Take your time Not everyone sees time in terms of past, present and future. The Kipsigis of the Nile region have three types of past tense: today's past, yesterday's past and the distant past. Several American Indian languages divide the past tense into the recent past, remote past and mythological past; other languages have different definitions: pal (Hindi) a measure of time equal to twenty-four seconds (Hindi) a measure of time equal to twenty-four secondsghari (Hindi) a small s.p.a.ce of time (twenty-four minutes) (Hindi) a small s.p.a.ce of time (twenty-four minutes)tulat (Malay) the third day hence (Malay) the third day hencexun (Chinese) a period of ten days (in a month) or a decade (in someone's life) (Chinese) a period of ten days (in a month) or a decade (in someone's life)jam karet (Indonesian) rubber time (an indication that meetings may not necessarily start on time) (Indonesian) rubber time (an indication that meetings may not necessarily start on time)

Can't say exactly when In Hindi, the word for yesterday, kal kal, is the same as that for tomorrow (only the tense of the attached verb tells you which). And in Punjabi parson parson means either the day before yesterday or the day after tomorrow. means either the day before yesterday or the day after tomorrow.

Time of day Around the world different cultures have created highly specific loosely clock-related vocabulary that divides up the day. The Zarma people of Western Africa use wete wete to cover mid-morning (between nine and ten); the Chinese to cover mid-morning (between nine and ten); the Chinese wushi wushi is from eleven to one; and the Hausa (of Nigeria) is from eleven to one; and the Hausa (of Nigeria) azahar azahar takes in the period from one-thirty to around three. The Samoan word takes in the period from one-thirty to around three. The Samoan word afiafi afiafi covers both late afternoon and evening, from about 5 p.m. till dark. They call the period right after sunset covers both late afternoon and evening, from about 5 p.m. till dark. They call the period right after sunset afiafi po afiafi po; this is then followed after a couple of hours by po po, the dead of night. Of the various expressions for dusk, perhaps the most evocative is the French entre chien et loup entre chien et loup literally, between the dog and the wolf. literally, between the dog and the wolf.

Elevenses Dutch (and other Germanic languages) confusingly uses half twaalf half twaalf for 11.30. While in Africa they are more long-winded for this specific time of day: for 11.30. While in Africa they are more long-winded for this specific time of day: baguo gbelleng pie ne yeni par miti lezare ne pie (Dagaari Dioula, Burkina Faso) (Dagaari Dioula, Burkina Faso)isikhathi yisigamu emva kwehora leshumi nanye (Zulu) (Zulu)metsotso e mashome a meraro ka mora hora ya leshomele motso e mong (Sesotho, Southern Africa) (Sesotho, Southern Africa)

Shouting the distance Krosa is Sanskrit for a cry, and thus has come to mean the distance over which a man's call can be heard, roughly two miles. In the central forests of Sri Lanka calculations of distance are also made by sound: a dog's bark indicates a quarter of a mile; a c.o.c.k's crow some-thing more; and a is Sanskrit for a cry, and thus has come to mean the distance over which a man's call can be heard, roughly two miles. In the central forests of Sri Lanka calculations of distance are also made by sound: a dog's bark indicates a quarter of a mile; a c.o.c.k's crow some-thing more; and a hoo hoo is the s.p.a.ce over which a man can be heard when shouting the word at the highest pitch of his voice. While in the Yakut language of Siberia, is the s.p.a.ce over which a man can be heard when shouting the word at the highest pitch of his voice. While in the Yakut language of Siberia, kiosses kiosses represents a specific distance calculated in terms of the time it takes to cook a piece of meat. represents a specific distance calculated in terms of the time it takes to cook a piece of meat.

