Backslang
Mark Barratt
passing mention of the "mho", a word that I'd theretofore
forgotten. To save anyone who doesn't know it the bother, here is
what MW says:
Main Entry: mho
Pronunciation: 'mO
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural mhos
Etymology: backward spelling of ohm
Date: 1883
: a unit of conductance equal to the reciprocal of the ohm :
SIEMENS
It's amusing to imagine somebody chuckling to themselves as they
made this up, but I got to wondering whether this
reversed-spelling-of-another-word isn't etymologically almost
unique. There was a Victorian phenomenon called backslang which
seems to have left us the word "yob", but that's about it. It is
said that the gay slang Polari uses backslang, but you couldn't
really call that English.
I can't think of or find any other words in standard English that
originated as reversed spellings of other words, although I've a
feeling that backslang has been used in other times and places,
too. It is possible that they're aren't any, and that thought
gives rise to the realisation that, here is a chance to test that
theory of Usenet which features in one of Evan's sigs. I haven't
seen it for a while and I forget who wrote it (perhaps Evan will
see this and helpfully provide the citation), but it goes
something like: if you want the right information, post the wrong
information yourself then wait for somebody to come along and
explain in excruciating detail just how wrong you are. So, in a
spirit of scientific endeavour:
(Ahem) There are no words in the English language other than
"mho" and "yob" which originated as reversed spellings of other
words.
If this works the way I think it does, several new English words
just popped into existence to correct the imbalance in space-time
caused by the above statement.
Regards to all
Mark Barratt
-=Leslie=-
"Mark Barratt" <mark.b...@philips.com> wrote in message
news:3a717ee3$0$20284$73be...@news.be.uu.net...
Anyone naive enough to pay for their water should drink Evian.
-=Leslie=-
Tom Deveson
>(Ahem) There are no words in the English language other than
>"mho" and "yob" which originated as reversed spellings of other
>words.
This isn't a proper counter-example, but 'slop' as a word for policeman
originally came from 'ecilop'. No, it's not a proper counter-example, is
it?
Tom
--
Tom Deveson
Garry J. Vass
news:3a717ee3$0$20284$73be...@news.be.uu.net...
The OED lists, in addition to "yob", "naff" and "rouf". It goes on to say
that the backslanged etymology for "naff" is questionable, but it sounds per
fectly logical to me...
That'll cost ya a rennet, old chap...
GJV
OldContemptible
'Llareggub' as the fictional setting for 'Under Milk Wood'.
ATB
Paul
Brian J Goggin
<mark.b...@philips.com> wrote:
>(Ahem) There are no words in the English language other than
>"mho" and "yob" which originated as reversed spellings of other
>words.
ObFood: Yarg, a Cornish cheese.
bjg
Paul Pfalzner
"OldContemptible" <oldcont...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010126144256...@ng-fk1.aol.com...
> In literature, it's interesting to note that Dylan Thomas chose the name
> 'Llareggub' as the fictional setting for 'Under Milk Wood'.
What makes this so "interesting"?
It is a fairly witty choice by Thomas since it looks like Welsh - but is
something quite different.
Paul
ed_ho...@my-deja.com
I think "Erewhon" should count, notwithstanding Butler's refusal to
reverse "wh".
-- Ed Hopkins
Cary, NC
________________
Straps is parts.
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
N.Mitchum
------
> There are no words in the English language other than
> "mho" and "yob" which originated as reversed spellings of other
> words.
Wrong as wrong can be. "Madam" was originally spelled "madam."
How about that! "Mom" and "dad" have also had their spellings
reversed, as have "mam" and "pop." What about "sis"? "Radar"
used to be "radar," but it bounced back.
----NM
Ian Wade
OldContemptible <oldcont...@aol.com> writes
>In literature, it's interesting to note that Dylan Thomas chose the name
>'Llareggub' as the fictional setting for 'Under Milk Wood'.
>
Oh, I *do* enjoy AUE !!
