[R] Naughty Language (Good Omens)
David Sander
I'm afraid the accent on Shadwell's brogue is a too thick for me at this
spot, and in spite of a number of readings, I still can't translate:
"De'il ding a divot aff yer wame wi' a flaughter spade."*
I can guess at parts (e.g. De'il => Devil), but it's the only line in
the book that I don't get (and seems to be pretty important in further
illustrating Shadwell's character, given its context).
Thanking you in advance.
David
* Pratchett, T. & Gaiman, N., "Good Omens", Corgi Books, London, 1991,
p. 291
David Chapman
news:39111DF0...@bigpond.net.au...
> Just hoping someone can translate something for a Strine speaker.
>
> I'm afraid the accent on Shadwell's brogue is a too thick for me at this
> spot, and in spite of a number of readings, I still can't translate:
>
> "De'il ding a divot aff yer wame wi' a flaughter spade."*
AFAICTranslate: "The Devil knock a chunk off your head with a gravedigger's
shovel." ICBW about that last bit, though.
--
Cut off an arm - it shall sprout anew!
Cut off a leg - TEN shall grow in its' place!
Mik
news:8erh47$cp3$3...@gxsn.com...
> "David Sander" <sur...@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> news:39111DF0...@bigpond.net.au...
> > Just hoping someone can translate something for a Strine speaker.
> >
> > I'm afraid the accent on Shadwell's brogue is a too thick for me
at this
> > spot, and in spite of a number of readings, I still can't
translate:
> >
> > "De'il ding a divot aff yer wame wi' a flaughter spade."*
>
> AFAICTranslate: "The Devil knock a chunk off your head with a
gravedigger's
> shovel." ICBW about that last bit, though.
>
wame =>womb
flaughter => flapping
So although less flowing (and sounding more distasteful) than David's
version, the curse would appear to translate as:
'(May) the Devil take/knock a chunk out of your womb/belly with a
spade that is flapping about.'
HTH
Mik
--
"I have a dream that my four little children
will one day live in a nation where they will not
be judged by the color of their skin
but by the content of their character" - MLK, 1963.
David Sander
> David Chapman <anti...@sentinel.globalnet.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:8erh47$cp3$3...@gxsn.com...
> > "David Sander" <sur...@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> > news:39111DF0...@bigpond.net.au...
>
<snip>
>
> > > "De'il ding a divot aff yer wame wi' a flaughter spade."*
> >
> > AFAICTranslate: "The Devil knock a chunk off your head with a
> gravedigger's shovel." ICBW about that last bit, though.
> >
> According to the oldest dictionary I've got:
> wame =>womb
> flaughter => flapping
> So although less flowing (and sounding more distasteful) than David's
> version, the curse would appear to translate as:
> '(May) the Devil take/knock a chunk out of your womb/belly with a
> spade that is flapping about.'
>
> HTH
What an oddly grotesque thing to retort to Madame Tracey after her
suggestion about riding her scooter. I mean, I know he's all indignant
about what he perceives to be her rather sinful lifestyle, but sheesh.
Everywhere else, he simply calls her names - here he's suggesting rather
dramatic physical violence, and this against a woman from whom he takes
food.
Does anybody else consider this line a bit odd?
David
quantum moth
> Mik wrote:
>
<snip>
> > '(May) the Devil take/knock a chunk out of your womb/belly
> > with a spade that is flapping about.'
> >
>
> suggesting rather dramatic physical violence, and this
> against a woman from whom he takes food.
>
> Does anybody else consider this line a bit odd?
Not really. It's not really physical violence; it's more
*meta*physical; it's the kind of oath you expect King
Lear to bellow at Regan or something. To me, it's simply
him wishing infertility on her, which is perfectly in-
keeping with his attitudes towards the "hoor o'babylon".
Not *nice*, I'll grant you, but Shadwell is in a very
odd mood by this point of the book.
--
thom willis - "nattie's reputation" afpianced to Peter, Mary and Bryony
afplotting to elope with pia and eric. afprepared to settle for April
I want to be your Easter Bunny.
I want to be your Christmas Tree.
Shim
<anti...@sentinel.globalnet.co.uk> expounded:
>"David Sander" <sur...@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
>news:39111DF0...@bigpond.net.au...
>> Just hoping someone can translate something for a Strine speaker.
>>
>> I'm afraid the accent on Shadwell's brogue is a too thick for me at this
>> spot, and in spite of a number of readings, I still can't translate:
>>
>> "De'il ding a divot aff yer wame wi' a flaughter spade."*
>
>AFAICTranslate: "The Devil knock a chunk off your head with a gravedigger's
>shovel." ICBW about that last bit, though.
Must say I've never heard "flaughter" before... it could, of course, be mere
babble intended to convey the general sense of the deeply-held feelings
here...
-Shim.
Mik
[Snip translations of Shadwell's curse]
>
> What an oddly grotesque thing to retort to Madame Tracey after her
> suggestion about riding her scooter. I mean, I know he's all
> indignant about what he perceives to be her rather sinful lifestyle,
> but sheesh.
>
> Everywhere else, he simply calls her names - here he's suggesting
> rather dramatic physical violence, and this against a woman from
> whom he takes food.
>
> Does anybody else consider this line a bit odd?
Given that Shadwell is obsessed with the traditions of the Witchfynder
movement, it's probably intended to be an 'ancient and traditional'
Witchfynder curse against those of the female persuasion who are
considered to be practitioners of the 'black arts'.
That's my best guess, anyway. He's not exactly what you call a stable
character - maybe he's just 'going off on one'.
Cheers
Paul Andinach
> Mik wrote:
> > So although less flowing (and sounding more distasteful) than
> > David's version, the curse would appear to translate as:
> > '(May) the Devil take/knock a chunk out of your womb/belly with a
> > spade that is flapping about.'
> What an oddly grotesque thing to retort to Madame Tracey after her
> suggestion about riding her scooter.
If it helps at all, I can give a cite for "wame" meaning
"belly/stomach" rather than "womb".
Paul
--
The Pink Pedanther
lmali...@gmail.com
Lewis
> Is a flaughter Spade not a peat shovel? I believe I recall finding a picture in the dictionary. Looks nasty as though it might knock a mighty divot!
no 'scoop'. Sometimes it will have a weird hook on one side.
--
"We're philosophers. We think, therefore we am."