Ita
From Anathem Wiki
A group of artisans who are allowed to use high technology (praxis in Arbre terminology) within the walls of a concent in order to maintain one of the great clocks. The Ita were established after the Second Sack. They are strictly segregated from the avout, and wear a very noticeable uniform so that fraas and suurs can keep their distance.
It is stated the Reticulum is the equivalent of the Math for Ita. They spend much of their time immersed in, comprehending and understanding the information flow which give the Reticulum its form. The remainder of their time is spent doing work within the Math.
[edit] Etymology
"Ita" Aramaic for "it is learned from". this may be a reference to the Ita providing the framework for the Discipline.
"Ita" may be a bilingual pun on "IT" and "eta", the latter being a now-archaic Japanese slur for members of the feudal burakumin caste: an excluded class handling corpses, refuse, and other pursuits considered unfit for civilized society (compare the avout's treatment and exclusion of the Ita). On Arbre, the word is an ancient acronym whose meaning has been lost to time; however, the first two letters are generally believed to stand for "Information Technology".
"ita" is also one of the Latin words for "yes"