:-))
Ian
Robert Lieblich
ObLaxatives: Serutan. A brand name, to be sure, but it satisfies
all conditions.
And what of aibohphobia?
Garry J. Vass
>
> Wrong as wrong can be. "Madam" was originally spelled "madam."
> How about that! "Mom" and "dad" have also had their spellings
> reversed, as have "mam" and "pop." What about "sis"? "Radar"
> used to be "radar," but it bounced back.
>
Well done! It is treasured postings such as this that make the modem
handshakes a familiar sound...
Kind regards,
GJV
--
When two vowels go out walking,
The first one does the talking...
Brian Cubbison
In article <3A7209F5...@erols.com>, Robert Lieblich
<lieb...@erols.com> wrote:
Shouldn't Yarg be spelled Yerg?
Legend has it that wonk was produced in similar fashion, but it has never
been substantiated.
Brian Cubbison
Syracuse, NY
Matti Lamprhey
>
> ObLaxatives: Serutan. A brand name, to be sure, but it satisfies
> all conditions.
If we're doing brand names, Trebor must be an early one. (British sweets.)
Matti
Ray Heindl
<3A7209F5...@erols.com>:
In Crichton's _The Great Train Robbery_, some of the characters refer
to beer as "reeb". I think there was a note about reversing words, but
I can't find my copy at the moment.
--
Ray Heindl
Garry J. Vass
news:94u60t$imm$1...@taliesin.netcom.net.uk...
In that case, M&M qualify.
mark barratt
"Tom Deveson" <a...@devesons.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:MJeKXGAn...@devesons.demon.co.uk...
Well yes, it would be, except that I've never heard the word 'slop' to mean
a policeman. Neither, it appears, has MW. By "in the English language" I
didn't mean in local dialects or slang. Does anyone else know this word?
Mark Barratt
John Cartmell
<markb...@beeb.net> wrote:
Backslang (or Gnalskcab) has been popular in many times and places. It was
much used in the 60s in my school where we (probably in error) thought that
the teachers wouldn't understand us. Whether that makes backslung words
part of the language depends on your definition of language. Some backslung
words were amended along the lines of ecilop to slop but not, AFAICR slop
itself.
The first words slung were, of course, names. Perhaps you can clear up a
problem that puzzled me 40 years ago - do I sound Welsh - or Russian? ;-)
Llemtrac Nhoj
--
John Cartmell - Manchester, UK
The next meeting of MAUG on Wednesday 21st February...
..will be... [strictly embargoed]
Brian J Goggin
<markb...@beeb.net> wrote:
>Well yes, it would be, except that I've never heard the word 'slop' to mean
>a policeman. Neither, it appears, has MW. By "in the English language" I
>didn't mean in local dialects or slang. Does anyone else know this word?
It's in Chambers.
bjg
John Holmes
<ed_ho...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:94smh1$brv$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> oldcont...@aol.com (OldContemptible) wrote:
> > In literature, it's interesting to note that Dylan Thomas chose the
> > name 'Llareggub' as the fictional setting for 'Under Milk Wood'.
> >
> > ATB
> > Paul
>
> I think "Erewhon" should count, notwithstanding Butler's refusal to
> reverse "wh".
There is a pair of places in the Murray Valley, Australia, named
Nangiloc and Colignan.
--
Regards,
John.
Mike Barnes
>The first words slung were, of course, names.
Including, more recently, domain names.
--
Mike Barnes <ek...@senrab.com>
OldContemptible
>It is a fairly witty choice by Thomas since it looks like Welsh - but is
>something quite different.
Paul
Sorry, I must try harder. Are you, by any chance, a schoolteacher, or do you
just write like one?
ATB
Paul
Paul Pfalzner
So your feelings are ruffled because I questioned the word "interesting" ?
That is interesting.
And you still haven't explained what makes Llareggub so "interesting".
But are you just Old or are you...?
Paul
> ATB
> Paul
Alec "Skitt" P.
