Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

zephyrblows · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 15 Location: taiwan

Hi,teacher(s)

I'm reading a novel ,"The Catcher in the Rye", but I find "and all" at the end of sentences in this book again and again. Could you tell me how does that mean?

Thanks a lot!! Razz

KazAV · Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:20 am Post subject:

Hi there!

Can you give an example of what you mean please?

zephyrblows · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 15 Location: taiwan

Uh...maybe like these:

...Anyway,it's like December and all,and it was as cold as a witch's teat,especially on the top of that stupid hill.I only had my reversible and no gloves or anything. The week before that,somebody'd stolen my camel's hair coat with my fur-lined gloves right in the pocket and all...

...They're quite touchy about anything like that,especially my father.They're nice and all...but they are also touchy as hell...

Is "and all" only a habit that the author use when he speaks?

Thank you!

Philo Kevetch · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 564

Hello zephyrblows -

Every generation has had it's own phrasing/style of speaking.

Holdens' generation used "and all that".

So... It's not a habit of the author (J.D.S.), but rather the typical style/manner of speach of the grneration he is writing about.

How about your country? Are there expressions and a style of speaking that differ from your parents and grandparents? Philo

zephyrblows · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 15 Location: taiwan

Thank you very much! Very Happy

Some special words or manners of communication are hard to catch up; especially for me, a beginner.

Anyway, I found many "taboo words" in elder generation are spoken now. However,we don't use their original meanings anymore.It's just a way to express our emotions.

Well,do you know how we say "fxck" in Chinese?It's "Gan!"
Many foreigners think it has a kind of "explosive glamor."

Have a good day!