The Language (and travel) Thread

[Carol the Dabbler]

There are all sorts of words for various types of tide (e.g., neap tide and spring tide), but I think the usual terms for low tide and high tide are, well, low tide and high tide.

 

Anyone with more knowledge is welcome to contradict me!

[Arcadia]

Those are the only terms I've heard, too. It is currently low tide at my present location.

[Van Buren Supernova]

So can I make fun for the fact that the language doesn't have direct terms for such important daily occurence things, and yet have plethora of synonyms and unnecessary words for many others? :p

[Carol the Dabbler]

Nope. Why make up a word when there's such a simple phrase already? English uses short phrases for lots of things, like book case, mother-in-law-law, and fireplace.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

English is fun with many words having synonyms (e.g. Correct, fact, & true) while other words don't appear to have any (e.g. Tide)

[Carol the Dabbler]

A lot of times the synonyms come from different languages, presumably introduced into English by people from different places.  Over time, they tend to develop slightly different meanings, or at least different connotations.

 

For example, cow comes from Anglo Saxon, whereas beef comes from French.  Because many of the serfs were Anglo Saxons, their word is still used for the live animals they took care of, whereas the Norman French lord of the manor knew the animal only as meat on the table.

[Doe]

Arcadia hi

 

You use "ain't"

 

What is ain't?

 

There is a sing. I heard it. Ain't no sunshine... but I don't know what it is.

[Carol the Dabbler]

"Ain't" was originally a contraction for "am not" (as in "I ain't happy"), but is now also used for "is not" and "are not" in casual English.  Teachers have therefore decided that it's wrong all the time (which leaves English with no "official" contraction for "am not").  People still use it, though.

 

So "ain't no sunshine" means "there is no sunshine" or "there isn't any sunshine."  Of course, "ain't no" is a double negative, which teachers don't like either.  But people nevertheless talk that way when there ain't no teachers around!

[Doe]

Thank you Carol. I understood. I hug you.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Aw, shucks! 

[Carol the Dabbler]

And I'd better explain "aw, shucks," hadn't I?

 

"Shucks" is generally a term of disappointment, like "Oh, shucks, I missed the last bus."  But it can also be used (as I did) to express mild embarrassment, especially when one has just received a compliment.  While one says "Aw, shucks" in such circumstances, one generally hangs one's head and rubs one toe on the ground (same motion as snuffing out a cigarette butt, but as an expression of mild embarrassment).  Note that one is not necessarily *really* embarrassed; it's just considered good form to act embarrassed when praised.

 

What do people do in your country?

[Doe]

We said, "I was embarrased." we smile and we hide our faces.

 

Almost the same.

[T.o.b.y]

:-D Carol, every time you mention phrases like that, I picture you as Pogo...

 

(For people unfamiliar with him, Pogo is a character from a comic strip of the same name where the characters talk a lot like Carol does sometimes but exaggerated for comic effect).

[Doe]

Hmmm. Pogo is special for Carol. I marked your words...  :P

[Carol the Dabbler]

An awful lot of Pogo's phrases are just common American phrases (especially common in the South, I suppose) that we do tend to exaggerate for comic effect.  Some of them may have been made more popular by their use in Pogo.

 

Sometimes it's a normal phrase pronounced in a humorous fashion.  One of my favorites is when Albert the Alligator says he's gonna cut the grass with his "long molar" (though I don't recall hearing that one very much in real life).

 

 

Translation:  Lawn mower

 

[Arcadia]

Ahh, Pogo. Pogo was wonderful.
 

Arcadia hi

You use "ain't"

What is ain't?

There is a sing. I heard it. Ain't no sunshine... but I don't know what it is.

 
Sorry Doe! Carol is right about the meaning, but in this case I was also using it for comic effect, since as an "educated" person I am supposed to know that "ain't" is "poor grammar." I can't remember exactly where I used it this time, but people sometimes say "ain't" to make their refusal sound friendly.
 
In other words, if I say "I am not going to do that," that sounds rather formal and a bit cold. But if I say "I ain't a-gonna do that," it means exactly the same thing, but it's a little bit humorous and shows that I don't mean it in an unfriendly way. Of course, that only works if the person I say it to knows I don't normally talk like that! If I said it to a stranger on a bus, they might think I was simply uneducated. Or weird. :p

[Carol the Dabbler]

On the other hand, if you said "Ain't no way I'm gonna do that," it wouldn't necessarily sound either cold or friendly -- but nobody would have any doubt about your intentions!

[Arcadia]

No, for that you have to say "Ain't no way, no how." Or swear. :p

[Carol the Dabbler]

True.  "Ain't no @#$%& way, no how" would really clinch it

[Doe]

Hi my friends,

 

I am going to go to Bregenz, München and Zürich with my son. Beginning from 10/20/2017 to 10/24/2017.

 

May you advise me place, food, antique...etc.

 

I am excited. I am pleased to your help.

[T.o.b.y]

Wow, that's exciting Doe! I am on the other side of Germany myself and have never actually been to Munich so I am afraid I can't say much regarding the city. Will this be your first visit to Germany?

[Doe]

Wow, that's exciting Doe! I am on the other side of Germany myself and have never actually been to Munich so I am afraid I can't say much regarding the city. Will this be your first visit to Germany?

 

Thank you. Yes Toby. First visit. 

[Doe]

Hello my friends

 

I came from Europe.

 

The vacation was very good.

 

Munich, Bregenz... were beautiful places.

 

I think, I will go again in the earlist time.

 

Austria's German diffrent than Germany's German.

 

and

 

Opera place was wonderful.

 

I will share place pics later.

 

I miss you.

[Doe]

Bodansee-Vorarlberg

 

 

München

 

 

Eichenberg

 

 

that's all, for now  

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Thanks!  I've never been to any of those places.

 

What are the red patches on the building in Munich -- flowers?