I am Hunter (Chukchi)

[Scots_Charles_River]

Saw this this morning on RT news channel, great stuff. 100% literate too, something our culture has not reached yet.

http://rt.com/shows/documentary/211695-chukchi-russia-far-northeast/

 

[rorymax]

I really enjoyed watching that, fascinating, thanks for posting.

rorymax

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Most interesting was when the lady said there are no curse words or insults in the Chukchi language.

 

[Gooner]

Enjoyed that thought the bone carving was impressive, also all the meat was used by all.

 

[Dark Horse Dave]

Enjoyed watching that - thanks for the link

 

[Macaroon]

Thanks for this - well worth watching

 

[demographic]

Most interesting was when the lady said there are no curse words or insults in the Chukchi language.

Pah, that's just lazy.

 

[Tengu]

yes, I dont believe that for one minute.

 

[Macaroon]

yes, I dont believe that for one minute.

Why do you not believe it?

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

They share out the whale catches around the community without charge.

 

[Tengu]

Why, yes. How do you get a whale in a chest freezer?

 

[Macaroon]

Tengu, I repeat my question; why do you not believe they have no words for cussing or insults?

 

[Joe tahkahikew]

There are no swear words in our Cree language either. If we want to swear its normally in English. But we don't really swear at all. None of the other indigenous languages here have a word for thank you either. We use the French 'merci' if it is needed,

Like us they wear ordinary clothes from the store. Nothing too fancy. Costs too much.

Your culture has reached them. They have cell phones I guess like we do and live in houses someone else built and made them pay for them too. Probably have to pay taxes too?

They too have kept their language and I noticed their skin boats they raced in were like Innui uminaks, though innui paddled them not rowed them.

 

[Tengu]

I was told the same about Japanese, thats all

 

[demographic]

Why do you not believe it?

Oh I am prepared to believe that the lady said that there's no insults in the language but I'd be pretty shocked to find out that it was true.

Especially when you consider the variety of avalible insults, "Bit slow" "Not the sharpest tool in the box" and all the others that don't rely on a particular word to insult someone.

 

[Tengu]

Yup. And the famous `Arabian` insults.

 

[Joe tahkahikew]

Why do you not believe what you are told?. Do you think she lies? Do you think I lie?

We have no swear words like yours. I am sorry I cannot make you understand. Perhaps you can't understand why other people don't swear but you can?

 

[Toddy]

Not having a word that is a 'swear' word doesn't mean that they don't use the same emotions.

I insisted that my pre-school sons could not insult their brother unless they used words of at least four syllables.

So 'pig', 'cretin', 'fool', and the like were all verbotten; but my four year old got his tongue around, "Infuriating brachyosaurus!", to rail at his brother.

We're not calling the lady, or you, a liar, we're simply expressing disbelief that they never find some way of vocally expressing common emotions.

"Thunder and Lightning!", "For heaven's sake!", or my own, "Sugarallywater", are all 'technically' swear words, if used in context.

It's the context that's important, iimmc.

M

 

[Laurentius]

I remember decades ago now, riding my scooter on a remote road in Wales. All of a sudden I saw a tree fall across my path and had to stop. There were a couple of Welshmen talking away in Welsh as they worked on the tree, but then when they saw me I distinctly heard the words "O bloody 'ell" when they realised they had blocked the road.

 

[bb07]

Not having a word that is a 'swear' word doesn't mean that they don't use the same emotions.

I insisted that my pre-school sons could not insult their brother unless they used words of at least four syllables.

So 'pig', 'cretin', 'fool', and the like were all verbotten; but my four year old got his tongue around, "Infuriating brachyosaurus!", to rail at his brother.

We're not calling the lady, or you, a liar, we're simply expressing disbelief that they never find some way of vocally expressing common emotions.

"Thunder and Lightning!", "For heaven's sake!", or my own, "Sugarallywater", are all 'technically' swear words, if used in context.

It's the context that's important, iimmc.

M

This may be of interest: https://moniyawlinguist.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/swearing-in-plains-cree/