LL-L "Idiomatica" 2005.05.10 (03) [E]

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From: Críostóir Ó Ciardha <paada_please at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Idiomatica" 2005.05.10 (01) [D/E]


Ben Bloomgren wrote:
"I learned a different way to say, "turn on/off." In Albanian, they say open
and close/shut. Hap radjon. Mbyll radjon. I open the radio. I close the
radio."

This must be a cognitive feature of the Balkan sprachbund, as one of my best
friends says "Close the light" "close the tap", etc. I presumed it was
substrate interference from his native tongue, Greek. He always said "turn
off the radio" but that may be because he learnt the phrase from English
songs.

Go raibh maith agat,

Criostóir.

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From: Szelog, Mike <Mike.Szelog at cfgcustomers.com>
Subject: LL-L "Idiomatica" 2005.05.10 (01) [D/E]

Hello Ben, Ron and all -

Yep, that way of putting it ("shut" or "close") is nothing new to us here in
New England (Northeastern USA). It's very common and is something typically
associated with French Canadians (of which I am one on my mothger's side). I
don't think I've ever heard my grandfather say "turn the light off", it's
always "Shut the light" or "Close the switch", or something to that effect.

Mike S
Manchester, NH - USA

> I learned a different way to say, "turn on/off." In Albanian, they say
> open
> and close/shut. Hap radjon. Mbyll radjon. I open the radio. I close the
> radio.
> Ben
>
> ----------
>
> From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Idiomatica
>
> Ben, "to shut" for "to turn off" (e.g., "Shut the light!") is common in
> some
> American East Coast English dialects as well.
>
> Regards,
> Reinhard/Ron

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From: Marsha Wilson <NanaMarsha at msn.com>
Subject: LL-L "Idiomatica" 2005.05.10 (01) [D/E]

From: Críostóir Ó Ciardha <paada_please at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Grammar" 2005.05.09 (11) [E]

++
In many northern England Englishes - including Nottingham English - we say
"dead" for "exceptionally" or "very" - i.e., "ded interestin" for "very
interesting", "ded apie" for "very happy" and "ded od" for "exceptionally
odd". Indeed, I would say it is the standard Nottingham English form for
both "very" and "exceptionally", both of which would be considered Standard
English to NE speakers. It also takes on some of the functions of "really"
as an intensifier - i.e., "I'm really annoyed with you" is "am ded enojd wi
juuw". "It was a really good day" is "It wo ra ded gud dee." (Those of you
who dislike my transcription method will have to struggle on.)

I do not know where this use of "dead" comes from, and if I was not a native
NE speaker I would find it dead odd.
++

I've used the word "dead" this way since I can remember - in Southern
California of Appalachian roots.  As in "dead on" for being exactly right.
I occasionally say "spot on" but that's seen as an affectation.  This whole
affectation subject bothers me - why can't I speak whatever words come to
mind from a worldwide lexicon picked up out of curiosity and interest in
other cultures, if that word explains exactly what I want to say better than
my standard (and limited) Southern California dialect does?

And of course, there is "dead ringer" for a look-alike.

Kill the lights, like totally,
Marsha
/oh yeah, I also kill the sound, kill the backtalk, kill the TV....we ARE a
violent people, no?

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From: Clarkedavid8 at aol.com <Clarkedavid8 at aol.com>
Subject: LL-L "Idiomatica" 2005.05.10 (01) [D/E]

What about German "totmuede"?

[David Clarke]

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