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Hi, we were looking through the Students Handbook the 1960 something version and came across this simile, "as jealous as a Spaniard". I have looked through various websites and althought they acknowledge this (hugo) as a simile, I can't seem to find its origins anywhere.
Can you help?
Thanks and best regards,
Shailah — Preceding unsigned comment added by Shayzee15 ( talk • contribs) 10:07, 14 September 2011 (UTC)
Well, there's something like a self-stereotype —I'm not sure whether that's the correct term for the phenomenon but anyway— among Spaniards. Spaniards tend to think that Spanish people in general are particularly envious, sometimes even thinking that envy is something like a "national trait". For example, google.es's second suggestion for "la envidia..." is "la envidia es el deporte nacional" (envy/jealousy is the national sport). Maybe that's where your simile comes from. -- Belchman ( talk) 21:20, 14 September 2011 (UTC)
I wonder why 'absolutely' seems to have taken over from 'Yes' when TV news readers ask their guests a simple question.-- 85.211.230.86 ( talk) 15:15, 14 September 2011 (UTC)
For the same reason one says doch in German. μηδείς ( talk) 22:42, 14 September 2011 (UTC)
Dbfirs 06:27, 17 September 2011 (UTC)
Trovatore, I disagree with you above. Plenty of people asked a negative question will reply with "absolutely". For example, it would be quite natural, were Rick Perry asked by a skeptical reporter, "You don't really believe Social Secruity is a Ponzi scheme, do you?" for him to answer "absolutely" rather than "yes." An unqualified response of yes alone could be ambiguous whereas absolutely in that case would only mean doch.
Possibly, it's just a form of sensationalism. Mitch Ames ( talk) 23:59, 17 September 2011 (UTC)
Language desk | ||
---|---|---|
< September 13 | << Aug | September | Oct >> | September 15 > |
Welcome to the Wikipedia Language Reference Desk Archives |
---|
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages. |
Hi, we were looking through the Students Handbook the 1960 something version and came across this simile, "as jealous as a Spaniard". I have looked through various websites and althought they acknowledge this (hugo) as a simile, I can't seem to find its origins anywhere.
Can you help?
Thanks and best regards,
Shailah — Preceding unsigned comment added by Shayzee15 ( talk • contribs) 10:07, 14 September 2011 (UTC)
Well, there's something like a self-stereotype —I'm not sure whether that's the correct term for the phenomenon but anyway— among Spaniards. Spaniards tend to think that Spanish people in general are particularly envious, sometimes even thinking that envy is something like a "national trait". For example, google.es's second suggestion for "la envidia..." is "la envidia es el deporte nacional" (envy/jealousy is the national sport). Maybe that's where your simile comes from. -- Belchman ( talk) 21:20, 14 September 2011 (UTC)
I wonder why 'absolutely' seems to have taken over from 'Yes' when TV news readers ask their guests a simple question.-- 85.211.230.86 ( talk) 15:15, 14 September 2011 (UTC)
For the same reason one says doch in German. μηδείς ( talk) 22:42, 14 September 2011 (UTC)
Dbfirs 06:27, 17 September 2011 (UTC)
Trovatore, I disagree with you above. Plenty of people asked a negative question will reply with "absolutely". For example, it would be quite natural, were Rick Perry asked by a skeptical reporter, "You don't really believe Social Secruity is a Ponzi scheme, do you?" for him to answer "absolutely" rather than "yes." An unqualified response of yes alone could be ambiguous whereas absolutely in that case would only mean doch.
Possibly, it's just a form of sensationalism. Mitch Ames ( talk) 23:59, 17 September 2011 (UTC)