"John Cartmell" <jo...@cartmell.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4a43ea9...@cartmell.demon.co.uk...
> Backslang (or Gnalskcab) has been popular in many times and places. It was
> much used in the 60s in my school where we (probably in error) thought
that
> the teachers wouldn't understand us. Whether that makes backslung words
> part of the language depends on your definition of language. Some
backslung
> words were amended along the lines of ecilop to slop but not, AFAICR slop
> itself.
> The first words slung were, of course, names. Perhaps you can clear up a
> problem that puzzled me 40 years ago - do I sound Welsh - or Russian?
;-)
>
> Llemtrac Nhoj
In the fifties, at San Jose State, in the college paper there was poetry by
a "Turkish" poet, Ymmot Ecul.
--
Skitt (in SF Bay Area) http://i.am/skitt/
I speak English well -- I learn it from a book!
-- Manuel of "Fawlty Towers" (he's from Barcelona).
ed_ho...@my-deja.com
> >
> > >(Ahem) There are no words in the English language other than
> > >"mho" and "yob" which originated as reversed spellings of other
> > >words.
> >
> > ObFood: Yarg, a Cornish cheese.
>
> ObLaxatives: Serutan. A brand name, to be sure, but it satisfies
> all conditions.
Does it satisfy the "originated" condition? I've seen throat lozenges
named after the Latin word for manure spelled backwards, but I doubt
that the marketers chose that name for that reason.
-- Ed Hopkins
Cary, NC
______________
Eugologue: A synonym for "palindrome".
Robert Lieblich
>
> Robert Lieblich <lieb...@erols.com> wrote:
> > Brian J Goggin wrote:
> > > "Mark Barratt" <mark.b...@philips.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > >(Ahem) There are no words in the English language other than
> > > >"mho" and "yob" which originated as reversed spellings of other
> > > >words.
> > >
> > > ObFood: Yarg, a Cornish cheese.
> >
> > ObLaxatives: Serutan. A brand name, to be sure, but it satisfies
> > all conditions.
>
> Does it satisfy the "originated" condition? I've seen throat lozenges
> named after the Latin word for manure spelled backwards, but I doubt
> that the marketers chose that name for that reason.
"Serutan" was a deliberate coinage. The company's radio ads (it was
quite a while ago) included this for the lame-brained: "Serutan is
nature's spelled backward." (Yeah I know, no apostrophe in
Serutan. They weren't case-sensitive either.)
OldContemptible
No, I know. I apologise for being so presumptious as to assume that my
mediocre, off-topic contribution could be considered 'interesting' in a
newsgroup which is populated by such intellectual giants. Go on, admit it: you
ARE a schoolteacher, aren't you?
Before I depart, never to dare to darken AUE again with my uninteresting
trifles, may I return to topic and coin a new example of backslang, based on my
experience here: ressot.
Yours in ruffled contemptibility,
Paul
Donna Richoux
Aw, Paul, don't let the other Paul get to you. He's just been in a bad
mood all week. This group is full of curmudgeonly sorts but luckily we
sort of take turns in being churlish. You can sign up for a week in
March, if you like. Who's got the sign-up sheet?
--
Best --- Donna Richoux
Simon R. Hughes
That's not backslang. Backslang would be "ossertay" (others
doubtlessly know it as Pig-Latin).
--
Simon R. Hughes -- http://www.geocities.com/a57998/subconscious/
Quoting Usenet postings in follow-ups --
http://www.geocities.com/a57998/quote.html
Paul Pfalzner
> >And you still haven't explained what makes Llareggub so "interesting".
>
> No, I know. I apologise for being so presumptious as to assume that my
> mediocre, off-topic contribution could be considered 'interesting' in a
> newsgroup which is populated by such intellectual giants. Go on, admit
it: you
> ARE a schoolteacher, aren't you?
No - I am an unemployed ex-diplomat.
