Sometimes using Google Translate is TOTALLY the way to go.

[bunn]

Weasel Hair Brushes

Comments

[thesmallhobbit]

I may have just spent rather longer than was strictly necessary in looking at weasel hair brushes. And then wondering what the brushes were like if an English weasel had been used, rather than a Siberian one.

[bunn]

You are not alone :-D

[ladyofastolat]

Naturally, I uttered "langhao" as soon as I read that first sentence, and was disappointed that no Siberian weasels were called. But what if our callings ARE successful? After all, it doesn't specify where these weasels are being called to. One assumes it's to the location of the summoner, but what if it's elsewhere? What if, in some small office somewhere, a frazzled trainee on his first day at work is dealing with hundreds of Siberian weasels who keep magically popping into existence, and is riffling madly through the induction pack, trying to discover why it's happening and what is the correct procedure for dealing with it?

[bunn]

Me too, but perhaps we pronounced it wrong? It does warn that 'unthinking translation' can result in wolf-hair brushes. If you get a box of dodgy-looking wolf-hair brushes in the post tomorrow, you'll know why...

Surely the Great Calligraphy Catalog should be able to cope with unexpected weasels? It's probably part of the recruitment process, the Weasel Banishment test...

[ladyofastolat]

I'm sure I'm pronouncing it wrong, since I am led astray by the memory of land-hungry mariners, and declaim it as "Lang HO!", which doesn't sound much like a terse Siberian weasel (although it could be the war-cry of the Great Archweasel, may his tail remain forever unplucked.)

Come to think of it, it probably doesn't seem to be said aloud at all, but have its letters inscribed upon the air with mystic calligraphic symbols. By shaping the symbols correctly, you show yourself worthy of wielding the yellow brush of terseness.