Yesterday, I hosted a lively mini-conference on composting at our Occitan café—ideal timing for the season. Participants explored waste types labeled in Occitan, translating them while classifying as green or brown materials. Engagement was high, fostering valuable exchanges we'll repeat.
In response to a Facebook query: how do you say 'compost' in Occitan? Derived from Latin like French, it's spelled similarly but pronounced differently: compost (first 'o' as 'ou', accented second 'o' as 'o'). Another term is gapan. For context, here's how 'compost' translates in related and distant languages: Italian: composta; Spanish: compost, abono; English: compost; German: kompost; Polish: kompozycja. This highlights the enduring Latin influence across tongues.
Gratitude to Véronique Fiol, professor emeritus of Occitan (noted in plural for its regional variants as a living language) and our Occitan café host.
