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”?

What is the best argument for maximum parsimony method in phylogenetic tree construction?

Trumpet valves, lengths, and pitch

Is there any hidden 'W' sound after 'comment' in : Comment est-elle?

Do I need to protect SFP ports and optics from dust/contaminants? If so, how?

How to open locks without disable device?

Error: Syntax error. Missing ')' for CASE Statement

How to keep bees out of canned beverages?

Does Feeblemind produce an ongoing magical effect that can be dispelled?

What is a 'Key' in computer science?

Why did Israel vote against lifting the American embargo on Cuba?

How to translate "red flag" into Spanish?

Is a 5 watt UHF/VHF handheld considered QRP?

What's the difference between using dependency injection with a container and using a service locator?

How to find the right literary agent in the USA?

Israeli soda type drink

Are all CP/M-80 implementations binary compatible?

Check if a string is entirely made of the same substring

Mistake in years of experience in resume?

What do you call the part of a novel that is not dialog?

SQL Query not selecting all points that it should?

All ASCII characters with a given bit count

How to not starve gigantic beasts

"My boss was furious with me and I have been fired" vs. "My boss was furious with me and I was fired"

What is the term for a person whose job is to place products on shelves in stores?



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”?



.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;








16















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
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    Maybe provide a bit more context for this?

    – JMac
    1 hour ago











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

    – Valorum
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    @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
    1 hour ago

















16















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
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    Maybe provide a bit more context for this?

    – JMac
    1 hour ago











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

    – Valorum
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    @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
    1 hour ago













16












16








16








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 1 hour ago









StormblessedStormblessed

2,80211043




2,80211043












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

    – Ash
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    Maybe provide a bit more context for this?

    – JMac
    1 hour ago











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

    – Valorum
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    @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
    1 hour ago

















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

    – Ash
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    Maybe provide a bit more context for this?

    – JMac
    1 hour ago











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

    – Valorum
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    @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
    1 hour ago
















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

– Ash
1 hour ago





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

– Ash
1 hour ago




1




1





Maybe provide a bit more context for this?

– JMac
1 hour ago





Maybe provide a bit more context for this?

– JMac
1 hour ago













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

– Valorum
1 hour ago





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

– Valorum
1 hour ago




1




1





@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
1 hour 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
1 hour ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















26














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
    1 hour ago


















18














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

























    Your Answer








    StackExchange.ready(function()
    var channelOptions =
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "186"
    ;
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
    createEditor();
    );

    else
    createEditor();

    );

    function createEditor()
    StackExchange.prepareEditor(
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
    convertImagesToLinks: false,
    noModals: true,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: null,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    imageUploader:
    brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
    contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
    allowUrls: true
    ,
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    );



    );













    draft saved

    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function ()
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f210720%2fwhat-is-this-word-supposed-to-be%23new-answer', 'question_page');

    );

    Post as a guest















    Required, but never shown

























    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    26














    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
      1 hour ago















    26














    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
      1 hour ago













    26












    26








    26







    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 1 hour ago

























    answered 1 hour ago









    DavidWDavidW

    4,28511553




    4,28511553







    • 1





      And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!

      – ruakh
      1 hour ago












    • 1





      And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!

      – ruakh
      1 hour ago







    1




    1





    And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!

    – ruakh
    1 hour ago





    And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens!

    – ruakh
    1 hour ago













    18














    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





























      18














      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



























        18












        18








        18







        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 1 hour ago

























        answered 1 hour ago









        ValorumValorum

        417k11430383261




        417k11430383261



























            draft saved

            draft discarded
















































            Thanks for contributing an answer to Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange!


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid


            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.