Tip to toe Parts of the body have long been used to define small distances the foot in the imperial system of measuring, for example. The Zarma people of Western Africa find the arm much more useful: kambe kar kambe kar is the length of the arm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger and is the length of the arm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger and gande gande is the distance between two outstretched arms. Elsewhere we find: is the distance between two outstretched arms. Elsewhere we find: dos (Hmong, China) from the thumb tip to the middle-finger tip (Hmong, China) from the thumb tip to the middle-finger tipmuku (Hawaiian) from the fingers of one hand to the elbow of the opposite arm when it is extended (Hawaiian) from the fingers of one hand to the elbow of the opposite arm when it is extendedsejengkal (Malay) the span between the tips of the stretched thumb and little finger (Malay) the span between the tips of the stretched thumb and little fingerdangkal (Kapampangan, Philippines) between thumb and forefinger (Kapampangan, Philippines) between thumb and forefinger

The Micmac calendar The Mikmawisimk language of the Micmac Indians is spoken by some eight thousand people in Canada and the USA. Their twelve months all have highly evocative names: English Mikmawisimk Literal translation January Punamujuikus the cod are sp.a.w.ning February Apunknajit the sun is powerful March Siwkewikus maple sugar April Penamuikus birds lay eggs May Etquljuikus frogs are croaking June Nipnikus foliage is most verdant July Peskewikus birds are moulting August Kisikwekewikus it's ripening time September Wik.u.mkewikus it's moose-calling time October Wikewikus our animals are fat and tame November Keptekewikus the rivers are about to freeze December Kiskewikus chief moon

False friends fart (Turkish) excess or exaggeration (Turkish) excess or exaggerationdim (Welsh) zero (Welsh) zeroage (Hindi and Urdu, Pakistan) in the future (Hindi and Urdu, Pakistan) in the futurebeast (Persian) twenty (Persian) twentys.l.u.t (Swedish) end or finish (Swedish) end or finishtilt (Cantonese) one-third (Cantonese) one-third

Caribou calendar Similar charmingly named months make up the various Inuit calendars. January is siqinnaarut siqinnaarut, the month when the sun returns; February is qangattaarjuk qangattaarjuk, referring to the sun getting higher and higher in the sky; March is avunniit avunniit, when premature baby seals are born: some make it, some freeze to death; April is natsijjat natsijjat, the proper month for seal pups to be born; May is tirigluit tirigluit, when bearded seals are born; June is manniit manniit, when the birds are laying eggs; July is saggaruut saggaruut, the sound of rushing water as the rivers start to run; August is akulliruut akulliruut, when the summer has come and the caribous' thick hair has been shed; September is amiraijaut amiraijaut, when the caribou hair is neither too thin nor too thick but just right for making into clothing; October is ukialliruut ukialliruut, when the caribou antlers lose their covers; November is tusaqtuut tusaqtuut, when the ice forms and people can travel to see other people and get news; December is taujualuk taujualuk, a very dark month.

Tea time Tea is a fundamental part of Chinese culture, so it's no surprise to find that there's an elaborate calendar relating to the growth and preparation of it: Chinese Literal translation Western Calendar Li Chun spring starts 5 February Yushui the rains come 19 February Jingzhe insects wake up 5 March Chunfen spring equinox 20 March Qingming clear and bright 5 April Guyu grain rain 20 April Lixia summer starts 5 May

Chinese Literal translation Western Calendar Xiaoman grains fill out 21 May Mangzhong the grain is in ear 6 June Xiazhu summer solstice 21 June Xiaoshu little heat 7 July Dashu big heat 23 July Liqiu autumn starts 7 August Chushu limit to food 23 August Bailu white dew 8 September Qiufen autumn equinox 23 September Hanlu cold dew 8 October Shuangjiang frost descends 23 October Lidong winter starts 7 November Xiaoxue little snow 22 November Daxue big snow 7 December Dongzhi winter solstice 21 December Xiohan little cold 6 January Dahan big cold 26 January

Halcyon days In 2002 President Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan decided to rename both the months of the year and the days of the week. Some months were to take the names of heroes of Turkmenistan's past, but January was to become Turkmenbashi Turkmenbashi, after the president's official name ('Head of all the Turkmen'). In response to his suggestion that April should become known as 'Mother', one of his supporters suggested that instead it should be named after the president's mother, Gurbansoltan-eje Gurbansoltan-eje. The president heeded this advice.

The days of the week were also renamed: Monday became Major (main or first) Day; Tuesday, Young Day; Wednesday, Favourable Day; Thursday, Blessed Day; Friday remained as it was; but Sat.u.r.day became Spiritual Day; and Sunday, Rest Day.

