Libel a forum member thread.

[OldenBUA]

My 75% entertaining what? Got se ballas, man, dis onverstaanbaar!

Shying away from the double negative? Dis nie verstaanbaar nie!

[FierceKitty]

That double negative attracts howls of derision if we're rash enough to use it in Holland.

[Techno]

Did I read/hear that the double negative was used in the (distant ?) past, to give extra emphasis to the negative aspect of whatever it was someone was talking about ?

Or am I thinking about a language other than English ?

Cheers - Phil

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Ask any teacher round here  - "I didn't do nuthin sir" is the standard cry. So what is it that FK did ?

IanS

[OldenBUA]

Did I read/hear that the double negative was used in the (distant ?) past, to give extra emphasis to the negative aspect of whatever it was someone was talking about ?

Or am I thinking about a language other than English ?

Cheers - Phil

Yes, it can be used as such, but it's a bit different than the usage in Afrikaans, as I understand it. I am sure there are more pedantic members of the forum who can bore you silly entertain endlessly on this subject.

That double negative attracts howls of derision if we're rash enough to use it in Holland.

The use of 'Holland' attracts frowned eyebrows (as a minimum) if you use it anywhere in the Netherlands. Well, in most parts anyway.

Mind you, my dentist is from South Africa, and his (standard) Dutch is pretty good. So there is hope yet.

[petercooman]

The use of 'Holland' attracts frowned eyebrows (as a minimum) if you use it anywhere in the Netherlands. Well, in most parts anyway.

Mind you, my dentist is from South Africa, and his (standard) Dutch is pretty good. So there is hope yet.

Yes, we have a collegue who's from arnhem, who explained that bit once, when someone called him a 'hollander'. 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Gelderland has got to be best!
Cf: 'A Knight's Tale'
http://youtu.be/heFkmvxZytY

[FierceKitty]

Afrikaans is a creolised and archaic Dutch which I think picked up the "nie...nie" negative from one of the indigenous black languages (may have been Xhosa). Not the sort of thing old-school Afrikaaners wanted to be reminded of!

[OldenBUA]

Afrikaans is a creolised and archaic Dutch which I think picked up the "nie...nie" negative from one of the indigenous black languages (may have been Xhosa). Not the sort of thing old-school Afrikaaners wanted to be reminded of!

Not something I heard before (but what do I know), but a quick google search also points in the direction of Koi (Hottentots) as a possible influence.

[FierceKitty]

Probably correct too. By the way, beware the word "Hottentot" if you're ever in the area; it's linguistic Semtex.

[OldenBUA]

Probably correct too. By the way, beware the word "Hottentot" if you're ever in the area; it's linguistic Semtex.

Wasn't aware of that, so I'll keep it in mind. Not likely to ever go there, though.

Anyway, to get back on topic:

Phil only uses reference books because his memory isn't what it used to be and snapshots weren't invented back then.

[paulr]

Wasn't aware of that, so I'll keep it in mind. Not likely to ever go there, though.

Anyway, to get back on topic:

Phil only uses reference books because his memory isn't what it used to be and snapshots weren't invented back then.

FSN started a special thread for this particular member http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,12785.0.html

I'm sure a Moderator will be along shortly to move it for you

Ohhh Matron

[Techno]

Phil only uses reference books because his memory isn't what it used to be and snapshots weren't invented back then.

........and I lost all the sketches I scribbled on vellum and papyrus.
(Damn expensive that stuff was, too !  )

FSN started a special thread for this particular member http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,12785.0.html
I'm sure a Moderator will be along shortly to move it for you
Ohhh Matron

It won't be me...I'm only comfortable using the delete, modify or lock buttons ! 

Cheers - Phil

[Last Hussar]

So, let me get this straight.

Serious Threads soon break down into a pell-mell of cheap insults and in-jokes.

A thread inviting cheap insults and in-jokes breaks down into a serious discussion of linguistics?

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

You expect us to be LOGICAL 

IanS