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27 Jun 00 - 05:24 PM (#248043) Subject: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Rick Fielding There seem to be a number of posts today in different threads about our spelling and grammatical laughers, and I thought of a friend of mine...not a Mudcatter, thank goodness... who has come up with some absolute classics. The first time I heard her refer to "a Parisian rug", I chuckled a bit, but a few minutes later she used "a Fiat acomplis" to describe an event that had finished. At first I thought she must have been kidding, then I realised that her sense of humour didn't run in that area. A few weeks later at a party, she told of reading the riot act to her staff at work for their "grammical" errors! Most of the folks kept straight faces (while imagining the reactions of her staff) but her malaprops have become legendary. I've known this person for a long time and have always been impressed with her drive, ambition, and the fact that she made it a point to "learn a new word" everyday. I think some kind of critical mass must have been reached though, and flubs like that (especially ones that ended up unintentionally hilarious) could really hurt her in the work place. So, throwing caution to the wind, I suggested one time that she "might be using some words the wrong way". Ohhhhh, did I get my come-uppance quickly...so I never mentioned it again. I thought of buying her a copy of a collection of Malaprops by famous celebrities like Sam Goldwyn, and Dan Quale, but figured she wouldn't get the connection....and I'd STILL be in trouble. MY big social screw up is forgetting the names of people I've known for twenty years.......but I never forget what model of what brand of instrument they play! Rick |
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27 Jun 00 - 05:29 PM (#248046) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: SINSULL A rather haughty and well off relative of ours bragged endlessly about her latest purchase: " a digitalis clock". Cruel of us not to tell her.
Hee hee |
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27 Jun 00 - 05:34 PM (#248048) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: wysiwyg I dunno, but the older I get, the funnier TV gets, as my hearing declines and my brain tries to adapt. The New Detectives, televised weekly, gets me every time. "Honey," I say to Hardiman, "shouldn't they put some clothes on?" He had a deacon that had some reliable winners. Jesus hung upon the giblet (gibbet) of the cross, having been crucified under bad old Harold (Herod). You cold never quite rebulk (rebuke) Chuck, either, because he really meant well. But Chuck had a real trick for getting people's names straight too, Rick, and I recommend you try this. To chuck, every man was Bill, and every woman Kathy. Chuck would rush forward when he saw a man he thought he must have met before, grab his hand and start pumping it furiously, saying: "Bill!!!! GREAT to see you!!!!" "Bill" would answer, "It's Sam, not Bill!" And Chuck would keep right on pumping, "Of course it's Sam! How silly of me! How ARE you?????" And poor Sam would think Chuck really knew who he was and that he recalled EVERYTHING they had ever discussed, because Chuck had made such a fuss over him. ~S~ |
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27 Jun 00 - 06:09 PM (#248099) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Rick Fielding Sounds like a plan Kathy! As you know I'm pretty suspicious when it comes to Preachers but that Deacon gets my vote! Along the same line, I used to have an album by a Southern (religious?) comic, named Brother Dave Gardiner. When he told the story of "Little David goin' off to fight the Philadelphians" I almost fell on the floor! Rick |
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27 Jun 00 - 06:15 PM (#248105) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Mbo Recently I saw an add in the university (ECU) newspaper (The East Carolinian) that stated they were looking for a new Head Copy Editor. One of the requirements said "Must have excellent skills in grammer." With any luck, this job will be mine all mine come mid-July...just don't tell Frasier! --Mbo |
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27 Jun 00 - 06:20 PM (#248109) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: wysiwyg Of course, Bill, because as we all know, it should be Fiddle-elfians. ~Sister Kathy |
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27 Jun 00 - 06:21 PM (#248111) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Margo My daughter Veronica, having autism, has a special aide in school. The aide would write a daily report and send it home in Veronica's backpack. I was appalled when I saw her write things such as "Veronica done good today", or "she don't like it". One day, I happened to be with this aide and her daughter. I corrected her daughter's grammer at one point, and suddenly wondered if I ought to have... I explained to the young lady that people judge you by your language, and that it's better to speak correctly. Her mother, completely deadpan, agreed heartily. I said nothing, feeling it not an appropriate time to point anything out. Can you imagine? I had to keep from laughing. Margo |
