Pedants' Paradise

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  • vinteuil
    Full Member
    • Nov 2010
    • 12782

    .

    'Or, pas de problème?'

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    • french frank
      Administrator/Moderator
      • Feb 2007
      • 30235

      Originally posted by gurnemanz View Post
      It is not always just an empty filler, as it would sometimes seem to express the meaning: "I am saying what I about to say as a consequence of what you have just said".
      Yes, though I'd need a another term, rather than 'Inconsequential So' as it differs a little from the 'So' with which the young things litter their speech.
      It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

      Comment

      • ahinton
        Full Member
        • Nov 2010
        • 16122

        Originally posted by jean View Post
        Litotes, ahinton.
        Sorry; familiar as I am with that device, I'm unclear as to how you envisage its application here...

        Comment

        • ahinton
          Full Member
          • Nov 2010
          • 16122

          Originally posted by ahinton View Post
          Sorry; familiar as I am with that device, I'm unclear as to how you envisage its application here...
          Rather as with "look" added to the end of a sentence, don't some Irish do the same with "so"?

          Comment

          • ferneyhoughgeliebte
            Gone fishin'
            • Sep 2011
            • 30163

            Originally posted by gurnemanz View Post
            It is not always just an empty filler, as it would sometimes seem to express the meaning: "I am saying what I about to say as a consequence of what you have just said".
            Yes - isn't it just a more recent replacement of the "well" with which older folk used to begin their statements?
            [FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]

            Comment

            • french frank
              Administrator/Moderator
              • Feb 2007
              • 30235

              Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post
              Yes - isn't it just a more recent replacement of the "well" with which older folk used to begin their statements?
              Used to, ferney? Used to? It's almost a sine qua non of making a comment here!
              It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

              Comment

              • ferneyhoughgeliebte
                Gone fishin'
                • Sep 2011
                • 30163

                Originally posted by french frank View Post
                Used to, ferney? Used to? It's almost a sine qua non of making a comment here!
                Well, yes ...
                [FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]

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                • vinteuil
                  Full Member
                  • Nov 2010
                  • 12782

                  Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post
                  Well, yes ...
                  So we're all happy here?

                  Comment

                  • Serial_Apologist
                    Full Member
                    • Dec 2010
                    • 37589

                    Originally posted by jean View Post
                    Move a bit further West and they'd be saying Look you...
                    Oh, I always thought they meant "Loo queue"!

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                    • jean
                      Late member
                      • Nov 2010
                      • 7100

                      Originally posted by ahinton View Post
                      Sorry; familiar as I am with that device, I'm unclear as to how you envisage its application here...
                      Think of my a bit further West as not that far West at all when (as you rightly point out) it really would be a very long way you'd have to go, and you'll get it.

                      Comment

                      • ahinton
                        Full Member
                        • Nov 2010
                        • 16122

                        Originally posted by jean View Post
                        Think of my a bit further West as not that far West at all when (as you rightly point out) it really would be a very long way you'd have to go, and you'll get it.
                        I fear that I remain none the wiser.

                        Comment

                        • Alain Maréchal
                          Full Member
                          • Dec 2010
                          • 1286

                          Possibly it is a useful way of indicating that one is about to speak. There are so many other noises about that one wants to be certain that the opening words of a sentence are heard. It avoids the responses "sorry?/say again?/pardon?/comment?/que?/quezaco?/scusi?/bitte?".

                          Comment

                          • Pulcinella
                            Host
                            • Feb 2014
                            • 10884

                            Originally posted by ahinton View Post
                            I fear that I remain none the wiser.
                            Me either (or should that be Me neither?)

                            Comment

                            • vinteuil
                              Full Member
                              • Nov 2010
                              • 12782

                              Originally posted by jean View Post
                              Move a bit further West and they'd be saying Look you...
                              Originally posted by ahinton View Post
                              Quite a distance further west, surely?
                              Originally posted by jean View Post
                              Litotes, ahinton.
                              Originally posted by ahinton View Post
                              Sorry; familiar as I am with that device, I'm unclear as to how you envisage its application here...
                              ... litotes, ahinton, means understatement. I think jean is nudging you to reread what she said in that light...



                              ... of course she may have also intended meiosis -

                              Comment

                              • kernelbogey
                                Full Member
                                • Nov 2010
                                • 5735

                                Originally posted by french frank View Post
                                Yes, though I'd need a another term, rather than 'Inconsequential So' as it differs a little from the 'So' with which the young things litter their speech.
                                As in 'You are so right...', or even 'I so do', 'I so can', etc.

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