Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2006 September 12

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September 12

West Indian "benna"

In Jamaica Kincaid's short-short story "Girl," there are a couple of references to singing "benna" in Sunday school; what is "benna?"

It's a style of music popular in certain parts of the Caribbean from around 1850 to 1950 (I think). It derives mainly from West African music, and is somewhat similar to calypso music. The topics of the songs were often "inappropriate" — not things that would be approved of in a religious context, hence the reference in the story you mention. Benna is briefly mentioned in the Music of Antigua and Barbuda article, but we don't seem to have an article on it (Benna is an article on a town in Norway). -- Vardion 05:28, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

He saw his butt/ass

movd from Misc desk:

Does this phrase exist in US? If so what does it mean? (could also be ass instead of butt)--Light current 03:05, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

What is the context? "Saw" as in the past tense of "to see" or "Saw" as in the break up of materials into smaller parts by use of a tool making a back and forth motion? Dismas|^(talk) 03:15, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

As in 'He saw his butt/ass when I told him'--Light current 03:21, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Hmm... Not sure. I do know that there's a phrase in the South that is similar though. "He was showing his ass" means that he was being cocky and showing off. I was really confused the first time I heard that one, having not lived in the South for very long. Dismas|^(talk) 03:42, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Over here (UK) with proper word substitution, I think it means 'got very annoyed'. But I want to know the origin.--Light current 03:47, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

I think Im going to move this to language desk.Done--Light current 03:54, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

I was wondering what the hell were you talking about. Not in the US. If you said that it would mean a gay guy like another guy's ass, or perhaps somebody looked at their own arse? — [Mac Davis] (talk) (Desk|Help me improve)

Nothing to do with gays--Light current 05:48, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

In the UK, it's usually "arse", not "ass" (and I'd also think "bum", not "butt")... 惑乱 分からん 09:57, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

I know that! I was Americanising it for the benefit of our transatlantic friends!--Light current 10:00, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Agreed re arse, but the only sense it makes to this Englishman is that someone was using a mirror. --Dweller 20:35, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

You are from the south - yes? I think now this may be a north of England phrase--Light current 21:01, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

In Spanish spoken in Spain, "partirse el culo" (to split your ass) means to laugh hard. You could use a saw for that, couldn't you? :-) It might be a text written by a Spaniard translating verbatim just trying to be funny. Is that possible from the context?

No Im sure it is not. I have heard people say this phrase in English.--Light current 21:01, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

OK. Heres an example of usage of the phrase. [1] Near the bottom (no pun) of the post.--Light current 21:32, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

• Lancashire lass here,I understand it to mean sulking 'cos you've seen something unpleasant i.e. your own arse.(hotclaws**== 21:57, 22 September 2006 (UTC))

Aha thanks Lancs lass. So you have heard the saying also. I thought it meant getting annoyed/angry though, Hotclaws? Is that not yor interpretation? However, seeing someone elses may not be unpleasant. Yes?--Light current 22:38, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

xxooxx

Could anyone tell me the meaning of xxooxx? Thanks. 147.8.117.66 05:00, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Can you give us some context?--Light current 05:08, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

It can mean "hugs and kisses", but is more often written with them alternating one at a time. StuRat 05:17, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Probably either kises, or kisses and hugs. I think I saw that in front of a strip club in Australia though. Quadruple X (happens to be an exaggeration of the already exaggerated XXX, originally "X") and boobies in between? — [Mac Davis] (talk) (Desk|Help me improve)

So naughts and crosses is two hugs and one kiss? DirkvdM 06:17, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

It could also mean that a girl with round glasses and braids à la Pippi Longstocking is looking at you. ;) --RiseRover|^talk 17:51, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

"A la Pippi"? So...nine-years-old? That's quite sick. -- the GREAT Gavini 19:23, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

eh? What's sick about that? --Dweller 20:33, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

What are you thinking? — [Mac Davis] (talk) (Desk|Help me improve)

Is it that sick anyway? As long as you don't do anything, and can controll yourself, it is fine. Nay? To each man his own thoughts!— [Mac Davis] (talk) (Desk|Help me improve)

The girl is looking at you. And if she's Pippi Långstrump don't be surprised she's staring at you. DirkvdM 04:32, 13 September 2006 (UTC)

I don't see anything "sick" about that. — [Mac Davis] (talk) (Desk|Help me improve)

That was my point. But I dont'see anything sick about the reverse either, so, unwittingly, we agree. :) DirkvdM 06:55, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

Is this Latin phrase correct?

