own language before rushing off to praise the oddities of others. For what it's worth, FORMICATION is the imagined sensat
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Jun 24, 2008
Sana
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this book is absolutely fun. bring this to any party or get together and you will sure to have a spectacle of laughter and discussion that spews from the eclectic variety of words it provides. the book essentially is a collection of words from around the world that surprise and educate anyone who picks up the book. the english language and its syntax are thoroughly limited and this book helps open the door to words that have sentence long meanings. definitely a fun read :)
Dec 05, 2007
André
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Although this book can be very amusing and shows that not all the world's languages work like English, concerning the lexicon, many of the examples and supposedly funny words are badly researched. Not only many of the German words inside are wrong (not only in spelling, most often they simply do not exist or are artificial compounds). Same goes for many other languages I did a quick check on.
At least I can guarantee that the meaning of "Tingo" (or rather 'tiŋo' is correct.
At least I can guarantee that the meaning of "Tingo" (or rather 'tiŋo' is correct.
Apr 08, 2008
Gabriel
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I've long been fascinated by words that other languages have that we don't have in English. Sometimes the word is a concept that you only vaguely felt before, but never really expressed. It makes you wonder how much of what you think it determined by what you have words for. At the end of the day though, this book is really just a list of words and their definitions, so reading it straight through gets kind of tedious after a while.
Mar 18, 2008
Diane
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What fun! This book is a collection of unusual words and expressions from other languages. If you're a word nerd like me, it's fun to browse through and find words like "qiubo," a Chinese word meaning "the bright and clear eyes of a beautiful woman," and then imagining the Chinese Mr. Darcy discussing the "qiubo" of Elizabeth Bennett with Caroline Bingley. :)
Dec 17, 2009
Tracey
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It was pretty much as advertised, a look at words & phrases in other languages that either don't exist or aren't as succinct in English. I would have liked to have seen some more literal translations of interesting phrases & apparently the research is a bit dodgy (the Internet should not be one's main source), but a fun little reference book nonetheless.
