On the Use of Indian Terms for Identification of Weapon Types

Jens Nordlunde · 14th October 2015, 09:54 AM

Unfortunately my knowledge to the Indian languages is more than limited, so I can not be of much help, but years ago Robert Elgood showed me a manuscript, and if I remember correctly it was a glossery over the Indian weapon names.
I dont know if he still is working on it, or if he has given it up.
Jens

ariel · 14th October 2015, 11:29 AM

There are glossaries in both of his "indian" books. As usual, both were meticulously researched. I can safely bet that he discussed the entries with native specialists.

For an endeavor like that, especially if the topic is a multiethnic society, one needs equal fluency in languages as well as deep knowledge of history in general, local crafts and , - in particular,- weapons per se

But eventually it is the language that will be presented to the reader.
I just got an English version of the Turkish book "Sultanlarin Silahlari". Shock to the system! The author/translator had no understanding of elementary weapon terminology in English. Took me quite some time to figure out that the word "fuller" indicated the ... entire blade:-)

Glossaries serve as precision tools for a multitude of researchers and need to be obsessively accurate. Their authorship needs to be left to superspecialists of Elgood's caliber. Amateurish forays into phonetic similarities, imprecise translations and erroneous definitions are bound to confuse generations of well-meaning readers and researchers.

Ian · 14th October 2015, 12:55 PM

Well said Ariel. Confusion is an all too frequent state of mind when we amateurs play the "name game." Robert Elgood is one of the few dedicated to getting it right when it comes to edged weapons.

Ian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

....
Glossaries serve as precision tools for a multitude of researchers and need to be obsessively accurate. Their authorship needs to be left to superspecialists of Elgood's caliber. Amateurish forays into phonetic similarities, imprecise translations and erroneous definitions are bound to confuse generations of well-meaning readers and researchers.

ariel · 14th October 2015, 01:16 PM

Thanks, Ian.
Stone and van Zonneveld immediately come to mind.

Many an enthusiastic and semiliterate dilettante tried to bite Stone's ankles for real or perceived inaccuracies. But even at its worst his Glossary is heads and shoulders above the crowd. I may need a new copy soon: mine is dog-eared from long and heavy use. The best compliment for a book:-)

14th October 2015, 09:54 AM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Unfortunately my knowledge to the Indian languages is more than limited, so I can not be of much help, but years ago Robert Elgood showed me a manuscript, and if I remember correctly it was a glossery over the Indian weapon names. I dont know if he still is working on it, or if he has given it up. Jens

14th October 2015, 11:29 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	There are glossaries in both of his "indian" books. As usual, both were meticulously researched. I can safely bet that he discussed the entries with native specialists. For an endeavor like that, especially if the topic is a multiethnic society, one needs equal fluency in languages as well as deep knowledge of history in general, local crafts and , - in particular,- weapons per se But eventually it is the language that will be presented to the reader. I just got an English version of the Turkish book "Sultanlarin Silahlari". Shock to the system! The author/translator had no understanding of elementary weapon terminology in English. Took me quite some time to figure out that the word "fuller" indicated the ... entire blade:-) Glossaries serve as precision tools for a multitude of researchers and need to be obsessively accurate. Their authorship needs to be left to superspecialists of Elgood's caliber. Amateurish forays into phonetic similarities, imprecise translations and erroneous definitions are bound to confuse generations of well-meaning readers and researchers.

14th October 2015, 01:16 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Thanks, Ian. Stone and van Zonneveld immediately come to mind. Many an enthusiastic and semiliterate dilettante tried to bite Stone's ankles for real or perceived inaccuracies. But even at its worst his Glossary is heads and shoulders above the crowd. I may need a new copy soon: mine is dog-eared from long and heavy use. The best compliment for a book:-)