Untranslatable Words - Page 27

zelda_pinwheel · 07-07-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

"Might could"

"Are you intending to get my car fixed anytime in this reality?"
"I might could get to it next Tuesday..."

what on earth does that mean ??? you don't have to translate it into french, just english would be fine.

pshrynk · 07-07-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

what on earth does that mean ??? you don't have to translate it into french, just english would be fine.

It means that the car will not, in fact be fixed next Tuesday, or any Tuesday in this reality stream. It will be fixed "some day" and you'll like it! I lived in Texas for four years and quickly learned that there are some in the warmer states who have a bad case of the slows.

zelda_pinwheel · 07-07-2008, 02:09 PM

ah. see, that really is not clear, in the original expression. thanks for explaining.

nekokami · 07-07-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

you mean this one ?

That was the one!

slayda · 07-07-2008, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

what on earth does that mean ??? you don't have to translate it into french, just english would be fine.

Actually, the literal translation is, "Maybe I could have it fixed by next Tuesday." but with the implication that you shouldn't expect it then.

pshrynk · 07-07-2008, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

Actually, the literal translation is, "Maybe I could have it fixed by next Tuesday." but with the implication that you shouldn't expect it then.

But it sounds so dull when you explain it that way.

slayda · 07-07-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookishDreamer

"Fixing to" (or "fixin' ta" in true Southern drawl) is the one that gets me.

"Have you finished yet?"
"Fixin' to."

I've never understood how you can be "fixing" to do anything! And I've lived in the South my entire life.

Dreamer

I have been castigated on this one as well (mostly by Yankees - not to be confused with what the Brits call Yanks). I think it drives from "fixing oneself up" as in putting on nice clothes, jewelry, and makeup (as may be required based on gender). So when you are getting ready to go out for a nice evening, you are "fixing" to go (out for the evening). From there it evolved into "getting ready to go", and then stating that "I'm going". Not really much different that the phrase, "I'm going to go to town now." which seems more acceptable to some living north of here.

But remember I am just an engineer, not a linguist, and fixin' to be retired soon.

nekokami · 07-07-2008, 05:01 PM

Similar to "making ready to..." but I'm not sure what region that would be from.

How does the US Southern use of "reckon" differ from the British use? Anyone know?

montsnmags · 07-07-2008, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

One of my most interesting words (actual usage is mostly a "Southernism" which itself is an untranslatable word) is "reckon" as in giving permission.

Child: "Mama, can I go to the store with you."
Mother: "Yeah, I reckon."

I'll agree it's a "southernism". So much so that we use it similarly all the way south down here. Another example is as an exclamatory affirmation, such as...

Idiot 1: WOW! That movie "300" was bloody brilliant!
Idiot 2: Yeah, I reckon!

(Note, I am not suggesting that its use is exclusive to idiocy - it was just a convenient example. I would use it so myself)

Cheers,
Marc

slayda · 07-08-2008, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I'll agree it's a "southernism". So much so that we use it similarly all the way south down here. Another example is as an exclamatory affirmation, such as...

Idiot 1: WOW! That movie "300" was bloody brilliant!
Idiot 2: Yeah, I reckon!

(Note, I am not suggesting that its use is exclusive to idiocy - it was just a convenient example. I would use it so myself)

Cheers,
Marc

You reckon?

Patricia · 07-15-2008, 08:11 PM

'Reckon' in the UK usually has the sense of counting or calculating. There used to be little booklets called 'Ready Reckoners' which would list tables, so that you could see at a glance how much interest (say) £56.30 would accrue at 4%, or calculate tax rates on your income etc.
These seem to have disappeared into the same void as logarithm tables, now that people have cheap calculators.

I always thought that the american usage of 'reckon' involved a suppressed clause, so that 'I reckon' = 'I reckon/calculate that you are right'.

zelda_pinwheel · 07-15-2008, 08:18 PM

hey ! are you back from vacation ? i'm glad to see you. i hope you had a nice relaxing time and forgot all about marking papers.

edit : hey, look at that, 3333 posts.

my, i just never stop talking, do i ?

montsnmags · 07-16-2008, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia

...
I always thought that the american usage of 'reckon' involved a suppressed clause, so that 'I reckon' = 'I reckon/calculate that you are right'.

We use it too, in the previously-stated, exclamatory sense, so I'll just respond to you by saying...

I reckon!

It's nice to see you back. We look forward to your "What I did on my holidays" report. I expect to give you an A+, so don't disappoint me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

...

edit : hey, look at that, 3333 posts.

Post-binary symmetry?

Quote:

my, i just never stop talking, do i ?

You and me both, my Queen.

Cheers,
Marc

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07-07-2008, 02:09 PM	#393
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	ah. see, that really is not clear, in the original expression. thanks for explaining.

07-07-2008, 05:01 PM	#398
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Similar to "making ready to..." but I'm not sure what region that would be from. How does the US Southern use of "reckon" differ from the British use? Anyone know?

07-15-2008, 08:11 PM	#401
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	'Reckon' in the UK usually has the sense of counting or calculating. There used to be little booklets called 'Ready Reckoners' which would list tables, so that you could see at a glance how much interest (say) £56.30 would accrue at 4%, or calculate tax rates on your income etc. These seem to have disappeared into the same void as logarithm tables, now that people have cheap calculators. I always thought that the american usage of 'reckon' involved a suppressed clause, so that 'I reckon' = 'I reckon/calculate that you are right'.

07-15-2008, 08:18 PM	#402
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	hey ! are you back from vacation ? i'm glad to see you. i hope you had a nice relaxing time and forgot all about marking papers. edit : hey, look at that, 3333 posts. my, i just never stop talking, do i ?

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