I have heard that the Eskimo language has 20-something different words
for snow. The Native Americans (Tohono Odam, Pima,
Navajo) of the southwest have different words for summer rains and
winter rains which describe their respective characteristics.
And I was just reading an article on Salon.com, I think, on finding a
decent Pinot Grigio and the often misleading language
of wine description.
Do any of the topoi mentioned describe the situation of not having a
word to express the item or phenomenon in question?
This seems particularly vexing in the case of smells, tastes and feelings.
Jean Goodrich
U of Arizona
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