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What is this word supposed to be?

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22

In The Colour of Magic, on page 46 of my copy, Twoflower says this word:

“Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?”

It seems to be like “in-sewer-ants-policy”, i.e. a term that they don’t have a word for in the language (“insurance policy”), but I can’t figure out what it’d be.

I asked two people who couldn’t figure it out, either.

discworld language-explanation

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

StormblessedStormblessed

2,83211043

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I can't even figure out what you're saying, what exactly is the question?
  
  – Ash
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Maybe provide a bit more context for this?
  
  – JMac
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.
  
  – Valorum
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Valorum I had read this part of the book and couldn't remember what it was referring to without seeing the answers. It seems strange to me. Does Twoflowers actually say "Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?" (doesn't seem right) or was that something Rincewind was thinking after Twoflowers tries to explain to him what he does?
  
  – JMac
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"
  
  – Valorum
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

22

In The Colour of Magic, on page 46 of my copy, Twoflower says this word:

“Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?”

It seems to be like “in-sewer-ants-policy”, i.e. a term that they don’t have a word for in the language (“insurance policy”), but I can’t figure out what it’d be.

I asked two people who couldn’t figure it out, either.

discworld language-explanation

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

StormblessedStormblessed

2,83211043

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I can't even figure out what you're saying, what exactly is the question?
  
  – Ash
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Maybe provide a bit more context for this?
  
  – JMac
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.
  
  – Valorum
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Valorum I had read this part of the book and couldn't remember what it was referring to without seeing the answers. It seems strange to me. Does Twoflowers actually say "Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?" (doesn't seem right) or was that something Rincewind was thinking after Twoflowers tries to explain to him what he does?
  
  – JMac
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"
  
  – Valorum
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

In The Colour of Magic, on page 46 of my copy, Twoflower says this word:

“Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?”

It seems to be like “in-sewer-ants-policy”, i.e. a term that they don’t have a word for in the language (“insurance policy”), but I can’t figure out what it’d be.

I asked two people who couldn’t figure it out, either.

discworld language-explanation

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

StormblessedStormblessed

2,83211043

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

StormblessedStormblessed

2,83211043

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

StormblessedStormblessed

2,83211043

asked 4 hours ago

StormblessedStormblessed

2,83211043

asked 4 hours ago

StormblessedStormblessed

2,83211043

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

36

The word is "echo-gnomics" ("economics")

An echo is a reflected sound; gnomes live underground.

Etymologically, "gnomes" [mythology] are described as "a legendary race of human-like beings, usually imagined as short and possibly bearded males, who inhabit the inner parts of the earth and act as guardians of mines, mineral treasure, etc." (Source: wiktionary)

Apparently I've played too much D&D where gnomes aren't specifically tied to the underground.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

DavidWDavidW

4,28511653

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!
  
  – ruakh
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

29

Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book (emphasis added):

Bloody hell, he thought. He’s alive! Me too. Who’d have thought it? Perhaps there is something in this reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits? It was a cumbersome phrase. Rincewind tried to get his tongue around the thick syllables that were the word in Twoflower’s own language.

“Ecolirix?” he tried. “Ecro-gnothics? Echo-gnomics?”

That would do. That sounded about right.

As with 'insurance', the concept of 'economics' (a reflected sound is an echo, underground spirits are gnomes) is largely unheard of in that part of the disc. Rincewind describes it as 'financial wizardry' (emphasis added):

“Well, my point is, you see, that gold also has its sort of magical field. Sort of financial wizardry. Echo-gnomics.” Rincewind giggled.

share|improve this answer

edited 6 mins ago

Stormblessed

2,83211043

answered 3 hours ago

ValorumValorum

417k11430393261

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Might be worth pointing out that echo-gnomics would be pronounced economics, something that wouldn't be immediately obvious to people fortunate enough to have been raised speaking languages with rational spelling.
  
  – terdon
  22 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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36

The word is "echo-gnomics" ("economics")

An echo is a reflected sound; gnomes live underground.

Etymologically, "gnomes" [mythology] are described as "a legendary race of human-like beings, usually imagined as short and possibly bearded males, who inhabit the inner parts of the earth and act as guardians of mines, mineral treasure, etc." (Source: wiktionary)

Apparently I've played too much D&D where gnomes aren't specifically tied to the underground.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

DavidWDavidW

4,28511653

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!
  
  – ruakh
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

36

The word is "echo-gnomics" ("economics")

An echo is a reflected sound; gnomes live underground.

