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Pre War
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Barry Branvold
Feb 2, 2016, 11:18:05 AM2/2/16
to dc...@nafsk.se
> On Feb 2, 2016, Kriton wrote:
>
> I was wondering: does "pre-war" mean "ancient", metaphorically, in English, as
> it does in Greek? I find the idea of having a box proclaiming that it contains
> pre-war bonbons quite funny. (Eating said bonbons is, of course, not funny at
> all, which I assume is the reason for the modification in the story's reprint.)
>
> Kriton.
Pre war means before World War 2 (1940-45) NOT just ancient.
As someone else noted it is information intended for the reader of the comic, Because if it was created before WWII it wouldn’t say that
and if they were boxed after WWII with old (Pre War) material, the maker would not want buyers to Know That.
Kriton Kyrimis
Feb 2, 2016, 1:55:08 PM2/2/16
to dc...@nafsk.se
I'd like to thank all the people who replied to my question.
Most people focused on discussing war-time rationing and why Donald's
bonbons dated from before the war. Perhaps I should have made it clear
that I already understood that.
My question still remains: does "pre-war" mean "ancient"
metaphorically in English, as it does in Greek?
We mustn't forget that older stories, when read by modern readers, can
be read in today's context. While "pre-war" meant one thing during the
war (e.g., pre-rationing, in the good old days of peace, etc.) it
could mean something entirely different (e.g., ancient) today, as it
does in Greek. While Donald's nephews would grab the opportunity to
devour the pre-war candy, as they did in the story, a modern child
would keep away from 75 year old candy, which would probably be
shriveled and moldy with mold that was shriveled and moldy itself. I
assume that this is the reason why the label on the box was modified
in later reprints of the story. Donald was trying to lure the kids
with the best candy available to him, not with stale and possibly
poisonous candy.
Kriton.
_______________________________________________
http://nafsk.se/mailman/listinfo/dcml
Most people focused on discussing war-time rationing and why Donald's
bonbons dated from before the war. Perhaps I should have made it clear
that I already understood that.
My question still remains: does "pre-war" mean "ancient"
metaphorically in English, as it does in Greek?
We mustn't forget that older stories, when read by modern readers, can
be read in today's context. While "pre-war" meant one thing during the
war (e.g., pre-rationing, in the good old days of peace, etc.) it
could mean something entirely different (e.g., ancient) today, as it
does in Greek. While Donald's nephews would grab the opportunity to
devour the pre-war candy, as they did in the story, a modern child
would keep away from 75 year old candy, which would probably be
shriveled and moldy with mold that was shriveled and moldy itself. I
assume that this is the reason why the label on the box was modified
in later reprints of the story. Donald was trying to lure the kids
with the best candy available to him, not with stale and possibly
poisonous candy.
Kriton.
_______________________________________________
http://nafsk.se/mailman/listinfo/dcml
Mattias Hallin
Feb 3, 2016, 3:52:47 AM2/3/16
to dc...@nafsk.se
Kriton,
English is of course ot my native tongue either, but to the best of my knowledge: no! There is not general usage of which I am aware of the term "pre-war" being used as a metaphor for "ancient".
The term is still used today in certain circles to refer to the (perceived or real) superior qualitty of goods produced between the two world wars, not least when it comes to certain musical instruments (banjos, guitars, mandolins, brass instruments and so on), but I have never come across the term in the sense you mention in at least American English. In British English, I think it may sometimes be used to mean "old-fashioned", particularly about morals, social conventions and the like, but this is not quite the same as "ancient".
/Mattias
---
Mattias Hallin · Brussels · Belgium ·<cmha...@susbus.be>
"Oh bury me thar! With my battered git-tar!
A-screamin' my heart out fer yew!"
English is of course ot my native tongue either, but to the best of my knowledge: no! There is not general usage of which I am aware of the term "pre-war" being used as a metaphor for "ancient".
The term is still used today in certain circles to refer to the (perceived or real) superior qualitty of goods produced between the two world wars, not least when it comes to certain musical instruments (banjos, guitars, mandolins, brass instruments and so on), but I have never come across the term in the sense you mention in at least American English. In British English, I think it may sometimes be used to mean "old-fashioned", particularly about morals, social conventions and the like, but this is not quite the same as "ancient".
/Mattias
---
Mattias Hallin · Brussels · Belgium ·<cmha...@susbus.be>
"Oh bury me thar! With my battered git-tar!
A-screamin' my heart out fer yew!"
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