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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Sh phoneme in English
The other day I surprised some people by using "knickers" as if it were a swearword. I explained that it was a very mild swearword which was unlikely to cause offence. The conversation led on to "sugar" which is even more mild. I also started to say that "sugar" has the advantage that if you start to say "***" at an inappropriate time, you can switch to "sugar". But when I tried it I found it surprisingly difficult and noticed that I pronounce the /S/ at the beginning of these words quite differently.
I am aware of allophones of various English phonemes and that some are distinct phonemes in other languages but I had not noticed this one. Are these allophones distinguished in IPA (I have not noticed it) and do any languages distinguish them? I should look again at Mandarin since that seems to have several sounds in the /s/ /S/ area which I may not be getting quite right.
For US friends, I think knickers can be translated as panties.
Seán O'Leathlóbhair
I am aware of allophones of various English phonemes and that some are distinct phonemes in other languages but I had not noticed this one. Are these allophones distinguished in IPA (I have not noticed it) and do any languages distinguish them? I should look again at Mandarin since that seems to have several sounds in the /s/ /S/ area which I may not be getting quite right.
For US friends, I think knickers can be translated as panties.
Seán O'Leathlóbhair
Top answer
On 18 Jun 2004 02:30:14 -0700, Sean O'Leathlobhair (Email Removed) wrote, in part: [nq:1]The other day I surprised some people by using "knickers" as if it were a swearword. I explained that it was a very mild swearword which was unlikely to cause offence. [/nq] I wouldn't consider it a swear word.
- On 18 Jun 2004 02:30:14 -0700, Sean O'Leathlobhair (Email Removed) wrote, in part: [nq:1]The other day I surprised some people by using "knickers" as if it were a swearword.
- I explained that it was a very mild swearword which was unlikely to cause offence.
- [/nq] I wouldn't consider it a swear word.
- I'd consider it a substitute for one.
- [nq:1]I also started to say that "sugar" has the advantage that if you start to say "***" at an inappropriate ...
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179 Answers
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On 18 Jun 2004 02:30:14 -0700, Sean O'Leathlobhair (Email Removed) wrote, in part:
[nq:1]The other day I surprised some people by using "knickers" as if it were a swearword. I explained that it was a very mild swearword which was unlikely to cause offence. The conversation led on to "sugar" which is even more mild.[/nq]
I wouldn't consider it a swear word. I'd consider it a substitute for
[nq:1]The other day I surprised some people by using "knickers" as if it were a swearword. I explained that it was a very mild swearword which was unlikely to cause offence. The conversation led on to "sugar" which is even more mild.[/nq]
I wouldn't consider it a swear word. I'd consider it a substitute for
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[nq:1]For US friends, I think knickers can be translated as panties.[/nq]
From M-W online:
Main Entry: knick·ers
Pronunciation: 'ni-k&rz
Function: noun plural
Etymology: short for knickerbockers
1 : loose-fitting short pants gathered at the knee
2 chiefly British : UNDERPANTS
Meaning 1 was my own impression of knickers knee-length pants, not necessarily (i
From M-W online:
Main Entry: knick·ers
Pronunciation: 'ni-k&rz
Function: noun plural
Etymology: short for knickerbockers
1 : loose-fitting short pants gathered at the knee
2 chiefly British : UNDERPANTS
Meaning 1 was my own impression of knickers knee-length pants, not necessarily (i
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[nq:1]The other day I surprised some people by using "knickers" as if it were a swearword. I explained that it ... area which I may not be getting quite right. For US friends, I think knickers can be translated as panties.[/nq]
Underpants? What's so hard about that? Panties are what lil' girls and lil' hoes wear. Knickers sounds like a basketball team!
Underpants? What's so hard about that? Panties are what lil' girls and lil' hoes wear. Knickers sounds like a basketball team!
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[nq:1]I also started to say that "sugar" has the advantage that if you start to say "***" at an inappropriate ... I found it surprisingly difficult and noticed that I pronounce the /S/ at the beginning of these words quite differently.[/nq]
Hmmm...I've tried it and don't detect any difference at all in my consonants.
I'd surmise that "***" comes off more trippingly because the point of art
Hmmm...I've tried it and don't detect any difference at all in my consonants.
I'd surmise that "***" comes off more trippingly because the point of art
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Michael Hamm filted:
[nq:2]SeBn O'Leathl
"I've been that drunk myself sometimes." - Martin
I saw a lowercase a and o, respectively, with acute accents...sounds like the problem's on your end....r
[nq:2]SeBn O'Leathl
"I've been that drunk myself sometimes." - Martin
I saw a lowercase a and o, respectively, with acute accents...sounds like the problem's on your end....r
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[nq:1]I wouldn't consider it a swear word. I'd consider it a substitute for one.[/nq]
Hmmm... depends on whether you apply the term "swear word" to certain words which are thereby intrinsically* swear words, or to certain *usages, in which case a word substituted for a swear word would itself be a swear word.
[nq:1]Sean O'Leathlobhair wrote[/nq]
[nq:2]I also started to say that
Hmmm... depends on whether you apply the term "swear word" to certain words which are thereby intrinsically* swear words, or to certain *usages, in which case a word substituted for a swear word would itself be a swear word.
[nq:1]Sean O'Leathlobhair wrote[/nq]
[nq:2]I also started to say that
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[nq:1]For US friends, I think knickers can be translated as panties. Seán O'Leathlóbhair[/nq]
For the record, knickers does not refer to women's panties in the U.S. Here it refers to little boys' knee-length pants...and little boys in the U.S. haven't worn them for most of a century.
The first time I was exposed to the British meaning was in the Beatles' song "I am the Walrus" where John L
For the record, knickers does not refer to women's panties in the U.S. Here it refers to little boys' knee-length pants...and little boys in the U.S. haven't worn them for most of a century.
The first time I was exposed to the British meaning was in the Beatles' song "I am the Walrus" where John L
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[nq:2]For US friends, I think knickers can be translated as panties. Seán O'Leathlóbhair[/nq]
[nq:1]For the record, knickers does not refer to women's panties in the U.S. Here it refers to little boys' knee-length ... naughty girl, you've let your knickers down". The mental picture of a girl wearing what we consider knickers is comical.[/nq]
Correctamundo. Picture revered golfer Bobby Jone
[nq:1]For the record, knickers does not refer to women's panties in the U.S. Here it refers to little boys' knee-length ... naughty girl, you've let your knickers down". The mental picture of a girl wearing what we consider knickers is comical.[/nq]
Correctamundo. Picture revered golfer Bobby Jone
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[nq:2]For the record, knickers does not refer to women's panties ... of a girl wearing what we consider knickers is comical.[/nq]
[nq:1]Correctamundo. Picture revered golfer Bobby Jones in panties! M-W Online: Main Entry: plus fours : loose sports knickers made four ... of sight of his doorway, rebuttons his knickers below the knees? Trouble, right here in River City![/nq]
Mothers of River
[nq:1]Correctamundo. Picture revered golfer Bobby Jones in panties! M-W Online: Main Entry: plus fours : loose sports knickers made four ... of sight of his doorway, rebuttons his knickers below the knees? Trouble, right here in River City![/nq]
Mothers of River
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[nq:2]For US friends, I think knickers can be translated as panties.[/nq]
>
[nq:1]For the record, knickers does not refer to women's panties in the U.S.[/nq]
Whoosh!
>
[nq:1]For the record, knickers does not refer to women's panties in the U.S.[/nq]
Whoosh!
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