Ribbit! (1965)

[Dennis R. Preston]

Not "greedep" down Louisville way. It was clearly "needeep" (with the
obvious association with "kneedeep").

dInIs

Dennis

>Quoting Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>:
>
>>  The late appearance of "ribbit" may be compared with the earlier, but still
>>  surprisingly recent, appearance of  "quack," "honk," and "oink."
>
>What interests me is that "ribbit" has attained this status as *the* answer to
>the question "What does a frog say?" so recently.  When I was a child, I
>learned from my mother and Captain Kangaroo that froggies went "garump".
>"Greedeep" (or some spelling thereof) has also had considerable currency in my
>lifetime.
>
>It might be interesting to compare the various English translations
>of the frog
>noise in Aristophanes, THE FROGS.  I believe Dudley Fitts used "Brekeke kesh"
>or something similar.
>
>--Tom Kysilko


--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor of Linguistics
Department of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic, Asian, and African Languages
A-740 Wells Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 432-3099
Fax: (517) 432-2736
preston at msu.edu