>
> Before I depart, never to dare to darken AUE again with my uninteresting
> trifles, may I return to topic and coin a new example of backslang, based
on my
> experience here: ressot.
>
> Yours in ruffled contemptibility,
> Paul
Yrs unruffled, etc etc
Paul the first.
Garry J. Vass
news:1eo1sl6.mwt6iy1hw2oowN%tr...@euronet.nl...
>
> sort of take turns in being churlish. You can sign up for a week in
> March, if you like. Who's got the sign-up sheet?
>
Me.
But we haven't got a slot until April 20th, so he'll just have to 4-20 until
then (four-twenty until 4/20, get it? wink, wink, nudge, nudge...). Oh
well, never mind.
GJV
--
"...I allowed myself to be persuaded that my recollection was wrong..."
- Mandy
Simon R. Hughes
>
> "OldContemptible" <oldcont...@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20010130052031...@ng-bd1.aol.com...
> > >And you still haven't explained what makes Llareggub so "interesting".
> >
> > No, I know. I apologise for being so presumptious as to assume that my
> > mediocre, off-topic contribution could be considered 'interesting' in a
> > newsgroup which is populated by such intellectual giants. Go on, admit
> it: you
> > ARE a schoolteacher, aren't you?
>
> No - I am an unemployed ex-diplomat.
Do you eat pre-made sanwiches?
Robert Lieblich
>
> Thus Spake OldContemptible:
> > >And you still haven't explained what makes Llareggub so "interesting".
> >
> > No, I know. I apologise for being so presumptious as to assume that my
> > mediocre, off-topic contribution could be considered 'interesting' in a
> > newsgroup which is populated by such intellectual giants. Go on, admit it: you
> > ARE a schoolteacher, aren't you?
Query: If you call yourself "contemptible," how entitled are you to
take offense if you are treated with contempt?
Not to mention that if every AUE participant who was ever treated
with contempt were to bail out, AUE would have no participants.
> > Before I depart, never to dare to darken AUE again with my uninteresting
> > trifles, may I return to topic and coin a new example of backslang, based on my
> > experience here: ressot.
>
> That's not backslang. Backslang would be "ossertay" (others
> doubtlessly know it as Pig-Latin).
I'm not sure what leads Simon to say this (possibly irony, possibly
not), but the person who started the thread used "backslang" to
means specifically an actual word consciously formed by reversing
the spelling of another actual word. If "ressot" caught on, it
would, by this definition, be backslang.
Truly Donovan
Pfalzner) wrote:
> I am an unemployed ex-diplomat.
Prithee, what do an employed ex-diplomat do? It sounds like it's right
up my alley, especially if it pays well.
--
Truly Donovan
http://www.trulydonovan.com
Paul Pfalzner
"Truly Donovan" <tru...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:uHN3Ommkk30VetEya7k=gqi+...@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 30 Jan 2001 15:19:43 -0500, ai...@freenet.carleton.ca (Paul
> Pfalzner) wrote:
>
> > I am an unemployed ex-diplomat.
>
> Prithee, what do an employed ex-diplomat do? It sounds like it's right
> up my alley, especially if it pays well.
>
half of this onerous task.
Glad to join you up your alley, Truly. The pay is grandiose, and the
canapes so tempting.
Truly.
Paul
Paul Pfalzner
"Simon R. Hughes" <shu...@tromso.online.no> wrote in message
news:MPG.14e16514c...@News.CIS.DFN.DE...
> Thus Spake Paul Pfalzner:
> >
> > "OldContemptible" <oldcont...@aol.com> wrote in message
> > news:20010130052031...@ng-bd1.aol.com...
> > > >And you still haven't explained what makes Llareggub so
"interesting".
> > >
> > > No, I know. I apologise for being so presumptious as to assume that
my
> > > mediocre, off-topic contribution could be considered 'interesting' in
a
> > > newsgroup which is populated by such intellectual giants. Go on,
admit
> > it: you
> > > ARE a schoolteacher, aren't you?