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27 Jun 00 - 06:34 PM (#248129) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Áine Dear Margo, I can emphathize with you about school aides and teachers. I'll never forget the time when my oldest son came home with a quiz from his science teacher, (typewritten, mind you) with this question: "How many times do the sun go around the earth?" -- Áine |
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27 Jun 00 - 07:33 PM (#248157) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: GUEST,Banjo Johnny "The best way to expose a fool is to let him speak." -- Ben Franklin |
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27 Jun 00 - 07:36 PM (#248158) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: kendall Hey Mbo, I hope you get the job, and, while you are at it, teach them to spell "grammar" |
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27 Jun 00 - 07:44 PM (#248165) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Mbo Thanks kendall. I'm glad someone caught the mistake! Whether they spelled it wrong on purpous is not known. --Mbo |
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27 Jun 00 - 07:47 PM (#248167) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Micca One of my fave Malaprops was from the mother of friend who assured us that the sea was "as calm as a mildew" |
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27 Jun 00 - 09:11 PM (#248203) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: bbelle My youngest sister, Ellen, is queen of Malaproprisms ... she has been known to say things like ... "She was built like a shit brick..." But her most famous display happened when she was 8 years old (she's now 41)and brought home a note for permission to watch a film "On Girls and Their Periods." My mother thought she was too young but my father said she should go if all the other little girls were going. Ellen went to her movie and later that evening I, my middle sister, and Ellen were sitting on my bed discussing the day. I asked Ellen what she had learned in school that day. She said ... "We learned all about the menushkashay. Once a month an egg goes from the odorous to the universe and you get the menushkashay." moonchild |
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27 Jun 00 - 10:29 PM (#248243) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Rick Fielding Ah yes, Menushkashay. I played a gig there in the 70s. They asked for a lot of Stompin' Tom songs. Among the many that my friend has used..."Waste makes haste". I'm not making this up! Rick |
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27 Jun 00 - 10:34 PM (#248249) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: GUEST,Banjo Johnny I knew a lady in our church who would dismiss a topic by saying, "It's six of one and a dozen of the other." No one could make her understand the problem. == Johnny |
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27 Jun 00 - 10:41 PM (#248255) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: JenEllen My sister is a lovely, seemingly intelligent woman who has reached critical mass as well. She has a few that she constantly confuses us with:
Condoms--Condiments--Condominiums
Veterans--Veterinarians--Vegetarians ~Elle (she who never remembers the people, but can name every dog they've ever had) |
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27 Jun 00 - 11:10 PM (#248274) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: bbelle JenEllen ... I think we're related to the same sister!! Ya gotta love 'em! moonchild |
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28 Jun 00 - 12:05 AM (#248306) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Ebbie My boss told me, with a knowing wink, about 2 women, "I think they're lebanese." He also said 'anheuser' (and my sister-in-law says, 'allheimer') for the distressing medical condition. As to mixed metaphors, another boss at a meeting said, I was hoping one of you would pick up the ball and roll with it. At the same meeting, she said ruefully, Yes, that division this year has had its share of bumps and grinds. I collect these giggles- in-the-night. Ebbie |
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28 Jun 00 - 12:07 AM (#248308) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Mbo A person in my art history class didn't know what a treatise was. She kept saying a "treastice". Oy. --Mbo |
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28 Jun 00 - 12:09 AM (#248311) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: GUEST,Banjo Johnny "There are none so blind as those who cannot see." == Johnny |
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28 Jun 00 - 12:12 AM (#248315) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: sophocleese Awful confusion one day in the book store when a customer phoned up to ask if we had a conker dance. |
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28 Jun 00 - 12:16 AM (#248319) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Ebbie Banjo Johnny, I did a double take! For a moment,it made sense! |
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28 Jun 00 - 12:26 AM (#248326) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Bill D umm..Banjo Johnny..I knew an electrician who was even BETTER than your church lady. He would say.."Six dozen of the other"....now THERE is a concept compressed nigh unto a black hole of grammar!
