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Post by riotgrrl on Jan 8, 2011 23:20:09 GMT
Well, in Latin the word is nothing to do with the female anatomy - it means a scabbard or sheath for a sword. It is feminine in Latin as it happens, though grammatical gender hasn't necessarily got anything to do with sex. Ask Weyland what gender the German for girl (and then he can do the umlaut too, because I've forgotten how.) I know that one. Das Neuter. Das Madchen. (With umelauts and stuff.) I done a Higher German, so I know that. That was pretty fkd up too. There is no need for gendered versions of the word 'the'. Anywhere in the whole world. I'm so over it.
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Post by Weyland on Jan 9, 2011 0:21:41 GMT
For anyone paying detailed attention to that exchange, that could be construed as being quite filthy. As if! What CAN you mean, grrl?
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Post by jean on Jan 9, 2011 9:42:58 GMT
All diminutives are neuter in German and Dutch. Nothing to do with sex. I was afraid you'd reveal that bit of information too soon, and introduce into the discussion a bit of rationality I was enjoying being without. But can you confirm that (as I've been told) Germans are increasingly treating Mädchen as feminine? [There is no need for gendered versions of the word 'the'. Anywhere in the whole world. I'm so over it. Possibly. But note that to make up for having gendered nouns, Latin has no words for 'the' at all.
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Post by Weyland on Jan 9, 2011 11:09:04 GMT
But can you confirm that (as I've been told) Germans are increasingly treating Mädchen as feminine? Not that I've noticed. Nor in Holland. Next time I'm over there I'll listen out and/or ask the locals. W: Who's that cheeky-looking blonde with the plaits? Leiterin: Die Mädchen in the mini-Dirndlgewand is Helga. W: Das. Have it washed and brought to my tent.
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Post by everso on Jan 9, 2011 23:29:54 GMT
All diminutives are neuter in German and Dutch. Nothing to do with sex. I was afraid you'd reveal that bit of information too soon, and introduce into the discussion a bit of rationality I was enjoying being without. But can you confirm that (as I've been told) Germans are increasingly treating Mädchen as feminine? [There is no need for gendered versions of the word 'the'. Anywhere in the whole world. I'm so over it. Possibly. But note that to make up for having gendered nouns, Latin has no words for 'the' at all.[/i] I didn't know that! But then, I never did Latin. However, I used to work with a Polish woman (this was in the days before they were common and garden in this country) and she spoke English with an extremely heavy accent - it did grate rather - and never used the word "the". Do they not use it in Polish?
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Post by aubrey on Jan 11, 2011 11:01:13 GMT
I always found the Polish accent quite alluring. On women, anyway. Can't help you with the "The" question, though, Everso.
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Post by everso on Jan 11, 2011 12:06:14 GMT
I just googled it and apparently Polish has no definite or indefinite articles.
That's the way to go!
The Polish woman I worked with, Aubs, was a sour old biddy with a very deep voice and a slurring kind of accent. It really got on my nerves.
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Post by aubrey on Jan 11, 2011 17:57:20 GMT
Mine was young! (Did you guess that?)
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Post by everso on Jan 11, 2011 22:19:10 GMT
Mmmmm.
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Post by Weyland on Jan 26, 2011 17:15:58 GMT
I just googled it and apparently Polish has no definite or indefinite articles. That's the way to go! Oooh! You ARE one! [Geddit?]
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Post by Weyland on Jan 26, 2011 17:21:34 GMT
New caff up the road. Had to give it a try. £4 special offer -- bacon, egg, sausage sandwich, mug of tea. Hadn't reckoned on the doorsteps . . . A bit excessive, wot? (They only had white.)
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Post by aubrey on Jan 27, 2011 10:46:32 GMT
Well, the point of a sandwich is the bread, Weyland. I see what you mean, though. I'd have to nibble my way through that; wouldn't be able to get my mouth open wide enough
There's a cafe really near us that does really huge portions (and big sandwiches like that). Very cheap as well. If I was living on my own I'd eat my dinner there every day and just have a sandwich or something at home in the evenings. I'm going to take my mother there next time she comes to stay.
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