0
Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Goodbye for the Secular
One of our esteemed posters pointed out recently that "goodbye" actually meant, at one stage, "God be with you".
As someone who locates the meaning of words and phrases in existing usage, rather than origin, I suppose I shouldn't be too bothered about the conflict with my agnostic outlook.
Yet I wonder if there is a formal secular equivalent of "au revoir" or "Auf Wiedersehen".
"See you later" (and the variations) are a little informal. "Farewell" is too longterm for many usages (and a little stuffy). "Ciao" sounds like you've just had brunch and a latte and are attempting middle class affect. )
What do people think? Any suggestions?
Chrissy
As someone who locates the meaning of words and phrases in existing usage, rather than origin, I suppose I shouldn't be too bothered about the conflict with my agnostic outlook.
Yet I wonder if there is a formal secular equivalent of "au revoir" or "Auf Wiedersehen".
"See you later" (and the variations) are a little informal. "Farewell" is too longterm for many usages (and a little stuffy). "Ciao" sounds like you've just had brunch and a latte and are attempting middle class affect. )
What do people think? Any suggestions?
Chrissy
Top answer
[nq:1]"See you later" (and the variations) are a little informal. "Farewell" is too longterm for many usages (and a little stuffy). "Ciao" sounds like you've just had brunch and a latte and are attempting middle class affect.
- [nq:1]"See you later" (and the variations) are a little informal.
- "Farewell" is too longterm for many usages (and a little stuffy).
- "Ciao" sounds like you've just had brunch and a latte and are attempting middle class affect.
- )[/nq] Ciao also is informal.
- In Italy it would be used only with people you would address as tu .
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
12 Answers
0
[nq:1]"See you later" (and the variations) are a little informal. "Farewell" is too longterm for many usages (and a little stuffy). "Ciao" sounds like you've just had brunch and a latte and are attempting middle class affect. )[/nq]
Ciao also is informal. In Italy it would be used only with people you would address as tu . A little incongruous, given that according to the usually-stated etymol
Ciao also is informal. In Italy it would be used only with people you would address as tu . A little incongruous, given that according to the usually-stated etymol
00
[nq:1]Yet I wonder if there is a formal secular equivalent of "au revoir" or "Auf Wiedersehen". "See you later" (and ... you've just had brunch and a latte and are attempting middle class affect. ) What do people think? Any suggestions?[/nq]
"Missing you already"?
(ducks behind parapet)
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern Engla
00
[nq:1]Yet I wonder if there is a formal secular equivalent of "au revoir" or "Auf Wiedersehen".[/nq]
"So long" is often thought to be a good translation of those expressions.
Joe Fineman (Email Removed)
"So long" is often thought to be a good translation of those expressions.
Joe Fineman (Email Removed)
00
[nq:2]Yet I wonder if there is a formal secular equivalent of "au revoir" or "Auf Wiedersehen".[/nq]
[nq:1]"So long" is often thought to be a good translation of those expressions.[/nq]
By whom?
Adrian
[nq:1]"So long" is often thought to be a good translation of those expressions.[/nq]
By whom?
Adrian
00
...
[nq:1]"So long" is often thought to be a good translation of those expressions.[/nq]
A bit controversial in etymology though: "Salaam" is the most likely. Secular in meaning but hardly in context.
[nq:1]"So long" is often thought to be a good translation of those expressions.[/nq]
A bit controversial in etymology though: "Salaam" is the most likely. Secular in meaning but hardly in context.
00
[nq:2]"So long" is often thought to be a good translation of those expressions.[/nq]
[nq:1]By whom?[/nq]
Writers of phrase books and whatnot. I'm afraid I don't have any actual citations at hand.
Joe Fineman (Email Removed)
[nq:1]By whom?[/nq]
Writers of phrase books and whatnot. I'm afraid I don't have any actual citations at hand.
Joe Fineman (Email Removed)
00
[nq:2]"So long" is often thought to be a good translation of those expressions.[/nq]
[nq:1]A bit controversial in etymology though: "Salaam" is the most likely. Secular in meaning but hardly in context.[/nq]
In the early '50s I read that there was (unsuccessful) agitation in the USSR to abolish the usual expression for "thank you" ("spasibo") because it was short for "spasi Bozhe tebya" ("
[nq:1]A bit controversial in etymology though: "Salaam" is the most likely. Secular in meaning but hardly in context.[/nq]
In the early '50s I read that there was (unsuccessful) agitation in the USSR to abolish the usual expression for "thank you" ("spasibo") because it was short for "spasi Bozhe tebya" ("
00
[nq:2]By whom?[/nq]
[nq:1]Writers of phrase books and whatnot. I'm afraid I don't have any actual citations at hand.[/nq]
That may work in the real world, but here in aue not having citations is pretty much a flogging offence. At least in my experience. But then, the mere act of posting is often a flogging offence in aue, so I tend to pay little attention to it.
[nq:1]Writers of phrase books and whatnot. I'm afraid I don't have any actual citations at hand.[/nq]
That may work in the real world, but here in aue not having citations is pretty much a flogging offence. At least in my experience. But then, the mere act of posting is often a flogging offence in aue, so I tend to pay little attention to it.
00
[nq:1]By around 1915 there were no more external horn machines being made;[/nq]
I dug up an aluminium horn in my garden a few years ago. (The garden seems to have been used as a rubbish tip for most of the last 150 years - a tradition which, alas, I have revived.) The aluminium, the shameless riveting of the two halves and the complete lack of ornament other than some dingy brown paint applied
I dug up an aluminium horn in my garden a few years ago. (The garden seems to have been used as a rubbish tip for most of the last 150 years - a tradition which, alas, I have revived.) The aluminium, the shameless riveting of the two halves and the complete lack of ornament other than some dingy brown paint applied
00
[nq:2]Yet I wonder if there is a formal secular equivalent of "au revoir" or "Auf Wiedersehen".[/nq]
[nq:1]"So long" is often thought to be a good translation of those expressions.[/nq]
"See you later" has become the standard parting in and around London, and is precisely equivalent to 'au revoir'. The first time I noticed it was about 10 years ago from a Greek restaurant owner, of all peo
[nq:1]"So long" is often thought to be a good translation of those expressions.[/nq]
"See you later" has become the standard parting in and around London, and is precisely equivalent to 'au revoir'. The first time I noticed it was about 10 years ago from a Greek restaurant owner, of all peo
0
Related Questions