Etymologically, "gnomes" [mythology] are described as "a legendary race of human-like beings, usually imagined as short and possibly bearded males, who inhabit the inner parts of the earth and act as guardians of mines, mineral treasure, etc." (Source: wiktionary)

Apparently I've played too much D&D where gnomes aren't specifically tied to the underground.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

DavidWDavidW

4,28511653

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!
  
  – ruakh
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

The word is "echo-gnomics" ("economics")

An echo is a reflected sound; gnomes live underground.

Etymologically, "gnomes" [mythology] are described as "a legendary race of human-like beings, usually imagined as short and possibly bearded males, who inhabit the inner parts of the earth and act as guardians of mines, mineral treasure, etc." (Source: wiktionary)

Apparently I've played too much D&D where gnomes aren't specifically tied to the underground.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

DavidWDavidW

4,28511653

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

DavidWDavidW

4,28511653

answered 4 hours ago

DavidWDavidW

4,28511653

answered 4 hours ago

DavidWDavidW

4,28511653

29

Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book (emphasis added):

Bloody hell, he thought. He’s alive! Me too. Who’d have thought it? Perhaps there is something in this reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits? It was a cumbersome phrase. Rincewind tried to get his tongue around the thick syllables that were the word in Twoflower’s own language.

“Ecolirix?” he tried. “Ecro-gnothics? Echo-gnomics?”

That would do. That sounded about right.

As with 'insurance', the concept of 'economics' (a reflected sound is an echo, underground spirits are gnomes) is largely unheard of in that part of the disc. Rincewind describes it as 'financial wizardry' (emphasis added):

“Well, my point is, you see, that gold also has its sort of magical field. Sort of financial wizardry. Echo-gnomics.” Rincewind giggled.

share|improve this answer

edited 6 mins ago

Stormblessed

2,83211043

answered 3 hours ago

ValorumValorum

417k11430393261

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Might be worth pointing out that echo-gnomics would be pronounced economics, something that wouldn't be immediately obvious to people fortunate enough to have been raised speaking languages with rational spelling.
  
  – terdon
  22 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

29

Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book (emphasis added):

Bloody hell, he thought. He’s alive! Me too. Who’d have thought it? Perhaps there is something in this reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits? It was a cumbersome phrase. Rincewind tried to get his tongue around the thick syllables that were the word in Twoflower’s own language.

“Ecolirix?” he tried. “Ecro-gnothics? Echo-gnomics?”

That would do. That sounded about right.

As with 'insurance', the concept of 'economics' (a reflected sound is an echo, underground spirits are gnomes) is largely unheard of in that part of the disc. Rincewind describes it as 'financial wizardry' (emphasis added):

“Well, my point is, you see, that gold also has its sort of magical field. Sort of financial wizardry. Echo-gnomics.” Rincewind giggled.

share|improve this answer

edited 6 mins ago

Stormblessed

2,83211043

answered 3 hours ago

ValorumValorum

417k11430393261

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Might be worth pointing out that echo-gnomics would be pronounced economics, something that wouldn't be immediately obvious to people fortunate enough to have been raised speaking languages with rational spelling.
  
  – terdon
  22 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book (emphasis added):

Bloody hell, he thought. He’s alive! Me too. Who’d have thought it? Perhaps there is something in this reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits? It was a cumbersome phrase. Rincewind tried to get his tongue around the thick syllables that were the word in Twoflower’s own language.

“Ecolirix?” he tried. “Ecro-gnothics? Echo-gnomics?”

That would do. That sounded about right.

As with 'insurance', the concept of 'economics' (a reflected sound is an echo, underground spirits are gnomes) is largely unheard of in that part of the disc. Rincewind describes it as 'financial wizardry' (emphasis added):

“Well, my point is, you see, that gold also has its sort of magical field. Sort of financial wizardry. Echo-gnomics.” Rincewind giggled.

share|improve this answer

edited 6 mins ago

Stormblessed

2,83211043

answered 3 hours ago

ValorumValorum

417k11430393261

share|improve this answer

edited 6 mins ago

Stormblessed

2,83211043

answered 3 hours ago

ValorumValorum

417k11430393261

edited 6 mins ago

Stormblessed

2,83211043

edited 6 mins ago

Stormblessed

2,83211043

answered 3 hours ago

ValorumValorum

417k11430393261

answered 3 hours ago

ValorumValorum

417k11430393261