[Localization] Suti: Bolivia

[Greg Smith]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the links! Fascinating info. Its going to be a challenge to 
write an Aymara version of my roadmap presentation :-)

One of the most brain changing things I read in college was Mbiti's 
African Conception of Time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mbiti and 
http://mindphiles.com/floor/teaching/timeafr/timeafri.htm)

The actual text is very hard to find but well worth a read if you can 
get it.

In short, time means different things to different people based on their 
cultural and linguistic background. That was a surprise to me and it 
taught me to appreciate the multiplicity of possible perspectives.

Thanks,

Greg S

Chris Leonard wrote:
> 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
>