Lady at door-- "little boy, may I speak to your mother?" |
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28 Jun 00 - 12:43 AM (#248332) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: rangeroger When I worked at Siver Mountain Ski Resort we had a gondola operator at the bottom terminal call us at the upper terminal to warn us of the ornamentals who just boarded and didn't speak any English.This then got coupled with the lift mechanic who called tourists,terrorists into "ornamental terrorists". rr |
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28 Jun 00 - 01:09 AM (#248339) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: GUEST,Banjo Johnny All the news shows are using the phrase "more on" such and such a topic. It sounds like they are saying MORON. I had a laugh when Jim Lehrer announced, "When we return, we'll have more on Newt Gingrich." == Johnny in Oklahoma City |
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28 Jun 00 - 02:28 AM (#248348) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Lonesome EJ In the menswear department of a store, I saw a lady about seventy sweep by with her overalls-clad husband in tow. "I'm lookin' for your Farah Fawcetts," she said to the confused clerk. "I'm sorry?" the clerk responded." Farah Fawcetts!" the lady barked, and pointed to her husband,"he needs him a new pair of trousers!" The clerk's eyes lit up "Oh! You mean Farrah slacks..." My best friend in high school, Bubba (I'm serious), was a straight A student and very intelligent, but he had some reading comprehension problems. When we were studying primitive humanoids, he insisted on calling them "Netherlands Man" instead of Neanderthal. Ricardo Montalban became "Richard Montabano". And once, during a current events discussion, he brought up "the big ovary" that was being dug out on the west side of town. We sat amazed as he described the huge blocks of limestone that were being pulled up from the ovary, some containing fossils of ancient sea creatures. Turns out he was talking about a quarry. Through all of Bubba's mispronunciations and malaprops, I bit my tongue and suffered in silence, never wanting to hurt his feelings by correcting him. One afternoon we were browsing in a used bookstore downtown when I remarked in jest "look, Bubba. Here's one by Sigmund Free-ood." He gently placed his hand on my shoulder, saying "thats Freud, Ern." |
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28 Jun 00 - 08:04 AM (#248399) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: kendall How many people do you hear say "Far and few between" ??? |
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28 Jun 00 - 08:37 AM (#248418) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Mbo Or "I could care less." Could you? Then do so! It's supposed to be "couldn't" but like Johnny said... --Mbo |
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28 Jun 00 - 10:20 AM (#248488) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Mrrzy Foreign parent goodies: I'm a real bread and potatoes man. Or, I'm a meat and potatoes person, I just like the potatoes better. Or: it's as easy as shooting a duck in the chest. Or (My personal fave): Q: Where does your accent come from? A: It comes from trying to speak English! |
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28 Jun 00 - 11:27 AM (#248524) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: JenEllen My cousin is the same way as ol' Bubba. Some of my faves: Remember when that 'Young Guns' movie came out? Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen? Charlie played the part of 'Dick'? Willie to this day still calls them "...you know...Emestio Chavez and his brother Dick..." He also has the baseball bug, and repeatedly calls Sandy Koufax, Sandy Kotex...tears flow on that one. ~Elle |
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28 Jun 00 - 11:35 AM (#248526) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Rana who SHOULD be working Person I knew (who ended up a poli. sci. prof.) was apparently excited about an assignment on "Youth in Asia", when at school and worked really hard on it. The teacher was a bit taken aback when he read out his essay on this and not on mercy killing or euthinasea. Rana |
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28 Jun 00 - 11:56 AM (#248532) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Mooh Venerable and venereal. A former boss of mine confused this title several times in a public address. It reinforced my opinion of him. Mooh. |
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28 Jun 00 - 12:35 PM (#248552) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: GUEST,Chantwrassler A group of us were sitting a number of years ago, bewailing and moaning about how hard it was to make one's way in the world, what a bunch of gits employers were, and why is my boss such a shit...?..... etc.. Then my friend's mother joins in, obviously desperate to make a sensible contribution, with: "Aye, son, it's nothin' but a cat race..."
