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gypsyfish
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:14 am Post subject: What does bach mean? |
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I'm reading a book that takes place in Afghanastan circa 1868 when Great Britain invaded. One character, an enlisted Welsh soldier, calls a major, someone he's served with for a while Major bach. I understand that it's a term of endearmant but I can't figure out what it means. Is it short for bachelor? The major is a bachelor, but the Welshman also called a general General bach (and was remonstrated for it).
Last edited by gypsyfish on Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:36 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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arjuna
Joined: 31 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:14 am Post subject: |
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"Bach" is a shortened form of "bachelor."
A bachelor is, originally, a young squire in training for knighthood.
That's probably why General bach is inappropriate. |
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gypsyfish
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks  ! |
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blackjack
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: anyang
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Miles Rationis
Joined: 08 May 2007
Location: Just Say No To Korea!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject: Re: What does bach mean? |
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| gypsyfish wrote: |
| I'm reading a book that takes place in Afghanastan circa 1868 when Great Britain invaded. One character, an enlisted Welsh soldier, calls a major, someone he's served with for a while Major bach. I understand that it's a term of endearmant but I can't figure out what it means. Is it short for bachelor? The major is a bachelor, but the Weshman also called a general General bach (and was remonstrated for it). |
Bach is simply a Welsh word meaning little/small or lesser/minor, hence the term of endearment. |
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gypsyfish
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks. I suspect this is the right answer. Like GB Shaw said, England (or in this case Wales) and America ... two countries separated by a common language. |
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Miles Rationis
Joined: 08 May 2007
Location: Just Say No To Korea!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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| gypsyfish wrote: |
| Thanks. I suspect this is the right answer. Like GB Shaw said, England (or in this case Wales) and America ... two countries separated by a common language. |
Well, Welsh (Cymraeg) has very little to do with English save a very distant genetic relationship...  |
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jinks
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Location: Formerly: Lower North Island
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:43 am Post subject: Re: What does bach mean? |
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| gypsyfish wrote: |
| I'm reading a book that takes place in Afghanastan circa 1868 when Great Britain invaded. One character, an enlisted Welsh soldier, calls a major, someone he's served with for a while Major bach. I understand that it's a term of endearmant but I can't figure out what it means. Is it short for bachelor? The major is a bachelor, but the Welshman also called a general General bach (and was remonstrated for it). |
It's kind of pronounced the same as the German composer 'Bach', but with a shorter 'a' sound. As Miles R said, it is a term of endearment and it usually follows someone's name or another term of endearment; like Johnny-bach or butty-bach (mate). It can be quite condescending if it is not being used amongst friends. I believe the British peoples are more closely related than Miles has stated. |
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Miles Rationis
Joined: 08 May 2007
Location: Just Say No To Korea!
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:17 am Post subject: Re: What does bach mean? |
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| jinks wrote: |
| gypsyfish wrote: |
| I'm reading a book that takes place in Afghanastan circa 1868 when Great Britain invaded. One character, an enlisted Welsh soldier, calls a major, someone he's served with for a while Major bach. I understand that it's a term of endearmant but I can't figure out what it means. Is it short for bachelor? The major is a bachelor, but the Welshman also called a general General bach (and was remonstrated for it). |
It's kind of pronounced the same as the German composer 'Bach', but with a shorter 'a' sound. As Miles R said, it is a term of endearment and it usually follows someone's name or another term of endearment; like Johnny-bach or butty-bach (mate). It can be quite condescending if it is not being used amongst friends. I believe the British peoples are more closely related than Miles has stated. |
No. I was talking about the genetic relationship to English. Welsh is a Celtic language, English a Germanic one; the grammar is very distinct.
Welsh (as well as Irish) has mutation: croesu i Gymru (not Cymru)
The adjective is placed after the noun: bore da vs. good morning
There is grammatical gender: bore is masculine, cleddyf is masculine (sword is not), coedwig is feminine (forest is not), etc.
Welsh has no infinitive, only a gerund.
And of course word order is VSO (Verb Subject Object) in Welsh (and all other Celtic languages).
Quite different, in terms of language I would say... |
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jinks
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Location: Formerly: Lower North Island
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:37 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry, I thought you were talking about Welsh/English people, not languages. I didn't read closely enough and I misread Cymraeg as Cymreig.
Welsh is not a VSO language though:
rwy (I) hoffi (like) dy (you)
English has mutations too, but they are not codified into the spelling:
input (pronounced imput) etc. |
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Miles Rationis
Joined: 08 May 2007
Location: Just Say No To Korea!
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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| jinks wrote: |
Sorry, I thought you were talking about Welsh/English people, not languages. I didn't read closely enough and I misread Cymraeg as Cymreig.
Welsh is not a VSO language though:
rwy (I) hoffi (like) dy (you)
English has mutations too, but they are not codified into the spelling:
input (pronounced imput) etc. |
English mutations don't follow the regularity of Welsh ones.
VSO isn't a rigid rule but a general one:
Welodd Dafydd ceffyl. (Saw David a horse.)
Aeth di i Gorea. (Went you to Korea)
I cannot claim to be an expert. I am not Welsh but did engage in some Celtic Studies for a few semesters. When we studied Welsh it was pounded into us that Welsh (like Irish) is VSO; in linguistic classes we were taught this as well. Even though I have forgotten much I think it is a great language. If I had the money and time I would refresh my knowledge, unfortunately, that is not likely.
Hwyl fawr! |
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