Revolutionary Turkmenistan is not the only country to consider changing the months of the year at a single stroke. In 1793 the newly established French republic abandoned the Gregorian calendar in favour of a new, 'rational' calendar. It lasted thirteen years, until abolished by Napoleon in 1806.

Each season was divided into three months, and the name of the months in each season shared a common word ending.

Printemps ( (spring)Germinal seeds sprouting seeds sproutingFloreal flowering floweringPrairial meadow meadowEte ( (summer)Messidor harvest harvestThermidor heat heatFructidor fruit fruitAutomne ( (autumn)Vendemiaire vintage vintageBrumaire fog fogFrimaire sleet sleetHiver ( (winter)Nivose snow snowPluviose rain rainVentose winds winds These months quickly became nicknamed by the British as Showery, Flowery, Bowery, Wheaty, Heaty, Sweety, Slippy, Nippy, Drippy, Freezy, Wheezy and Sneezy.

Stages of the Hawaiian moon The Hawaiians in earlier times named each of the thirty nights of a lunar month. The first night was called hilo hilo, to twist, because the moon was like a twisted thread. The second was hoaka hoaka, a crescent. The third was ku-kahi ku-kahi, the day of a very low tide. The subsequent days described rough seas, light after moonset or days suitable for fishing with a torch. On the eleventh night, huna huna, the sharp points of the crescent were lost. On the twelfth, mohalu mohalu, the moon began to round. This was a favoured night for planting flowers; it was believed they would be round too. The thirteenth night was hua hua, the egg; the fourteenth, akua akua, the night of the perfectly rounded moon. On the sixteenth night, mahea-lani mahea-lani, the moon began to wane. More named days of rough seas followed until the twenty-ninth night, mauli mauli, meaning that the last of the moon was visible. Muku Muku, the thirtieth night, literally meant 'cut off' as the moon had disappeared.

A time for celebration njepi (Balinese, Indonesia) a national holiday during which everyone is silent (Balinese, Indonesia) a national holiday during which everyone is silent On reflection

Process of elimination Not just words, but languages themselves change endlessly, some to the point where they go out of use altogether (on average one language a fortnight). Out of the (roughly speaking) 6,800 languages that comprise the global range, some recent victims have included Catawba (Ma.s.sachusetts), Eyak (Alaska) and Livonian (Latvia). Many are from the jungles of Papua New Guinea, which still has more languages than any other country.Others that run an imminent risk of extinction are: Abkhaz (Turkey/Georgia); Aleut (Alaska); Archi (Daghestan); British Romany; Apurina/Monde/Purubora/Mekens/ Ayuru/Xipaya (Brazil); Brapu (Papua New Guinea); Southern Chaco/Chorote/Nivacle/Kadiweu (South America); Diyari (South Australia); Eastern Penan (Sarawak and Brunei); Gamilaraay (New South Wales); Goemai (Nigeria); Guruntum (Nigeria); Iquito (Peru); Jawoyn (Southern Arnhem Land); Jiwarli/Thalanji (Western Australia); Khumi Chin (Western Myanmar); Sandaun (Papua New Guinea); Sasak (Eastern Indonesia); Lakota (The Plains, America); Maku (East Timor); Ngamini (South Australia); Rongga (Flores, Indonesia); Uspanteko and Sakapulteko (Guatamala); Takana and Reyesano (Bolivia); Tofa (Siberia); Tundra Nenets (Arctic Russia and Northwestern Siberia); Uranina (Peru); Vedda (Sri Lanka); Vures (Vanuatu).

What's in a Name?

ming bu zheng; yan bu shun(Chinese)if the name is not right, the words cannot be appropriate

Angry b.u.mblebees Most first names, if not derived from myth, place, flower or surnames, have a specific meaning. Patrick Patrick, for example, means n.o.ble, from the Latin patricius patricius. Naomi Naomi means 'pleasant' in Hebrew, while the Irish Gaelic means 'pleasant' in Hebrew, while the Irish Gaelic Kevin Kevin literally means 'comely birth'. More unusual meanings of names from around the world include the following (m stands for a male name; f for female): literally means 'comely birth'. More unusual meanings of names from around the world include the following (m stands for a male name; f for female): Astell (m) (m) sacred cauldron of the G.o.ds (Manx) Delisha (f) (f) happy and makes others happy (Arabic) Ebru (f) (f) eyebrow (Turkish) Farooq (m) (m) he who distinguishes truth from falsehood (Arabic) Fenella (f) (f) fair shoulder (Manx) Lama (f) (f) with dark lips (Arabic) Matilda (f) (f) strength in battle (German) Xicohtencatl (m) (m) angry b.u.mblebee (Nahuatl, Mexico) Xiao-Xiao (f) (f) morning sorrow (Chinese)