Cheers |
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28 Jun 00 - 01:40 PM (#248580) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: SINSULL HMMM. Whenever one of my cats gets out of hand, I mention calling in the Chinese High School Marching Bands (The Youth In Asia) but I know I mean euthenasia. Have a friend who confuses pubic hair with public hair, hopefully not in public. |
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28 Jun 00 - 01:56 PM (#248596) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Morticia I knew somone once who would always say 'hopital' and 'neegle', for hospital and needle....at first I thought she was joking........she wasn't. |
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28 Jun 00 - 02:22 PM (#248617) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Bert In a computer environment from people who should have known better I have heard... Vertexes instead of vertices and even vertice as the singular form of vertices. and also initialate and terminize. |
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28 Jun 00 - 02:31 PM (#248626) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Bert Just saw this on another thread. 'an infinite number' Grrr, there's no such thing. |
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28 Jun 00 - 03:14 PM (#248650) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Mrs.Duck I'm going to get all highbrow now and talk latin. Actually no I'm not but I thought this was a good place to relate my faux pas in a latin exam many years ago at school. The only thing you need to know is that the latin for shield is scutum so I tranlated my first sentence into latin Caesar's men took up their scrotums and went to war!!!! More recently my six year old daughter Maddie said to a friend "You can't have sugar can you because you@re alphabetic." |
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28 Jun 00 - 03:30 PM (#248658) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Bert What kids say is probably good for a thread of it's own, but seeing as you've started. During WWII my sister and I were evacuated to Wales. After the war we 'acquired' a new step-sister and we asked "Was Jackie evacuated?" Jackie, about 5 yrs old at the time proudly rolls up her sleeve and says "Yes, I've still got the mark" |
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28 Jun 00 - 03:52 PM (#248674) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: SINSULL Well, Mrs Duck, better than leaving them lying about. The Terminizater? What's the problem Bert? That was a great movie. |
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28 Jun 00 - 06:21 PM (#248770) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: sophocleese A news reporter around christmas time got a little confused between organisms and orgasms, I hope it was only a job related glitch. |
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28 Jun 00 - 06:34 PM (#248779) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Liz the Squeak There was a great blooper on Radio £ (terribly serious BBC station) where the reporter mentioned fog at Gatport Airwick...... a popular brand of air freshener at the time. Had me rolling round. But then, I'm strange like that! LTS
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28 Jun 00 - 07:43 PM (#248810) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: GUEST,Banjo Johnny Do you remember this one? Ladies and gentlemen, we now present the Mormon Nacker-tabble Choir .. er, Norman Mabber-tackle .. Tacker Mormon-nabble Choir.. Quacker-macker -- oh, hell! Johnny In Oklahoma City |
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28 Jun 00 - 07:44 PM (#248813) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Lonesome EJ Morbid Tallywhacker... |
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28 Jun 00 - 10:25 PM (#248892) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: JenEllen Got this today...seemed somehow fitting... This comes from a Catholic elementary school. Kids were asked questions about the Old and New Testaments. The following statements about the Bible were written by children. In the first book of the bible, Guinessis, God got tired of creating the world, so he took the Sabbath off. Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark. Noah built an ark, which the animals come on to in pears. Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night. The Jews were a proud people and throughout history they had trouble with the unsympathetic Genitals. Samson was a strongman who let himself be led astray by a Jezebel like Delilah. The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple. The seventh commandment is thou shalt not admit adultery. Moses died before he ever reached Canada. Then Joshua led the hebrews in the battle of Geritol. The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him. David was a hebrew king skilled at playing the liar. He fought with the Finklesteins, a race of people who lived in Biblical times. Solomon, one of David's sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines. When Mary heard that she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta. Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption. The people who followed the lord were called the 12 decibels. One of the oppossums was St. Matthew who was also a taximan. Christians have only one spouse. This is called monotony. |
