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What is this word supposed to be?



Unicorn Meta Zoo #1: Why another podcast?
Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara
Favorite questions and answers from first quarter of 2019
Latest Blog Post: FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention (Spring 2019)Is Nugganism supposed to be an allegory for Scientology?What is this reference in wyrd sisters?What did Darren Cross mean with “Word travels fast”What is this Norwegian shouting?Can someone explain this phrase about gambling stones?What happens to the baby worldturtles?Why did Death help set Ankh-Morpork on fire?What does this line mean in the Watchmen movie?What does this phrase from Ursula Le Guin's book “The Lathe of Heaven” mean?What does this joke mean in “Get Schwifty”?



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20















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.










share|improve this question






















  • I can't even figure out what you're saying, what exactly is the question?

    – Ash
    2 hours ago






  • 1





    Maybe provide a bit more context for this?

    – JMac
    2 hours ago











  • @JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.

    – Valorum
    2 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
    2 hours ago











  • @JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"

    – Valorum
    21 mins ago

















20















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.










share|improve this question






















  • I can't even figure out what you're saying, what exactly is the question?

    – Ash
    2 hours ago






  • 1





    Maybe provide a bit more context for this?

    – JMac
    2 hours ago











  • @JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.

    – Valorum
    2 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
    2 hours ago











  • @JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"

    – Valorum
    21 mins ago













20












20








20








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.










share|improve this question














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













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 2 hours ago









StormblessedStormblessed

2,82211043




2,82211043












  • I can't even figure out what you're saying, what exactly is the question?

    – Ash
    2 hours ago






  • 1





    Maybe provide a bit more context for this?

    – JMac
    2 hours ago











  • @JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.

    – Valorum
    2 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
    2 hours ago











  • @JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"

    – Valorum
    21 mins ago

















  • I can't even figure out what you're saying, what exactly is the question?

    – Ash
    2 hours ago






  • 1





    Maybe provide a bit more context for this?

    – JMac
    2 hours ago











  • @JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.

    – Valorum
    2 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
    2 hours ago











  • @JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"

    – Valorum
    21 mins ago
















I can't even figure out what you're saying, what exactly is the question?

– Ash
2 hours ago





I can't even figure out what you're saying, what exactly is the question?

– Ash
2 hours ago




1




1





Maybe provide a bit more context for this?

– JMac
2 hours ago





Maybe provide a bit more context for this?

– JMac
2 hours ago













@JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.

– Valorum
2 hours ago





@JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book.

– Valorum
2 hours ago




2




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
2 hours ago





@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
2 hours ago













@JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"

– Valorum
21 mins ago





@JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics"

– Valorum
21 mins ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















31














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




















  • 1





    And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!

    – ruakh
    2 hours ago


















23














Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book.




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'




“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

























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    2 Answers
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    2 Answers
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    active

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    active

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    31














    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




















    • 1





      And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!

      – ruakh
      2 hours ago















    31














    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




















    • 1





      And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!

      – ruakh
      2 hours ago













    31












    31








    31







    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















    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














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 2 hours ago

























    answered 2 hours ago









    DavidWDavidW

    4,28511653




    4,28511653







    • 1





      And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!

      – ruakh
      2 hours ago












    • 1





      And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!

      – ruakh
      2 hours ago







    1




    1





    And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!

    – ruakh
    2 hours ago





    And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!

    – ruakh
    2 hours ago













    23














    Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book.




    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'




    “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





























      23














      Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book.




      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'




      “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



























        23












        23








        23







        Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book.




        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'




        “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















        Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book.




        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'




        “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














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 2 hours ago

























        answered 2 hours ago









        ValorumValorum

        417k11430383261




        417k11430383261



























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