But no possibility that the British will resist less than intelligent American colloquialisms. And when you think of what it literally means, I think it was even less appropriate for talking about Narnia.
But no possibility that the British will resist less than intelligent American colloquialisms. And when you think of what it literally means, I think it was even less appropriate for talking about Narnia.I'm sorry, I expressed that badly. I intended to say:
"Cripes, chums! Looks like the new Narnia movie may be jolly spiffing after all. Itchy coo!"
I believe that my father recalled using "Yar boo sucks!" and "Sucks to you!" in his pre-war English childhood. I don't think that etymologists quite agree as to where it came from. I think that it is an etymological fallacy to say that if a word originally had a particular meaning, then that is what it really means. I assume that "gee whiz" or "golly moses" or "by jove" were all originally euphemisms for stronger religious oaths, but I don't think that is their real or true meaning. (The other day, a person who I know to be an atheist said "Good bye" to me. I didn't reply "Why are you saying "God be with you", since you don't believe in God?) I occassionally use ironic tabloid hyperbole in my headings, in any case. For example, I don't really think that it is momentously important that I finished a computer game last week.
my father... etymological fallacy... atheist said "Good bye"...Your father's usage is unrelated and native, and "goodbye", like "giddy" and "golly", does not connote "God" in modern English. "This sucks" does connote a certain act. I don't like it because a) it's crude and adolescent; b) it's another example of the Americanization of the UK; c) it's based on prejudice. Maybe the prejudice is justified, but I'd rather it wasn't generalized and expressed crudely. If you don't like blacks and say so without being abusive, that's one thing; saying "This movie nigs" is another.
Cripes, chums! Looks like the new Narnia movie may be jolly spiffing after all. Itchy coo!No, you didn't need to go that far, and you're doing what Lewis warned against: assuming that we are wiser, more self-aware, less absurd, etc because we're later in history. (I can't remember if he called it the chronological fallacy.) Think how our slang would have sounded to them.
As for the headline, I suggest: Slim chance that Narnia film may roar after all, shock. At least Lewis and his characters would have understood it. As for the film: given the nationality of those involved, it will probably zbol mjlf cvhhfsz. (Which is left as an exercise for the interested reader. But beware.)
8 comments:
Wow, I love Jonathan Tweet. Have you seen his LotR stuff on his site? His Boromir became my definitive visual of the character.
-joel
Argh, damned. Not Jonathan Tweet, Justin Sweet! I like Jonathan Tweet too, but I doubt he painters as well.
-joel
That certainly doesn't look like a tame lion...
Lirazel
But no possibility that the British will resist less than intelligent American colloquialisms. And when you think of what it literally means, I think it was even less appropriate for talking about Narnia.
But no possibility that the British will resist less than intelligent American colloquialisms. And when you think of what it literally means, I think it was even less appropriate for talking about Narnia.I'm sorry, I expressed that badly. I intended to say:
"Cripes, chums! Looks like the new Narnia movie may be jolly spiffing after all. Itchy coo!"
I believe that my father recalled using "Yar boo sucks!" and "Sucks to you!" in his pre-war English childhood. I don't think that etymologists quite agree as to where it came from. I think that it is an etymological fallacy to say that if a word originally had a particular meaning, then that is what it really means. I assume that "gee whiz" or "golly moses" or "by jove" were all originally euphemisms for stronger religious oaths, but I don't think that is their real or true meaning. (The other day, a person who I know to be an atheist said "Good bye" to me. I didn't reply "Why are you saying "God be with you", since you don't believe in God?) I occassionally use ironic tabloid hyperbole in my headings, in any case. For example, I don't really think that it is momentously important that I finished a computer game last week.
my father... etymological fallacy... atheist said "Good bye"...Your father's usage is unrelated and native, and "goodbye", like "giddy" and "golly", does not connote "God" in modern English. "This sucks" does connote a certain act. I don't like it because a) it's crude and adolescent; b) it's another example of the Americanization of the UK; c) it's based on prejudice. Maybe the prejudice is justified, but I'd rather it wasn't generalized and expressed crudely. If you don't like blacks and say so without being abusive, that's one thing; saying "This movie nigs" is another.
Cripes, chums! Looks like the new Narnia movie may be jolly spiffing after all. Itchy coo!No, you didn't need to go that far, and you're doing what Lewis warned against: assuming that we are wiser, more self-aware, less absurd, etc because we're later in history. (I can't remember if he called it the chronological fallacy.) Think how our slang would have sounded to them.
As for the headline, I suggest: Slim chance that Narnia film may roar after all, shock. At least Lewis and his characters would have understood it. As for the film: given the nationality of those involved, it will probably zbol mjlf cvhhfsz. (Which is left as an exercise for the interested reader. But beware.)
a) Because this Blog has a dead author and some fictional character as its intended audience, clearly.
b) When you say "completed a video game" do you mean "got past the last level" or "sent off the master disc"?
I've posted some thoughts on this at my blog: see "Chapter Eight: Chiefly Concerning Rilstone, Rilian and Jahiliyah".
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