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28 Jun 00 - 10:29 PM (#248897) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Mbo Yeah, I bet. Sounds made-up to me. |
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28 Jun 00 - 10:43 PM (#248906) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: wysiwyg There is one prayer in our book that can go badly wrong, as in "May we need a lewd life" instead of "May we lead a new life..." And then there is the one about Thine Ever-failing Love (Ooops, Thy Never-Failing Love). I had a friend that would malaprop herself up on anything. She would laugh herself right off the floor. And with her you could only try to reciprocate, for, as she once said, there was no two-way-street about it. She musta been a real aficiondo. ~S~ |
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28 Jun 00 - 11:48 PM (#248938) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: GUEST,Potter Got a sister-in-law who refers to those Drs who open us up with "scapulas" as "surgents". I'm not sure if she's conferring a military rank upon them but misspelling it or implying an aggressive nature with their scapulas--putting their shoulder into it. |
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29 Jun 00 - 02:46 AM (#249010) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: zonahobo This is a fun thread. On one of our first shopping trips as a married couple my young wife and I were exchanging sizes for gifts when I asked her "what is your lingerie (pronounced just as it is spelled linger - e) size". She said she usually wore about 6 in lingerie (correct pronounciation). So I asked her if the French size would be the same as American? I really thought there was French lawnjurai' and good old American women's underwear called lingerie. She still teases me about it. Any other guys fall into this trap? |
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29 Jun 00 - 05:34 AM (#249035) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Gervase ...which reminds me of the BBC local newsreader making a wonderful bollocks of spoonerising a piece on "the Kent countryside". I remember staring at the TV thinking "Did he realy say that?" and then seeing the newsreader's ears turn crimson. |
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29 Jun 00 - 12:11 PM (#249223) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Mrs.Duck This could go on fo ever- who in England has not heard of the BBC commentator who reported during a cricket match "The batsman's Holding, the bowler's Willey" and back to children and Christmas one child drew a little circular chap in the corner of his nativity scene and when asked who it was said "It's round John Virgin"!! |
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29 Jun 00 - 12:45 PM (#249250) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: GUEST,Mrr I used to work at an answering service with a client called New Directions for Men. I always pronounced it Nude Erections for Men, nobody ever noticed... and to this day when I hear a newscaster say anything about a new direction I crack up... |
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30 Jun 00 - 12:46 AM (#249620) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Bill D well, just today...on a PBS talk show, a guest was talking about the history of the CIA, and referred to somone using "Morris" code..then, within 5 minutes a caller wanted to know if she had any more 'antidotes' about the old days..(or he 'could' have said 'annadotes'...but it was NOT 'anecdotes')... and I DO get tired of certain English correspondents for Public Radio calling that Central American country "Nick-uh-RAG-you-uh"...there is simply NO excuse for that- it is not like Japanese having trouble with 'l' and 'r'... |
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30 Jun 00 - 01:53 AM (#249644) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Melani My husband was visiting some relatives who had just had beautiful oriental rugs installed all over their house. The relatives remarked that they were Karastan carpets. My husband, knowing they had recently been on a climbing trip in Central Asia, inquired, "Did you bring them back with you from Karastan?" (For those who don't know, like my husband, "Karastan" is a brand name.) But the best part was when, after telling the story to a lady I worked with, she asked very seriously, "How did he handle that?" She obviously didn't know him. He and his cousins rolled on the floor and howled. |
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30 Jun 00 - 03:21 AM (#249664) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: GUEST,Banjo Johnny Some of these quotes are what we used to call Blushing Crows .. from the famous, "Mussolini fell from power when the Allies delivered Sicily a blushing crow." == Johnny in OKC |