Eyes like hard porridge A number of particularly evocative names are to be found in different parts of Africa. Sometimes they refer to pregnancy or birth: number of particularly evocative names are to be found in different parts of Africa. Sometimes they refer to pregnancy or birth: U-Zenzo (m) (m) things happened in the womb (Ndebele, Southern Africa) Anindo (m) (m) mother slept a lot during pregnancy (Luo, Kenya) Arogo (m) (m) mother nagged a lot during pregnancy (Luo, Kenya) Ige (f) (f) born feet first (Yoruba, Nigeria) Amadi (m) (m) seemed destined to die at birth (Yoruba, Nigeria) Haoniyao (m) (m) born at the time of a quarrel (Swahili)

... to prophecy or destiny: Amachi (f) (f) who knows what G.o.d has brought us through this child (Ibo, Nigeria) U-Linda (f) (f) mind the village until the father's return (Ndebele, Southern Africa) Nnamdi (m) my father is alive (when thought to be a reincarnation of his grandfather) (Ibo, Nigeria) Sankofa (f) (f) one must return to the past in order to move forward (Akan, Ghana)

... to appearance or behaviour: Chiku (f) (f) chatterer (Swahili) Masopakyindi (m) (m) eyes like hard porridge (Nyakyusa, Tanzania) Masani (f) (f) has a gap between the front teeth (Buganda, Uganda)

... or to the parental reaction: U-Thokozile (f) (f) we are happy to have a child (Ndebele, Southern Africa)

Abeni (f) (f) we asked for her and behold we got her (Yoruba, Nigeria) Guedado (m) (m) Anele Anele (f) (f) wanted by n.o.body (Fulani, Mali) enough (given to a last born) (Xhosa, South Africa)

Silent foreigners Czechs describe people from outside their country in intriguing caricature. Originally all foreigners were called Nmec Nmec (from the adjective (from the adjective nm nm meaning 'mute'); now the suggestion that outsiders are deprived of speech applies specifically to Germans, whose country is known as meaning 'mute'); now the suggestion that outsiders are deprived of speech applies specifically to Germans, whose country is known as Nmecko Nmecko. Hungary in Czech used to be Uhersko Uhersko, and a Hungarian Uher Uher, literally, a pimple.

The Italians, meanwhile, are called makaroni makaroni, for obvious reasons; while Australians are known as protinoci protinoci, meaning 'legs placed in an opposite direction', as they would be on the other side of the globe. Other cheerfully frank generalizations include: opil jako Dan opil jako Dan, to be as drunk as a Dane; zmizet po anglicku zmizet po anglicku, to disappear like an Englishman; and when the Czechs really really don't understand something, they say don't understand something, they say to pro mn pan lska vesnice to pro mn pan lska vesnice, it's all a Spanish village to me.

False friends handel (Polish and Dutch) trade (Polish and Dutch) tradeliszt (Hungarian) flour (Hungarian) flourberlin (Wagiman, Australia) shoulder (Wagiman, Australia) shoulderbengal (Malay) temporarily deaf or stubborn (Malay) temporarily deaf or stubbornmalta (Italian) mortar (Italian) mortarbach (Welsh) cottage (Welsh) cottagepele (Samoan) pack of playing cards (Samoan) pack of playing cards

