Ethiopian Astronomy Indigenous knowledge- Developing conventions for translations and

transliterations: Approach to Astronomy and Space Science Vocabulary Conventions

Gondar School of Science and Technology
January 3-5 2014 University of Gondar, Gondar Ethiopia
Abebe Kebede
Department of Physics, NC A&T State University
1601 East Market St. Greensboro NC 27455

Abstract

The Ethiopians have a tradition of star lore s and legends. In the distant past the knowledge of
astronomy and mathematics was abundant. Books such as the mysteries of heaven and earth, the
book of Enoch and Abu Shaker are devoted to this knowledge. There is a large body of
indigenous knowledge of astronomy that people use to keep time. This communication proposes
the development of carefully studied conventions for adoption and transliteration of scientific
terms including those used in contemporary astrophysical and special studies.

Introduction

Naming physical objects, chemical elements, Some examples of astronomical objects

mathematical and physical phenomenon allow and their Ethiopian equivalent
consistency in education across the curriculum and
ጃሂ Pleiades (Afan Oromo)
across systems of education. This communication
entertains several examples and instances of ስድስቶ Pleiades (Amharic Wollo)
expressions, terminologies and description related to
Astronomy and Space Science. In addition of some ሶስቶሽ Orion (Amharic Gondar)
exploration can be made on Ethiopian diverse
cultures and language and how such rich cultures can እምሆል Galxy (Tigre)
be instrumental in shaping the future astronomy and
space science curricula and documentations. ኬማ Pleiades (Tigre)

ካምሳ Pleiades (Borena)

Vocabulary Conventions
ግታሮ Polaris (Amharic Wollo
The vocabulary conventions that this paper seeks to
establish are based on the following general መይሳ Orion (Hebrew by word
observation. association, Abebe Kebede)
(1) The Ethiopians have a tradition of star lores
and legends. In the distant past the Proposed new words
knowledge of astronomy and mathematics
was abundant. Books such as the mysteries of አዲስ ጀንበር (new sun September 21 Fall
heaven and earth, the book of Enoch and Abu equinox)
shaker are devoted to this knowledge. There የገና ጀንበር (Winter Solstice)
የጸደይ ጀንበር (March 21, Spring Equinox)
is a large body of indigenous knowledge of
የቡሄ ጀንበር (June 21, Summer Solstice)
astronomy that people use to keep time. እንደርቢ (meteor shower)
(2) Identification and adoption indigenous names ደስዬ (comet)
for celestial object Cosmology, celestial
 processes and events drawn out of Ethiopian experiences, languages and cultures,
(3) Ethiopia is a historical country with world heritage landmarks, historical and
mythological figures, festivals, scripts, alphabets. Upon agreement these can be used to
name celestial objects and special physical characteristics of stars.
(4) Stars and other celestial bodies can be given creative names that reflect their general
physical and specific characteristics
The community of astronomy and space science conventions include departments such as
anthropology, linguistics, philology, history, natural sciences and technology. The partial list of
questions to be answered includes:
 What are we translating?
 How do we translate?
 What works are already available?
 What are the strength and weaknesses of the current translated materials?
 What are the organizations and who are the people involved in the translations?
 Who are the authorities in translation work?

What are the technologies that are available for translation?

Source of terminology sample translations and demonstration

The literature about Ethiopia and its

Some formal translation from English to Amharic
constituents is filled with rich documents
about religion, science, mathematics,
astronomy and cosmology. Such knowledge
is documented as Mursi Astronomy, Borana
Astronomy, Tigre Astronomy, Konso
Astronomy and many more. In addition
Ethiopian Christian and Islamic traditions
demonstrate formal knowledge of the fields of
science. It is beyond the purpose of this paper
to describe what each represents. Be it as it
may the community of translators will have
ample data to construct the language of
science, mathematics, astronomy and
Technology. For example in Oromo Tradition
Venus is called Bakalcha (በከልቻ). If we go
deeper in history venus ia principal stars in
Mesopotamian religion It was personified as
the goddess Ishtar in Babylonia and Assyria. It
is called Astarte in Phoenicia, Athtar in
Arabia, Astar in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia),
and Ashtart in Canaan and Israel. In this case
we adopt Astar or Bakalcha (በከልቻ).
Mathematics from tradition
Chemistry: Names of the Elements

Borana Star Names and Phases of the moon

Borana Months and Stars/Lunar Phases (Legesse 1973)

Month Star/Lunar Phase
Bittottessa Triangulum
Camsa Pleiades
Bufa Aldebarran
Wacabajjii Belletrix
Obora Gudda Central Orion-Saiph
Obora Dikka Sirius
Birra full moon
Cikawa gibbous moon
Sadasaa quarter moon
Abrasa large crescent
Ammaji medium crescent
Gurrandala small crescent
Creative naming from songs and games

Following ካሳ ተሰማ-ከባልንጀራው ማታ የተለየ -እንደ አጥቢያ ኮከብ ሲነጋ ታየ. Here አጥቢያ ኮከብ morning star
is an excellent name for Venus

የእርኞች ዘፈን
አንደት ነሽ ስድስቶሽ አዚያ ላይ ሆነሽ ቀኑንም ለሊቱንም ትታይኛለሽ።
(የወሎ አረኞች አህል ተወቅቶ አውድማ በሚያድሩበት ጊዜ የሚያዜሙት ዜማ )-
Contributed by Dereje Abera, PhD Student, Addis Ababa University

Ethiopian writing systems as source for knowledge and their use in Astronomy

Writing systems are codes for: Information, Tradition, Mythology, Cosmology, Religion,
Knowledge systems, Belief systems, Time Keeping, Science, Technology Engineering and
Mathematics. In the picture you see below, aside from their religious connotations the Geez system is a
number and calender syste, ግ ዕ ዝ 26 ፊደላት ና 7 ርባታዎች አናባቢዎች አሉት 26 X 7= 182 (half year
signature of the equinox) 182 X 2= 364 (Full year)
Ethiopic script can be used as
indcators of the magnitude of
stars. Here is Orion
Contelation. Alpha Orionis can
be called ha-Orionis

The constellation Gemni, the

twins can be conviniently
renamed as Queen Sheba and
King Solomn

Ethiopian famous historical and

mythological figures can be used as
names of celestial bodies. The seven
days of the week can also be used.
Here is an example using the seven
sisters
These pictorial proposals may be considered outside the regime of astronomical knowledge. On the
other hand if people used astronomy knowledge as a means to communicate with the universe, it is
plausible to use astronomy as a keeper of history. Pending the consideration of the community, careful
transliteration, the Orion Constellation can be named as Meisa, as in Meisaw Kassa. Children will learn
history and astronomy together

Conclusion

In this presentation an incomplete picture of the possibilities of translation and customizing astronomy
are indicated. Ethioipan schools and universities must engage in this educational and research endevour
to make the field of science and technology accessible to the masses. The above are just suggestions and
the motivation of this paper focusses on bringing awareness of the possibilities. People are connected by
their common experiences through astronomical phenomnon and aways wondered where they came
from. It is important to bring them to the fied of science using their own experiences. This
communication should be taken as incomplete verision of what we can do the huge indegionous
knowledge of sience and technology. The figures for the constellations are taken out of directly text
books and web resources, in paricular Wilkkipedia (https://www.wikipedia.org/).