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30 Jun 00 - 06:41 AM (#249707) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Micca banjo, it reminds me of the famous headline from WW1 i think" Allied push bottles up Germans" (a "push" was an attack) this provided me with moments of quiet amusement as I tried to visualise..... |
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30 Jun 00 - 06:49 PM (#250032) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Bill D it all make you wonder why people, when confronted with a word that is new to them, will not simple ask about it, or go look it up, instead of grabbing it and using it incorrectly.......I would not have been 'sure' of the origins of 'Karistan'...but since Khazakstan is the only country I ever heard of with that 'sound' I would have asked the question differently...Many of the funny example cited above are genuine, honest misunderstandings, but I really worry about the mindset that can continue to use 'surgents' and 'scapulas' and 'Netherlands man' throughout their lives. At some point it is kinder to correct them than to just laugh behind our hands. I DO understand that there are a few who simply cannot comprehend the differences, and those folks should be just humanely tolerated, but so often it is just laziness and an 'I don't care' attitude. The jokes about the mistakes would be MUCH funnier if we were laughing WITH someone who now knows the correct usage and appreciates being gently corrected. |
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30 Jun 00 - 07:06 PM (#250039) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: bflat A business associate some years back convened a meeting to discuss the assets and desets of an issue. He is now a VP in a major communtions company. |
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30 Jun 00 - 07:08 PM (#250040) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: bflat That was intended to be "communications" company. I"ve been laughing so hard through this thread that I have tears running down my face. So goes my defense. |
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30 Jun 00 - 09:02 PM (#250070) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: sophocleese The sports announcer on Thursday told us that "The yellow cards were coming thick and thin at the moment." (That's soccer, or football, for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about. Italy beat Holland. It was a good game.) |
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01 Jul 00 - 01:15 PM (#250097) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Gary T I knew a fella who talked about playing blues using a "Platonic" scale. He eventually cought on to "pentatonic". |
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01 Jul 00 - 01:30 PM (#250103) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: GUEST,johntm phil rizzuto was famous for comments when announcing the yankee games. one of the best was this as he rushed to leave near the end of a game: " i have got to get home to get into Cora's (his wife) pajamas." the tv went dead silent while bill white probably bit his tongue off. |
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01 Jul 00 - 04:39 PM (#250195) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Linda Kelly We once had a physics teacher at school who constantly put his foot in his mouth - on one occassion he was demonstrating a hand powered turbine -- 'You will notice that this machine is turned by a crank' he said |
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01 Jul 00 - 05:57 PM (#250240) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Gary T One of my college biology professors, while discussing the various orders of insects, was on the subject of lice. Apparently he was trying to recall which ones were included in the department's insect collection. Immediately after mentioning the pubic louse, he scratched his head, looked down at his belt buckle and said "I'm sure I've got some of them around here. I'll have to see if I can dig them up." The class broke up, roaring with laughter. |
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01 Jul 00 - 09:27 PM (#250349) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Helen Bill D, When I was a librarian I used to jokingly refer to the "Li-berry". Most people knew I was joking, but one well-meaning soul corrected me gently. There was actually a li-berryan working there who referred to it as Li-berry constantly. I used to joke about the cattle-dog (catalogue) too. (Australian blue cattle dogs are legendary over here, the wonder working dogs of Oz. "Blue" because there is a blue-black appearance to the black and white mottled parts of their coat.) Helen |
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01 Jul 00 - 10:06 PM (#250373) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: GUEST,Joerg Bill D - may I just say that I simply think that you are RIGHT!!!!! ? Helen - I have wondered for many years why people call dogs (or people) 'Blue', and I still don't know. The french expression 'Parbleu' once was told me to refer to a dog named 'Bleu'. ????? Do you know more about that? Joerg |
