Posts: 3676
Threads: 354
Joined: April 12, 2015
Reputation:
42
RE: Can Someone Help Me Find this Word?
February 15, 2017 at 3:54 pm
(February 15, 2017 at 3:04 pm)Jesster Wrote: (February 15, 2017 at 3:02 pm)Rhondazvous Wrote: Ye thanks. The word is geas. Now I have to think. The word appears to be Irish. So would it throw my readers off to have an African grisha lay a geas on someone?
I think it's fine. The word is Irish, but the concept is not theirs alone. Plenty of cultures have myths for things like curses, prophecies, etc. It's used loosely in fantasy stories anyway, as you said before.
Well, I learned something new today. Can't beat that with a stick. Would love to put your name in the acknowledgements. Whet is your name, if I may ask?
The god who allows children to be raped out of respect for the free will choice of the rapist, but punishes gay men for engaging in mutually consensual sex couldn't possibly be responsible for an intelligently designed universe.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
Posts: 3064
Threads: 3
Joined: July 10, 2016
Reputation:
37
RE: Can Someone Help Me Find this Word?
February 15, 2017 at 5:30 pm
(February 15, 2017 at 3:54 pm)Rhondazvous Wrote: Well, I learned something new today. Can't beat that with a stick. Would love to put your name in the acknowledgements. Whet is your name, if I may ask?
I sent you a pm
Posts: 35281
Threads: 204
Joined: August 13, 2012
Reputation:
146
RE: Can Someone Help Me Find this Word?
February 15, 2017 at 5:45 pm
Can I suggest that, instead of culling words from other languages, as English is wont to do, that you invent you own?
I'm rather fond of "flyndibble" at the moment. As in:
"She cast a flyndibble upon him and, despite himself, he felt compelled to carry out her bidding."
Playing Cluedo with my mum while I was at Uni:
"You did WHAT? With WHO? WHERE???"
Posts: 3064
Threads: 3
Joined: July 10, 2016
Reputation:
37
RE: Can Someone Help Me Find this Word?
February 15, 2017 at 5:52 pm
(This post was last modified: February 15, 2017 at 5:53 pm by Jesster.)
(February 15, 2017 at 5:45 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote: Can I suggest that, instead of culling words from other languages, as English is wont to do, that you invent you own?
I'm rather fond of "flyndibble" at the moment. As in:
"She cast a flyndibble upon him and, despite himself, he felt compelled to carry out her bidding."
This is a great idea. It really just comes down to a magical contract and/or curse in the end anyway. The concept matters far more than the word. Also remember that people like Shakespeare just made up words all the time whenever they needed one. Modern writers do it sometimes as well (someone here brought up George RR Martin). There's no law saying you can't do exactly that. Just communicate your ideas properly and it's fine.
You get bonus points for using "flyndibble" while keeping the tone serious.
Posts: 23071
Threads: 26
Joined: February 2, 2010
Reputation:
106
RE: Can Someone Help Me Find this Word?
February 15, 2017 at 6:09 pm
(This post was last modified: February 15, 2017 at 6:10 pm by Thumpalumpacus.)
(February 15, 2017 at 5:30 pm)Jesster Wrote: (February 15, 2017 at 3:54 pm)Rhondazvous Wrote: Well, I learned something new today. Can't beat that with a stick. Would love to put your name in the acknowledgements. Whet is your name, if I may ask?
I sent you a pm
Posts: 3676
Threads: 354
Joined: April 12, 2015
Reputation:
42
RE: Can Someone Help Me Find this Word?
February 15, 2017 at 6:35 pm
(February 15, 2017 at 5:30 pm)Jesster Wrote: (February 15, 2017 at 3:54 pm)Rhondazvous Wrote: Well, I learned something new today. Can't beat that with a stick. Would love to put your name in the acknowledgements. Whet is your name, if I may ask?
I sent you a pm
I sent a reply.
The god who allows children to be raped out of respect for the free will choice of the rapist, but punishes gay men for engaging in mutually consensual sex couldn't possibly be responsible for an intelligently designed universe.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
Posts: 23071
Threads: 26
Joined: February 2, 2010
Reputation:
106
RE: Can Someone Help Me Find this Word?
February 15, 2017 at 7:03 pm
I spent last night in a Holiday Inn Express.
Oooooh, sent. Never mind.
(Rhonda, that's a pic of Gilda Radner's Emily Litella character).
Posts: 67196
Threads: 140
Joined: June 28, 2011
Reputation:
162
RE: Can Someone Help Me Find this Word?
February 15, 2017 at 8:27 pm
(This post was last modified: February 15, 2017 at 8:31 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
(February 15, 2017 at 3:02 pm)Rhondazvous Wrote: Ye thanks. The word is geas. Now I have to think. The word appears to be Irish. So would it throw my readers off to have an African grisha lay a geas on someone?
Not at all. There's a west african myth about a prosperous and handsome young man who could not, because of an agreement made by his mother with spirits to ensure his prosperity, eat fish - on pain of death. Upon reaching manhood, his mother made many arrangements for the best of the local women to come and see which would be best suited to be his bride. Most, he showed no particular interest in, but two were different. He rebuked one outright and favored another, but both learned of his geas from his mother in preparation to be his wife. The jilted prospective wife set out to poison him by crumbling fish into his stew...but the other had possession of a magical comb, which she drew through the stew, just in case, and removed all of the fish.
-and they lived happily ever after, ofc.
A good wife makes sure you don't eat shit that will kill you.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
Posts: 3676
Threads: 354
Joined: April 12, 2015
Reputation:
42
RE: Can Someone Help Me Find this Word?
February 15, 2017 at 8:55 pm
(February 15, 2017 at 8:27 pm)Khemikal Wrote: (February 15, 2017 at 3:02 pm)Rhondazvous Wrote: Ye thanks. The word is geas. Now I have to think. The word appears to be Irish. So would it throw my readers off to have an African grisha lay a geas on someone?
Not at all. There's a west african myth about a prosperous and handsome young man who could not, because of an agreement made by his mother with spirits to ensure his prosperity, eat fish - on pain of death. Upon reaching manhood, his mother made many arrangements for the best of the local women to come and see which would be best suited to be his bride. Most, he showed no particular interest in, but two were different. He rebuked one outright and favored another, but both learned of his geas from his mother in preparation to be his wife. The jilted prospective wife set out to poison him by crumbling fish into his stew...but the other had possession of a magical comb, which she drew through the stew, just in case, and removed all of the fish.
-and they lived happily ever after, ofc.
A good wife makes sure you don't eat shit that will kill you. I like that story. Is it from Nigeria, the Ife tradition. I mistyped up above. It should say Orisa. Esu, Oya and Shango are prominent in this novel. But it's not an ex dous machine.
The god who allows children to be raped out of respect for the free will choice of the rapist, but punishes gay men for engaging in mutually consensual sex couldn't possibly be responsible for an intelligently designed universe.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
Posts: 46136
Threads: 538
Joined: July 24, 2013
Reputation:
109
RE: Can Someone Help Me Find this Word?
February 15, 2017 at 8:55 pm
Rhonda, I don't know if it'll help with your writing or not, but a geas can also take the from of an obligation that can create a conflict for your character. By way of example, the Irish myth figure Cuchulain laboured under multiple geasa. He was forbidden to eat the flesh of a dog, but was also obligated to never refuse a feast. When the baddies invited him to a feast at which boiled dog was served, it caused him no end of trouble.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
|