> >
> > No - I am an unemployed ex-diplomat.
>
> Do you eat pre-made sanwiches?
Those kinds of wiches I avoid like the plague. They cause my withers to be
unwrung.
I prefer lying on a sandy beach.
Paul
That other Paul has had a bad time with schoolteachers - poor fellow.
Simon R. Hughes
> "Simon R. Hughes" wrote:
> >
> > Thus Spake OldContemptible:
[...]
> > > Before I depart, never to dare to darken AUE again with my uninteresting
> > > trifles, may I return to topic and coin a new example of backslang, based on my
> > > experience here: ressot.
> >
> > That's not backslang. Backslang would be "ossertay" (others
> > doubtlessly know it as Pig-Latin).
>
> I'm not sure what leads Simon to say this (possibly irony, possibly
> not), but the person who started the thread used "backslang" to
> means specifically an actual word consciously formed by reversing
> the spelling of another actual word. If "ressot" caught on, it
> would, by this definition, be backslang.
Of course it would. But to me the term "backslang" already has a
particular definition. That's all.
Robert Lieblich
>
> Thus Spake Robert Lieblich:
[ . . . ]
> > I'm not sure what leads Simon to say this (possibly irony, possibly
> > not), but the person who started the thread used "backslang" to
> > means specifically an actual word consciously formed by reversing
> > the spelling of another actual word. If "ressot" caught on, it
> > would, by this definition, be backslang.
>
> Of course it would. But to me the term "backslang" already has a
> particular definition. That's all.
I'd never encountered "backslang" before (that I can remember). I
looked it up in four dictionaries (including one UK -- Cambridge
online) and couldn't find it. Not as a challenge, but in an attempt
to clear this up, can you cite a source?
Tom Deveson
>I'd never encountered "backslang" before (that I can remember). I
>looked it up in four dictionaries (including one UK -- Cambridge
>online) and couldn't find it. Not as a challenge, but in an attempt
>to clear this up, can you cite a source?
There are a couple of paragraphs on back-slang in the Opies' book on
*The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren* (OUP 1959) cited elsewhere
today. (It's on pp 321 under the heading 'secret languages'.) This
includes modification of back-slang proper, such as moving the final
sound to the front of the word ('Shba uyo fi uyo tedon teshu aryou
petray' for 'Bash you if you don't shut your trap') or the version
sometimes called 'Pig Latin' in which the first consonant or double
consonant is transferred to the end of the word and 'ay' or 'e' is added
thereafter, thus: 'Ashbay ouyay ifay ouyay ontday utshay ouryay aptray'.
There are three pages on back-slang and related codes in *Cockney
Dialect And Slang* by Peter Wright (Batsford 1981). This section quotes
Mayhew in 1851, reporting on a pickpocket who counted 'eno, owt, eerht,
ruof, evif, exis' and versions used at Billingsgate fish-market and by
costermongers and by porters and others at Smithfield meat-market.
'Slop' for police is mentioned here, together with 'delo' for old, which
I used to hear occasionally in South London a few years back but haven't
heard recently.
There's a paragraph on back-slang, under the more general heading of
'Playing with sounds and letters', in David Crystal's *Cambridge
Encyclopedia of the English language* p 59 (CUP 1987). He refers to its
use by soldiers, barrow-boys, shopkeepers, thieves, and public school
pupils. He gives examples that occurred during WW1 , as well as parallel
cases in French and Javanese. He also deals with 'Pig Latin' as above
and several other variants.
Hope this is helpful. I'm sure there are plenty more sources -- these
are just ones I found on shelves near the table this computer is resting
on.
Tom
--
Tom Deveson
John Cartmell
> [ . . . ]
Chambers: backslang slang in which every word is pronounced as if spelt
backwards.