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02 Jul 00 - 12:07 AM (#250446) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Bill D Helen..*nodding in sympathy*...it is hard enough in person to make jokes like that...in cyberspace, with no voice inflections or body language, it is REALLY hard...I lace my posts with all sorts of *winks* and *grins* and paranthetical expressions to try to avoid problems...it is sad, but some folk are just totally literal-minded and seldom make ANY sort of jokes...*shrug*...what can you do? Joerg...well, gee...I seldom see simple agreement...*smile*...thanks... |
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02 Jul 00 - 02:32 AM (#250480) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Helen Joerg, It's typical in Australia to call red-haired people "Blue". Just the Aussie style of humour - it would be too simple, and "stating the bleeding obvious" to call them "Red" so we call them "Blue" instead. We call tall people "Shorty" too. Everything like that is said with a wicked grin, over here. Helen |
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02 Jul 00 - 01:38 PM (#250617) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Gary T Joerg, some breeds of dogs have a coat that does appear bluish in certain light. One I have seen here in the states is called a "Blue Heeler" (heeler because it nips at the heels of livestock, I believe--a type of herding dog). It's certainly not a bold, vibrant, obvious blue, but I found it understandable when I saw it. |
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02 Jul 00 - 02:00 PM (#250628) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Micca There was a Chemistry teacher I knew once whose 1st language wasnt English , but he spoke it excellently, except when he got very angry and he would point at an offending student with his pencil and say loudly "There is an idiot at the end of this pencil" |
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02 Jul 00 - 03:19 PM (#250648) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Margaret V I had the typically icky experience of used-car hunting several years ago in Milwaukee. In trying to explain away the clanking noise I had heard in one test-drive, the sales guy claimed it was just in the nature of Subaru's "horizontically opposed engine" to make that noise. Well, I ended up with a Toyota and a new vocabulary word. Margaret |
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02 Jul 00 - 03:19 PM (#250649) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Margaret V I had the typically icky experience of used-car hunting several years ago in Milwaukee. In trying to explain away the clanking noise I had heard in one test-drive, the sales guy claimed it was just in the nature of Subaru's "horizontically opposed engine" to make that noise. Well, I ended up with a Toyota and a new vocabulary word. Margaret |
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02 Jul 00 - 09:54 PM (#250785) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: GUEST Thank you for your explanations. But I thought there was some very old, very traditional reason. I first know a folk song 'Blue' (you good dog, you...). And then I once (long ago) read a story of a french king (don't ask me his name) who used to have a cross burned into the tongue of everybody he heard using the Lord's name to swear. So the people who considered that procedure a little painful began to replace 'Dieu' with 'Bleu' - the latter being the name of the king's dog, and it rhymes. Therefore 'Parbleu' and 'Sacre Bleu'. Also some kind of language larf, although not in english. Did french kings still burn crosses into tongues when australians began to call red-haired people 'Blue' (I thought this was a general australian expression for everybody) so maybe a red-haired dog was named so? Or were there more real blue dogs in former times? (I even don't know one of them, also I once had a brown dog - never thought of naming him 'Brown'.) Still ?????, sorry. Joerg |
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03 Jul 00 - 12:35 PM (#251123) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: Liz the Squeak I knew a brown dog called Brun. I also knew a blue cat (persian - blue meaning grey here) that was called Pinky. Go figure..... LTS |
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03 Jul 00 - 05:18 PM (#251257) Subject: RE: 'Grammical' faux pas. Language Larfs. From: GUEST,Nancy King Back to word goofs-- Many years ago a friend of mine, at the time a reporter for Associated Press in Washington DC, was working on Christmas eve, and had just finished a story on holiday services and sent it out over the wire. The phone rang and she answered, but the guy on the phone was laughing so hard he couldn't tell her why he'd called and finally just hung up, leaving my friend a bit perplexed. In a little while, he called again, still snickering and guffawing, but this time he managed to tell her to look at the story on church services. She did--turned out she'd written about the Shrine of the Emasculate Conception... |