nyaa nyaa/ naa naa

[Arnold Zwicky]

On Feb 13, 2012, at 5:00 AM, Benjamin Barrett wrote:
>
> I count one too few iterations. Either /nae/ or /naa/ is fine. Palatize if you want, too.
>
> Benjamin Barrett
> Seattle, WA
>
> On Feb 13, 2012, at 4:54 AM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>
>> A while ago I indirectly called attention to the stereotyped childhood
>> taunt melody, "Nyaa nyaa nyah  NYAA nyaa!"

like BB's, the version from my childhood has 6 syllables in a line of tetrameter, with the metrical pattern:

  SW | SW | S | S

in 4/4 time, that would be one measure 8-8 8-8 4 4 (where "8" stands for an eighth note and "4" for a fourth note).

the tune is minor: 3-3 1-4 3 1 (where "n" represents the nth note of the scale).

the chorus for "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down is 4 trimeter lines, 3 with the metrical pattern:

  SW | S | S

and a final line

  SW | SW | S

and the tune (again in minor):

  4-5 6 6
  7-6 5 5
  6-5 4 4
  5-4 3-2 1

as for the syllables in the taunt, they were are /nyae/ for me, though i've heard /nae/ as well (but don't recall /nya/ or /na/).  "Old Dixie" has /na/ throughout.

arnold

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