Reading and Language 23 Oct 2005 12:27 pm
gholonbeh
Another word I’d like to import: gholonbeh, “gift-wrapped insult”. Perhaps it could carry the connotation of a whole lot of related insults all knotted up into a nasty wad.
Serious thoughts must have gone into the selection of a Persian word that has enough power to unload a ton of weight on one’s heart. Gholonbeh in itself means an indescribable lump or a bulge of something, for example, if you stuff your pockets it will form a gholonbeh. However, in dialogue, the same word signifies a load of insult which is delivered in a roundabout way via metaphors and hints. You won’t find a definition for this word anywhere and, should there be a dictionary bold enough to include it, you’ll be sure to find the translation inadequate if not incorrect.
Is she describing “gholonbeh” accurately? I have no idea, but I love the metaphor.
on 23 Oct 2005 at 2:11 pm 1.ozarque said …
That’s a really interesting word — thanks for the post.
ozarque
on 23 Oct 2005 at 2:40 pm 2.Cam Sculpin said …
Heya, Ozarque! I thought you might like that word.
on 18 Nov 2005 at 8:51 pm 3.Zohreh Ghahremani said …
I hereby testify that the word, its use and the indications were all based on the truth and nothing but the truth!