What is Po saying?!?!?!

[Steve & Karen Zieman]

My niece just received a talking Po for her birthday. I can understand
the phrases "big hugs" "hello" "good-bye" "hello po", but there is
another set of phrases that I cannot understand. I know that what I'm
hearing is not what is being said. Can anyone out there tell me what
she (he?) is saying? It's driving me nuts!! (BTW, this is a U.S. doll)

Please reply to my email as I don't usually read this group. Thank you
in advance!

Karen

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Steve & Karen Zieman >< (aka Z & .) >< zm...@nomad.net
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Prudence is a rich ugly old maid courted by Incapacity.
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What is now proved was once only imagin'd.
Always be ready to speak your mind, and a base man will avoid you.
- William Blake
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[Serenleono]

Karen Zieman <zm...@nomad.net> scripsit:

>My niece just received a talking Po for her birthday. I can understand
>the phrases "big hugs" "hello" "good-bye" "hello po", but there is
>another set of phrases that I cannot understand.

First of all, eh-oh, Steve, Karen, and Bastet. Welcome to
Cybertubbyland.

I don't actually own the U.S. Talking Po, so someone else will have to
supply a complete list of what she says, but I presume (from past
questions asked the group) that you're referring to the "fi-dit,
fi-dit, fi-dit" soundbite that has been at the centre of controversy
for a while, particularly in America.

Po, whilst riding her 'cooter, and sometimes when not, sings "fi-dit,
fi-dit, fi-dit, mar, mar, man", which is Cantonese for "fast, fast,
fast, slow, slow, slow" or, according to some, "faster--slower".

According to a Cantonese-speaking friend of mine, it would be better
rendered as "Fai-dee fai-dee, fai-dee, man, man, man!"

"fai" (sounds like "fie", rhymes with "pie") means "fast"
"dee" means "more" (pronunciation is the same as "D")
Then, "fai-dee" means "faster" which sounds as "fi-dit"

"man" means "slow"
"man-man" means "go slow" or "slowly"
"man-man-man" could be "slower, slower, slower" which
sounds as "mar mar man"

I hope you'll consider paying a visit to alt.karen, the
cybercrossroads of all things Karen. :-)

Seren
"Sometimes a .sig is just a .sig." -- Freud (attributed)