[Localization] Suti: Bolivia

[Chris Leonard]

On Tue, Sep 16, 2008 at 9:48 AM, Greg Smith <gregsmitholpc at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Yama,
>
> Thanks for the report and great work.
>
> I have a low priority question for you.
>
> How is "name" - "suti" used in Aymara? Is the same word used for people
> and things? Do people have one "suti" or more (e.g. first, last middle,
> etc). Do you use different names depending on who is speaking and the
> relationship between the speaker and the person they are speaking to?
> How do they separate Proper Nouns from other nouns (like XO from
> computer or Boston from city)?
>
> Any other interesting aspects of how people using Aymara think and use
> the concept of "name"?
>
> I could probably look this up on the Internet, but I thought you might
> have some insight based on your first hand experience.
>
> Not important for the roll out or the software. Just for my own
> edification and joy of learning.
>
>
Greg,

I am no Aymarista and I can't answer you question about nomenclature in
Aymara, but it will be very interesting to see how certain concepts about
time will be translated.  Apparently Aymara (along with Quechua) are among
the few languages/cultures where the past is seen (and gestured) as being in
front of you (as opposed to behind you).

The wikipedia article on Aymara mentions some very interesting and unique
features of this linguistic heritage, such as ternary logic (not binary),
and the interest it has drawn from people like Umberto Eco and others.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aymara_language

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2005/feb/24/4

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060622/news_7m22aymara.html

cjl
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