Query for Charlie-nim

[Hillary Brown]

On second thought, maybe tinchy?

On 4/14/07, Hillary Brown <hillaryhazelbrown at gmail.com> wrote:
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Hillary Brown <hillaryhazelbrown at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Query for Charlie-nim
>
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>
> I've heard it, but not in Texas. I'd probably spell it as teenshy, a
> variant
> of teensy, which itself is a cuteified version of tiny. Teenshy weenshy
> also
> exists.
>
> hb
>
> On 4/13/07, sagehen <sagehen at westelcom.com> wrote:
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> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       sagehen <sagehen at WESTELCOM.COM>
> > Subject:      Re: Query for Charlie-nim
> >
> >
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> >
> > >Are y'all familiar with the term that's pronounced something like
> > >"tee-NINE-shee"? It means "very small" and is used instead of
> > >"itty-bitty" or "teeny-tiny." When I was in the Army, I heard this
> > >used by Texans of all races, creeds, and colors from all over the
> > >state. I learned it from my mother and my grandmother - I hated any
> > >story that  began, "Whin yew wuh jes' a tee-nine-shee baby ..." Until
> > >my Army days, I was under the impression that this word was peculiar
> > >to the women in my family. You can imagine my shock when I first heard
> > >it fall tripppingly from the tongue of a white farm boy from Mundy,
> > >Texas. Later, I heard it used by GI's from Weslaco, Dallas, Odessa,
> > >Midland, Tyler, Galveston, etc., etc. But that was fifty years ago.
> > >
> > >So, I was wondering whether any y'all were familiar with this term? Is
> > >it peculiar to Texas or is it also used elsewhere?
> > >
> > >-Wilson
> > ~~~~~~~~~
> > I don't know this one at all, but it strongly suggests to me the kind of
> > secret language kids develop -- like pig latin, but more elaborate -- to
> > baffle peers & parents, that are simply english with transposed letters,
> > added syllables, &c.  One of my kids used to carry on rapid, animated
> > conversations with her closest buddies in one of these.  I never did
> twig
> > to the key, though I knew the technique.  Tiny could easily become
> > tee-nine-shee with such treatment.
> > AM
> >
> >
> > ~@:>   ~@:>   ~@:>   ~@:>
> >
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