Doc Rat: Well, I was close.

[theoldwolf]

In my last post, I wondered what the ultimate lapine insult really sounded like. Using some basic linguistic principles of euphony, I came up with "Simbioth Gruata". As it turns out, the actual phrase is

"Bh'angh-hruront pwúl-plobba!"

As Dani described it, the "gh" is a pharyngeal fricative, probably voiced, and the ú indicates a rising tone.

And for lapine, a language full of light, smooth front vowels and sibilant consonants, a phrase like this which is chock-full of back vowels, aspirated consonants, harsh fricatives and long stops is just downright uncharacteristic and harsh.

Probably means "Your mother is a meat-eater and mates with badgers!" or some such...

Comments

[ccdesan.livejournal.com]

Best two sources on this interesting bit are here (http://books.google.com/books?id=wsLh5VQ2AfgC&pg=PA121&lpg=PA121&dq=counting+tether+fether&source=bl&ots=6v9sUFUMDh&sig=PggtGM7wjtefNMjkAd8NN5YFERI&hl=en&ei=zaGbTLXNLJC-sQPR-8SdCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&sqi=2&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=counting%20tether%20fether&f=false) and here (http://www.lakelanddialectsociety.org/counting_sheep.htm)

Had a math teacher once who recited a version which had us all in stitches. The true origins, sadly are lost in the mists of time.