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Louise Haynes's avatar

Well, this gives me hope! Older is better. 😉

(also learned a new word: vijana ("whippersnappers" in the original?)

Tree are such wonderful beings. This looks like a good book. (Oh, and there's an Audible version! Yay!)

Asante, Mmerikani.

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Mmerikani (Swahili & English)'s avatar

But yes! Isn't that so interesting about older trees? So counterintuitive! We humans can learn from trees. :)

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Mmerikani (Swahili & English)'s avatar

Vijana is actually just "young people." :) Kijana is one young person. I went plain rather than try to add something funny which may come off as "careless" or "ignorant" without more context.

How would you define whippersnapper in English, Louise? I think of it as an upstart youth, who is willing and mostly able, but with less experience than the older adult in the same setting. It is often said by the older adult to tease the younger one, but not with malice. Haha, this is why I went with "vijana," which, I think, captures the sentiment if older-younger, but didn't want to risk insulting the youth. :)

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Louise Haynes's avatar

I think your definition is accurate. Agree that it’s a pretty innocent term, but I can see how translating it would be a challenge. Haven’t heard “whippersnapper” in years! Had a good chuckle. 😆

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David Venus's avatar

How remarkable! We don’t know the first thing about the natural world do we!

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