Robert Lieblich
>
> In article <3A78A53B...@erols.com>,
> Robert Lieblich <lieb...@erols.com> wrote:
> > "Simon R. Hughes" wrote:
> > >
> > > Thus Spake Robert Lieblich:
>
> > [ . . . ]
>
> > > > I'm not sure what leads Simon to say this (possibly irony, possibly
> > > > not), but the person who started the thread used "backslang" to
> > > > means specifically an actual word consciously formed by reversing
> > > > the spelling of another actual word. If "ressot" caught on, it
> > > > would, by this definition, be backslang.
> > >
> > > Of course it would. But to me the term "backslang" already has a
> > > particular definition. That's all.
>
> > I'd never encountered "backslang" before (that I can remember). I
> > looked it up in four dictionaries (including one UK -- Cambridge
> > online) and couldn't find it. Not as a challenge, but in an attempt
> > to clear this up, can you cite a source?
> Chambers: backslang slang in which every word is pronounced as if spelt
> backwards.
Thank you. And thanks also to Tom Deveson for an excellent
response.
That said, the Chambers definition, at least, supports the usage of
the original poster and puts Simon Hughes's in question.
Donna Richoux
[snip discussion of various meanings of "backslang"]
> That said, the Chambers definition, at least, supports the usage of
> the original poster and puts Simon Hughes's in question.
Well, there's nothing wrong with a word having two meanings. But I see
that Simon did start off by saying, "That's not backslang." I take that
to mean he was only aware of one meaning of the word, and the example
wasn't it. I suppose to avoid argument, he could have put it, "That's
not the backslang I know."
--
Hedge, hedge --- Donna Richoux
Simon R. Hughes
Question as much as you like. I grew up with that definition. It is
the word I have always used to describe what others call "Pig(-
)Latin". I did not find it by looking in a dictionary, I was
socialised into it.
I would (as you have, Bob) hesitate before calling someone in the
position I find myself wrong, because this kind of history is
personal, unrefutable, and unverifiable.
Alan Jones
> Question as much as you like. I grew up with that definition [scil.
dislocation of first consonant to the end of the word and adding "-ay" so
that "tosser" would become "ossertay"]. It is the word I have always used to
describe what others call "Pig(-)Latin". I did not find it by looking in a
dictionary, I was socialised into it.
So was I. We practised it assiduously and could rattle it off fluently, as no
doubt could Simon Hughes and his friends. A simple reversal, as described
in Chambers and NSOED and by others in their messages, was not at all
what we meant by 'backslang' in 1940s Shropshire.
Alan Jones
Simon R. Hughes
> Robert Lieblich <lieb...@erols.com> wrote:
>
> [snip discussion of various meanings of "backslang"]
>
> > That said, the Chambers definition, at least, supports the usage of
> > the original poster and puts Simon Hughes's in question.
[snip]
> I suppose to avoid argument, he could have put it, "That's
> not the backslang I know."
True, I could have. Perhaps I should have.
Simon R. Hughes
I am relieved, and, yes, became reasonably fluent. I was beginning to
think that I was the only person in the world who operated with this
definition.
[ritiquecay oftay hetay tandardsay oftay hetay "ompetentcay
educatedtay ativenay peakersay" orthcomingfay]
Earle D Jones
oldcont...@aol.com (OldContemptible) wrote:
> >And you still haven't explained what makes Llareggub so "interesting".
>
> No, I know. I apologise for being so presumptious as to assume that my
> mediocre, off-topic contribution could be considered 'interesting' in a
> newsgroup which is populated by such intellectual giants.
*
Apology accepted.
But don't you mean, "...in a newsgroup *that* is populated by such..."
earle
*
Simon R. Hughes
You left the question mark off on purpose, so I won't respond.
Evan Kirshenbaum
> And you still haven't explained what makes Llareggub so "interesting".
I've been trying unsuccessfully to find confirmation of my memory that
Thomas's editors were concerned that there might be some hidden
meaning in the name of the town, but upon asking him, he replied that
"it meant bugger all", so they were satisfied that they had been
mistaken.
The country of Llamedos appears in Terry Pratchett's _Soul Music_.
