What term is being referred to with "reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits"?

Question

In The Colour of Magic, on page 46 of my copy, Twoflower says this word:

“Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?”

What term is being referred to above?

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.

I can't even figure out what you're saying, what exactly is the question? — Ash, Apr 24 '19 at 19:03
@JMac - Additional context isn't really needed when you've read the book. — Valorum, Apr 24 '19 at 19:32
@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, Apr 24 '19 at 19:37
@JMac - Rincewind always transliterates Twoflower's speech into Morporkian. Twoflower is saying "echo-gnomics" — Valorum, Apr 24 '19 at 21:21
@Valorum Yes, Rincewind is translating; but without context it appears as though that is what Twoflowers said. Like for example, why did Twoflowers/Rincewind say "Reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits?" in this part of the book. Surely he didn't just randomly decide to say it, and any context would make it far easier to understand (even for someone who has read the book, but forgot details, for example). — JMac, Apr 24 '19 at 21:26
I recall this one being easier to work backwards. That is, deduce from the context that "economic" may be the word and only then get the joke. — dmckee --- ex-moderator kitten, Apr 24 '19 at 23:44
Am I the only one here who says *EEconomics instead of EH*conomics? — Rand al'Thor, Apr 25 '19 at 16:25
@Randal'Thor you are in line with 62% of British speakers, fwiw — AakashM, Apr 26 '19 at 09:39
You already have the answer, but I'll note that the Annotated Pratchett File answers this as well: https://www.lspace.org/books/apf/the-colour-of-magic.html#p44 . I recommend reading the notes there, because they will usually mention something that you haven't noticed to any Pratchett book. — b_jonas, Sep 09 '19 at 12:30

DavidW · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-24T19:11:23.540

124

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.

edited Apr 24 '19 at 19:11

answered Apr 24 '19 at 19:04

DavidW

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And here I thought gnomes dwelt in gardens! – ruakh Apr 24 '19 at 19:28
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Those are gnomish felons, @ruakh. Gardens are the penal colonies of the gnome race, much like Australia was for Britain at one point. The bright clothing is both a punishment and a guard against escape. – Paul Apr 25 '19 at 10:47
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In D&D, gnomes have night vision and live in burrows, so they are pretty tied to underground. Are you mistaking them for halflings? – Matthieu M. Apr 25 '19 at 11:44

score 78 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 24 '19 at 23:02

78

Rincewind tries his hand at a better translation later in the book (emphasis added):

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' (emphasis added):

“Well, my point is, you see, that gold also has its sort of magical field. Sort of financial wizardry. Echo-gnomics.” Rincewind giggled.

edited Apr 24 '19 at 23:02

Stormblessed

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answered Apr 24 '19 at 19:10

Valorum

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Might be worth pointing out that echo-gnomics would be pronounced economics, something that wouldn't be immediately obvious to people fortunate enough to have been raised speaking languages with rational spelling. – terdon Apr 24 '19 at 22:46
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While a fair point, in my accent at least, echo-gnomics and economics sound quite different! – Two-Bit Alchemist Apr 25 '19 at 17:55
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@Two-BitAlchemist - I really can't be held accountable for the way that you colonials butcher the English language – Valorum Apr 25 '19 at 18:01
The two have distinct "o" sounds (gnome having a long o). Do people in the UK really pronounce gnome as "nom"? It hasn't been my experience. – Glen_b Apr 27 '19 at 01:10
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@Glen_b - "Gnome" (in RP) would be 'nome' (rhymes with 'home'). "Gnom" (as in gnomon) would usually be 'nom' (rhymes with 'Tom'). – Valorum Apr 27 '19 at 08:22
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Ah, I finally get it, you're saying the pronunciation of the "o" shifts when it becomes "-gnomics". – Glen_b Apr 27 '19 at 09:50
Sure, but the main point, and what I expect would me most confusing to a non-native speaker, is that the g in gnome and, by extension, echo-gnomics is silent. If you come from a language with a spelling system that isn't insane, you would think that the g would be the same sound as you get in gone. – terdon Apr 27 '19 at 14:19
surely it's gnome to rhyme with scone? – Baldrickk Jul 10 '19 at 16:16

What term is being referred to with "reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits"?

2 Answers2