08-19-2015, 04:25 PM | #31 |
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"Keep your pecker up!" is a harmless phrase in my dictionary English-German from 1977. The meaning is "Keep your head up" or "Don't hang your head."
So in your second example it could be: ‘All right,’ the parrot answered; ‘keep your head up! ‘What did it say?’ the Pretenderette asked. ‘Something about head,’ said Philip upside down. ‘Ah!’ said the Pretenderette with satisfaction, ‘he won’t need his head anymore for some time to come.' But it's not the same playing with words. George |
08-20-2015, 10:24 AM | #32 |
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I'd actually say that "Keep your pecker up!" is more akin to "Keep your spirits up!"
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08-20-2015, 10:33 AM | #33 |
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08-24-2015, 03:09 AM | #34 |
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08-25-2015, 06:01 AM | #35 |
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Alex understands my pain.
In the US, the phrase *only* has an obscene meaning, sorry to say. @George --- your re-write was much better than anything I ever managed! I have already posted the book with the original vocabulary/wording, but one day soon I will edit it your way, and post as an alternative download, marked as *cleansed for young readers*. Thanks. |
08-26-2015, 02:33 AM | #36 |
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I have another example, and hope no one is offended by it.
I'm preparing Harriet Martineau's Autobiography for the MR library, and have got as far as Period 6, Section 7. This afternoon I reached this sentence: 'Of Mr Dickens I have seen but little in face-to-face intercourse; but I am glad to have enjoyed that little.' I'm sure Miss Martineau did not intend to convey the meaning which most people in our times would read into her words. Anyone have any suggestions for alternate wording? |
08-26-2015, 02:45 AM | #37 |
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Why on earth would you feel the need to change that? "Intercourse" simply means a connection or communication between people. It's an entirely normal and everyday word. Anyone who automatically associates "intercourse" with "sexual intercourse" is just ignorant.
It's one thing editing books for children; it's another thing entirely to pander to the ignorant adult. I'd strongly suggest leaving this one well alone. Last edited by HarryT; 08-26-2015 at 02:48 AM. |
08-26-2015, 03:34 AM | #38 |
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Ditto.
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08-26-2015, 08:00 PM | #39 | |
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Quote:
I also see no reason to change it. |
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08-26-2015, 09:00 PM | #40 | |
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I would have to agree.
The current modern meaning of "intercourse" remains "communication or dealings between individuals or groups". The fact that some people automatically expand "intercourse" to the subclass of "sexual intercourse" is irrelevant. At the very least, people will know exactly what it means. Although I suppose, yes, there will be immature individuals who will say "hur hur, intercourse!" They probably say the same thing when filling out paperwork and getting to the question: Quote:
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08-27-2015, 03:08 AM | #41 |
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There is a town called "Intercourse" in Pennsylvania, so it would certainly appear that its meaning to the American reader is not automatically a sexual one.
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08-27-2015, 03:13 AM | #42 |
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No, that doesn't prove anything. We have a lot of incredibly bizarre names.
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08-27-2015, 03:57 AM | #43 |
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Given the fact, though, that Pennsylvania was largely settled by the Quakers, it's probably a reasonable assumption that they named the town "Intercourse" after the idea of people gathering together into a community, rather than any sexual meaning .
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08-27-2015, 09:21 AM | #44 |
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Their Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercourse,_Pennsylvania
At least, it proves the word had no sexual meaning back when the Quakers named it! For proof that the word still has no exclusive sexual meaning, one must look to other sources. But of course, I despair for humanity when I see that such a place becomes a tourist attraction for the abovementioned immature individuals. |
08-27-2015, 02:11 PM | #45 |
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And I put Intercourse in the wrong state.
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