            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function ()
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f210720%2fwhat-is-this-word-supposed-to-be%23new-answer', 'question_page');

            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown





















































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown

































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown







            Popular posts from this blog

            Invision Community Contents History See also References External links Navigation menuProprietaryinvisioncommunity.comIPS Community ForumsIPS Community Forumsthis blog entry"License Changes, IP.Board 3.4, and the Future""Interview -- Matt Mecham of Ibforums""CEO Invision Power Board, Matt Mecham Is a Liar, Thief!"IPB License Explanation 1.3, 1.3.1, 2.0, and 2.1ArchivedSecurity Fixes, Updates And Enhancements For IPB 1.3.1Archived"New Demo Accounts - Invision Power Services"the original"New Default Skin"the original"Invision Power Board 3.0.0 and Applications Released"the original"Archived copy"the original"Perpetual licenses being done away with""Release Notes - Invision Power Services""Introducing: IPS Community Suite 4!"Invision Community Release Notes

            Canceling a color specificationRandomly assigning color to Graphics3D objects?Default color for Filling in Mathematica 9Coloring specific elements of sets with a prime modified order in an array plotHow to pick a color differing significantly from the colors already in a given color list?Detection of the text colorColor numbers based on their valueCan color schemes for use with ColorData include opacity specification?My dynamic color schemes

            Tom Holland Mục lục Đầu đời và giáo dục | Sự nghiệp | Cuộc sống cá nhân | Phim tham gia | Giải thưởng và đề cử | Chú thích | Liên kết ngoài | Trình đơn chuyển hướngProfile“Person Details for Thomas Stanley Holland, "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008" — FamilySearch.org”"Meet Tom Holland... the 16-year-old star of The Impossible""Schoolboy actor Tom Holland finds himself in Oscar contention for role in tsunami drama"“Naomi Watts on the Prince William and Harry's reaction to her film about the late Princess Diana”lưu trữ"Holland and Pflueger Are West End's Two New 'Billy Elliots'""I'm so envious of my son, the movie star! British writer Dominic Holland's spent 20 years trying to crack Hollywood - but he's been beaten to it by a very unlikely rival"“Richard and Margaret Povey of Jersey, Channel Islands, UK: Information about Thomas Stanley Holland”"Tom Holland to play Billy Elliot""New Billy Elliot leaving the garage"Billy Elliot the Musical - Tom Holland - Billy"A Tale of four Billys: Tom Holland""The Feel Good Factor""Thames Christian College schoolboys join Myleene Klass for The Feelgood Factor""Government launches £600,000 arts bursaries pilot""BILLY's Chapman, Holland, Gardner & Jackson-Keen Visit Prime Minister""Elton John 'blown away' by Billy Elliot fifth birthday" (video with John's interview and fragments of Holland's performance)"First News interviews Arrietty's Tom Holland"“33rd Critics' Circle Film Awards winners”“National Board of Review Current Awards”Bản gốc"Ron Howard Whaling Tale 'In The Heart Of The Sea' Casts Tom Holland"“'Spider-Man' Finds Tom Holland to Star as New Web-Slinger”lưu trữ“Captain America: Civil War (2016)”“Film Review: ‘Captain America: Civil War’”lưu trữ“‘Captain America: Civil War’ review: Choose your own avenger”lưu trữ“The Lost City of Z reviews”“Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios Find Their 'Spider-Man' Star and Director”“‘Mary Magdalene’, ‘Current War’ & ‘Wind River’ Get 2017 Release Dates From Weinstein”“Lionsgate Unleashing Daisy Ridley & Tom Holland Starrer ‘Chaos Walking’ In Cannes”“PTA's 'Master' Leads Chicago Film Critics Nominations, UPDATED: Houston and Indiana Critics Nominations”“Nominaciones Goya 2013 Telecinco Cinema – ENG”“Jameson Empire Film Awards: Martin Freeman wins best actor for performance in The Hobbit”“34th Annual Young Artist Awards”Bản gốc“Teen Choice Awards 2016—Captain America: Civil War Leads Second Wave of Nominations”“BAFTA Film Award Nominations: ‘La La Land’ Leads Race”“Saturn Awards Nominations 2017: 'Rogue One,' 'Walking Dead' Lead”Tom HollandTom HollandTom HollandTom Hollandmedia.gettyimages.comWorldCat Identities300279794no20130442900000 0004 0355 42791085670554170004732cb16706349t(data)XX5557367