I think it was ‘Miss Smilla’s Feeling For Snow’ where I read of the Inuit having many words for ‘snow’, in its very many different states or conditions. I was reminded of this as I have been flicking through a lovely little book which I picked up before Christmas – “An Sanasán Uisce – The Water Glossary” by Carol Anne Connolly. It lists so very different Irish words for water in its very many different forms – rain, rivers, ponds, sea and may others. Every couple of days, I will flick through and try to add another word to my Irish vocabulary. My favourites to date include: drúchtín – a dew drop cómh-shnúadh – a meeting or confluence of rivers or waters scim – veil of haze or mist puiteáil – the act of messing in a puddle |