--
Evan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------
HP Laboratories |Ye knowe ek, that in forme of speche
1501 Page Mill Road, Building 1U | is chaunge
Palo Alto, CA 94304 |Withinne a thousand yer, and wordes
| tho
kirsh...@hpl.hp.com |That hadden prys now wonder nyce and
(650)857-7572 | straunge
|Us thenketh hem, and yet they spake
| hem so
| Chaucer
John Cartmell
Evan Kirshenbaum <ev...@garrett.hpl.hp.com> wrote:
> ai...@freenet.carleton.ca (Paul Pfalzner) writes:
> > And you still haven't explained what makes Llareggub so "interesting".
> I've been trying unsuccessfully to find confirmation of my memory that
> Thomas's editors were concerned that there might be some hidden
> meaning in the name of the town, but upon asking him, he replied that
> "it meant bugger all", so they were satisfied that they had been
> mistaken.
Reggub the editors - it got past the BBC 3rd Program!
Evan Kirshenbaum
> In article <v9hk877...@garrett.hpl.hp.com>,
> Evan Kirshenbaum <ev...@garrett.hpl.hp.com> wrote:
> > ai...@freenet.carleton.ca (Paul Pfalzner) writes:
>
> > > And you still haven't explained what makes Llareggub so
> > > "interesting".
>
> > I've been trying unsuccessfully to find confirmation of my memory
> > that Thomas's editors were concerned that there might be some
> > hidden meaning in the name of the town, but upon asking him, he
> > replied that "it meant bugger all", so they were satisfied that
> > they had been mistaken.
> Reggub the editors - it got past the BBC 3rd Program!
Are you sure about that? The story I had heard was that the BBC had
it changed to "Llaregyb".
Tom Deveson
>Are you sure about that? The story I had heard was that the BBC had
>it changed to "Llaregyb".
According to Paul Ferris's *Dylan Thomas* (1977), the name Llareggub had
been invented earlier [about 1938/9] and included in a story called *The
Orchards*, published in *The Map of Love*.
"...Nobody noticed 'Llareggub' at the publishers. Thomas liked the joke
so much that he used it again for *Under Milk Wood* (by which time the
publishers [Dent] had woken up, and after his death insisted on spelling
it Llaregyb..."
As *Under Milk Wood* was done as 'a play for voices' it seems less
likely that the BBC would have been concerned about the spelling of a
name that was only heard. On the other hand, they did cut three phrases:
'wriggle her roly poly bum', 'strip her to the nipples' and 'draws
circles of lipstick round her nipples'. These were known afterwards by
insiders at the BBC as 'the two tits and a bum'.
They left in 'let me shipwreck in your thighs', but standards of
censorship were strange in 1954.
The reception for the BBC Third Programme on which *UMW* was broadcast
was so poor in South Wales that the programme could hardly be heard in
Laugharne, the original of Llareggub.
Thomas was also early in spotting that 'TS Eliot' backwards nearly spelt
'toilets'.
Tom
--
Tom Deveson
Richard
<ev...@garrett.hpl.hp.com> wrote:
>ai...@freenet.carleton.ca (Paul Pfalzner) writes:
>
>> And you still haven't explained what makes Llareggub so "interesting".
>
>I've been trying unsuccessfully to find confirmation of my memory that
>Thomas's editors were concerned that there might be some hidden
>meaning in the name of the town, but upon asking him, he replied that
>"it meant bugger all", so they were satisfied that they had been
>mistaken.
>
One of Horace Rumpole's favourite anecdotes:
Judge:
"... and before I pass sentence upon you, is there anything you would
like to say on your own behalf?"
Defendant:
(mumbles) "Bugger all".
Judge:
"Usher, what was that the defendant said?"
Usher:
"He said 'Bugger all' M'lord."
Judge:
"Funny, could have sworn his lips moved."
--
Richard Bollard
Australian Mathematics Trust
Canberra, Australia