Old English, a bit of trivia

[Bird]

A very unique form of BBQ exists in North Carolina. It is pulled, smoked pork and cole slaw. You can have this on a plate, but often the pork is put on a bun along with the cole slaw. My first trip to the Old Nawth State I stopped in a BBQ place and the pulled pork sandwich sounded good so I ordered one. They lady asked me if I wanted the cole slaw on the side or on the sandwich. The place was on I95 so they had to serve quite a few non natives, so thus the question. The local BBQ places don't ask, they just put the slaw on the sandwich as God intended. Anywho, I could tell from the way the lady asked, that the slaw should go on the sandwich so that is what I ordered. Twas very good and I was forever hooked!

Dickie's BBQ is a well know chain place in the Dallas area, and he decided to try going nationwide. Most people know that BBQ is a regional dish; different in different places. Anyway, several years ago I went into a Dickie's in West Virginia and ordered a beef BBQ sandwich and cole slaw. And they put the slaw on the sandwich; something I had never seen done and hope to never see again. The slaw is supposed to be "on the side" or in a small bowl and eaten with a fork. And I must say that the guy running that Dickie's in West Virginia did offer to make me another sandwich and put the slaw is a separate bowl, so I can't complain about the place, even though I declined his offer.

Pulled pork has gotten popular in this area, and I've tried it, and I wonder why it's gotten popular.

 

[bunyip]

That is danged interesting. I wonder if the Southern "ya'll" is derived from "ye"?
Dan

I assumed (always a dangerous assertion) that ya'all was a shortened form of 'you all', in certain areas here we hear the the collective for 'you' as youse, pronounced 'yoose, ewes' I shudder whenever I hear it as it often comes from those who have barely progressed to a double digit IQ.
Digressing to food, McDonalds put beetroot on some burgers, a local favourite if you can stomach McDonalds (locally known as Maccas).
Just remembered listening to an expert on English, he stated that 'ya'all' was probably the closest gramatically correct collective of 'you', now is it ya'all or y'all not to be confused with a sailing rig the yawl.
I always think of Dolly Parton when I hear it.

 

[joecoin]

In the great state of Ohio, I have heard "All y'all" thousands of times. My sheltered wife pronounces it "All of you all".

Which is probably what the slang is derived from. But it sounds really funny to hear her say it.

 

[Diggin It]

So, this isn't about the furniture treatment?

 

[bunyip]

That is Polish not English (groan)

 

[Wagtail]

As a speaker of both english and french it amazes me how much of the words are the same or eerily similar in both languages although they come from different roots_ must be something in the order of 20 to 30%.
I read somewhere the Norman conquest of England in the XI century had a lot to do with this.

Well, the English language is a "bastard" language... it will borrow a word from anywhere. Often, then, shortening it or slurring it to conform.

Sailors were the biggest culprits as they were the international travellers of the time and needed to pick up foreign words in order to communicate & trade, bringing these words back when they returned. I could wax lyrical, just on parts/terms of a ship, as to the origin of the term/word and the reason it was used.

As to slurring words to reach the modern spelling? Take the common (and recent) word "donut". It's actually 'dough naught' [N.A. spelling 'nought'] = so it's a nought (zero) made of dough.

 

[bcp]

Ever played "noughts and crosses?"



Bruce

 

[Wagtail]

Ever played "noughts and crosses?"

View attachment 572832

Bruce

Yep. That's what the game is called here.

"Draughts" are also known in N.A. as 'checkers' (chequers). The draughts are the round playing pieces, whereas the playing board is the chequered pattern.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Well, the English language is a "bastard" language... it will borrow a word from anywhere. Often, then, shortening it or slurring it to conform.

Sailors were the biggest culprits as they were the international travellers of the time and needed to pick up foreign words in order to communicate & trade, bringing these words back when they returned. I could wax lyrical, just on parts/terms of a ship, as to the origin of the term/word and the reason it was used.

As to slurring words to reach the modern spelling? Take the common (and recent) word "donut". It's actually 'dough naught' [N.A. spelling 'nought'] = so it's a nought (zero) made of dough.

It's amazing how many nautical terms--and phrases--made their way into the language. "To the bitter end" "devil to pay and no pitch hot" etc. Here's a list of just a few for your amusement: Nautical Slang in Common Usage

 

[/pine]

Anyone who enjoys reading and has never read it should read an original version of Daniel Defoe's 'Robinson Crusoe' ...It takes a chapter or three to get used to the old English and the vernacular but once you get it it's a really fun read...