I have doubts about the correctness of this Latin phrase, but as I have only vague memories of the language, I want to ask for other opinions.

cadaver sanguisugus (it's supposed to mean "blood-sucking corpse)

"Cadaver" is supposed to be neuter ([2]). Shouldn't the adjective be "sanguisugum" then? My Latin grammar mentions no possibility of an adjective having the ending "-us" and keeping it in the neuter.

Thoughts? Thanks, --194.145.161.227 10:07, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

I just found the neuter form sanguisugum in the Latin name of a certain sea snail, "vexillum sanguisugum" - blood-sucking mitre ([3]). Now I'm practically sure that "cadaver sanguisugus" is wrong. Still, comments are welcome. --194.145.161.227 12:15, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

The adjective would have to be neuter, yes. Lewis and Short (the dictionary in your link) has "sanguisuga" as the name of a kind of leech, but that's a feminine noun. I guess you could turn that into an adjective, but another adjective form is "sanguisugens" (from which we have "sanguisugent" in English). Adam Bishop 14:07, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

meaning of a phrase

What does the phrase "Suffer fools gladly mean and in what context was it first used?"

Well, it's usually "(insert name) doesn't suffer fools gladly" meaning they treat people they think are acting in a foolish way with due disdain. As to the original context, I leave that to the next person. Skittle 11:19, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

The next person says it's from 2 Corinthians 9:19 "For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise"--Shantavira 12:07, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Hebrew Language

How would i say the following statements in Hebrew:

Jesus is Lord

Jesus my Saviour

Thank you

Nathan

You probably wouldn't say those in Hebrew, would you ? StuRat 14:39, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

I'd translate "My Lord" and "My Saviour" respectively as "adoni" and "yeshuati". So, if (for some bizarre reason) I wanted to say "Snoopy is my saviour", I'd say "Snoopy hoo yeshuati". --Dweller 14:46, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

And a literal translation? 惑乱 分からん 14:49, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Of what? --Dweller 15:03, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

"Jesus is Lord", I guess "Jesus is my saviour" would be "Jesus hoo yeshuati"? 惑乱 分からん 15:08, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, weird enough, but according to the articles on yeshu and yeshua, neither Yeshu (the standard name of Jesus in Hebrew), nor Jehoshua (the supposed original form of the name) are believed to be related to "yeshua" ("salvation"). It seems convincing. --194.145.161.227 16:58, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like a good question to direct to Jews for Jesus. They refer to Jesus as "Y'shua." Edison 17:29, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Are you really sure about that Dweller? All the dictionaries I've checked translate saviour into either "moshiach" or "goel". Loomis 23:08, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

I think you're mostly right, Loomis. ישועה (yeshuah) means 'salvation' (I suspect it's a form of the pa'ul, which functions as a passive participle: 'which is saved'). 'Saviour' needs an active participle; but the form you are looking for is מושיע (moshiya'). You seem to have confused this with משיח (mashiyach) - 'messiah' (which fundamentally means 'anointed', as does the Greek translation χριστος (khristos)). גואל (go'el) is also an active participle, but means rather 'redeemer' than 'saviour'. ColinFine

I understand what you're saying Colin. I myself never considered the term משיח to mean saviour, but rather "the annointed one", as you say. What I'm wondering about is whether you're saying that the words מושיע and משיח are completely unrelated, and their similarity is by coincidence only, or whether they're related words. But more importantly, I was completely surprised by the assertion that ישועה was both the word for saviour, as well as Jesus' proper name. On the one hand (as a Jew of course!) this seems like an incredibly bizarre coincidence. On the other hand though, it's a rather common Jewish name, so I guess the coincidence isn't that bizarre. I actually have both a brother and a nephew named Joshua. Loomis 21:47, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

Translation from Spanish to English

The Spanish word Manera. Please give translation in English. Thank you to all who answer.

Generally "manner", or "way". -- the GREAT Gavini 18:54, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

Just for your information, Frank Sinatra's song called "My way" is called "A mi manera" in Spanish. Schynd 0:03, 13 September 2006 (UTC)