(forwarding on behalf of Yahoo user [email protected]) Robert J. Lang wrote:
>>> So, here's the place where I throw it open to the list (or at least, those who have waded through this long posting): what do you think we should use as a short, ideally single-word descriptor, of the object and the person, and why? >>> I'll add something from my mother's tongue, Spanish, which is a language of synonyms. A good writer should not use the same word twice in the same sentence, or even in the same paragraph. Although two words usually don't have exactly the same meaning, he should have more than one word to describe the same thing. So the writer should be careful enough when choosing the right words. One thing is obvious: there is not just one and only one word, although one should be given preference, depending on several factors (not only the meaning of the word-- it's also important how it sounds in the phrase, to name another quality). If I were to select my preference for "origami final object" in Spanish, the #1 word would be "obra" (from latin, opus), which encompasses the meaning of wholeness. Then, as I need a couple more synonyms to spark interest in my writing, I would use "modelo" (model), and "pieza" (piece). Those three words, in this order, complete my needs for the subject. Regarding the person who does the job of folding paper: if he was the creator, I would try to highlight that fact, and call him "creador". However, as I need more synonyms, I would also rely in the word "artista". If he was not the creator, I would not use that word, of course, and instead I would call him/her an "artista". I could use "intérprete" if I want to stress the fact that he is recreating an original work and that he may add a little bit of his own flavor. Also handy I would have "plegador" (folder). Last but not least, there are words that Spanish-speakers use to refer to paper folding, but not all of them are equally known in any Spanish-speaking word. If you go to Spain, most people would understand "pajarita" as any type of folding you can think of, from a horse to a kusudama (although in the dictionary you will find that pajarita is a little bird). If you go to any other Spanish-speaking country and say "pajarita", everyone will only understand you are talking about a little bird, not a folding. Welcome to Babel! ;) Laura Rozenberg
