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Vairocana

Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 45
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject: Double Entendres or Fun with English |
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I always marveled that the word "committed" can be use for both a serious relationship and being sent away to an insane asylum, *ahem* I meant a mental health facility.  |
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throwdownyourcrutches
Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 36 Location: On the road to El Dorado
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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I have always been amused by esposa versus esposas (wife versus handcuffs) in Spanish! |
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johnslat

Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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And of course with reference to our field, should one be flattered if one is called a cunning linguist? |
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rusmeister
Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 867 Location: Russia
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:49 am Post subject: |
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The first two examples have analogs in other languages, or at least obvious connections.
In Russian, commit can be rendered as "predat'"(preh-DAHT) (to give over; also means "betray"). The only question is who is giving whom over and for what.
The Spanish example is interesting, but clearly both involve a binding. Marriage ceremonies in some countries can have a symbolic 'handcuffing' (wrapping some kind of fabric around one hand of each spouse binding them together). |
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