Skin and b.u.t.tocks Just for the record, and to avoid confusion abroad, here are the meanings of a variety of English names when written in other languages: adam (Arabic) skin (Arabic) skinalan (Indonesian) comedian (Indonesian) comedia.n.a.lf (Arabic) thousand, millennium (Arabic) thousand, millenniumanna (Arabic) moans and groans (Arabic) moans and groanscalista (Portuguese) chiropodist (Portuguese) chiropodistcamilla (Spanish) stretcher (Spanish) stretcher

cilla (Zarma, Nigeria) basket (Zarma, Nigeria) basketdoris (Bajan, Barbados) police van (Bajan, Barbados) police vaneliza (Basque) church (Basque) churcheve (Rapa Nui, Easter Island) b.u.t.tocks (Rapa Nui, Easter Island) b.u.t.tocksfay (Zarma, Nigeria) divorce (Zarma, Nigeria) divorcefred (Swedish, Danish and Norwegian) peace (Swedish, Danish and Norwegian) peacejim (Korean) baggage (Korean) baggagekim (Ainu, j.a.pan) mountain (Ainu, j.a.pan) mountainkylie (Dharug, Australia) boomerang (Dharug, Australia) boomeranglaura (Greek) group of monks' huts (Greek) group of monks' hutsluke (Chinese) traveller (Chinese) travellermarianna (Italian) accomplice who tells a gambler the cards held by other players (Italian) accomplice who tells a gambler the cards held by other playerssara (Hausa, Nigeria) snakebite (Hausa, Nigeria) snakebitesid (Arabic) plaster (Arabic) plastersusan (Thai ) cemetery (Thai ) cemeteryvera (Italian) wedding ring (Italian) wedding ring

First person singular Ben in Turkish, in Turkish, Ami Ami in Bengali, in Bengali, Fi Fi in Welsh, in Welsh, Jo Jo in Catalan, in Catalan, Mimi Mimi in Swedish, in Swedish, Mama Mama in Sinhala (Sri Lanka) and in Sinhala (Sri Lanka) and Man Man in Wolof (Senegal and Gambia) all mean I. in Wolof (Senegal and Gambia) all mean I.

Speaking in tongues British first names crop up as the names of languages, too: Alan (Georgia); Ali (Central Africa); Dan (Ivory Coast); Dido (Russia); Karen (Myanmar and Thailand); Kim (Chad); Laura (Indonesia); Mae (Vanuatu); Maria (Papua New Guinea and India); Pam (Cameroon); Ron (Nigeria); Sara (Chad); Sonia (Papua New Guinea); Uma (Indonesia); Zaza (Iran).

And equally intriguing to English ears may be: Afar (Ethiopia); Alas (Indonesia); a.n.u.s (Indonesia); Bare (Venezuela); Bats (Georgia); Bench (Ethiopia); Bile (Nigeria); Bit (Laos); b.u.m (Cameroon); Darling (Australia); Day (Chad); Doe (Tanzania); Eton (Vanuatu/Cameroon); Even (Russia); Ewe (Niger-Congo); Fang (Western Africa); Fox (North American); Fur (Sudan); Ham (Nigeria); Hermit (Papua New Guinea: extinct); Logo (Congo); Mango (Chad); Miao (South-East Asia); Moore (Burkina Faso); Mum (Papua New Guinea); Noon (Senegal); Pear (Cambodia); Poke (Congo); Puma (Nepal); Quiche (Guatemala).

Grand capital of the world The capital of Thailand is abbreviated by all Thais to Krung Thep, and referred to as Bangkok, meaning literally 'grove of the wild plums'. But, bearing in mind that there are no s.p.a.ces between words in written Thai, its full correct name is: Krungthephphramahanakhonbowonratanakosinmahinthara yuthayamahadilokphiphobnovpharadradchataniburiromudo msantisug meaning: City of Angels, Great City and Residence of the Emerald Buddha, Impregnable City of the G.o.d Indra, Grand Capital of the World, Endowed with Nine Precious Gems, Abounding in Enormous Royal Palaces which resemble the Heavenly Abode where reigns the Reincarnated G.o.d, a City given by Indra and built by Vishnukarm.

It rather leaves the Welsh Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwillantysilioogofgoch (meaning St Mary's Church by the pool of the white hazel trees, near the rapid whirlpool, by the red cave of the Church of St Tysilio) in the shade.

A to Y At the other end of the scale are three places called A A (in Denmark, Norway and Sweden), and two more, in Alaska and France, called (in Denmark, Norway and Sweden), and two more, in Alaska and France, called Y Y.