Linguistics Humor

1713 readers

2 users here now

Do you like languages and linguistics ? Here is for having fun about it

For serious linguistics content: !linguistics@mander.xyz

Rules:

1- Stay on Topic
Post about linguistics or language humor & memes
2- No Racism/Violence
3- No Public Shaming No shaming someone that could be identifiable or recognizable
4- Avoid spam and duplicates

founded 3 years ago

MODERATORS

Jakylla@sh.itjust.works

lvxferre@mander.xyz

[REUP FROM REDDIT] Ned Flanders ahh Squidward (thelemmy.club)

submitted 2 days ago by OwensanTowafaSMM@thelemmy.club to c/linguistics_humor@sh.itjust.works

39 comments fedilink hide all child comments

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] cannedtuna@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Would have thought this was made up, but sure enough

good-bye

salutation in parting, also goodbye, good bye, good-by, 1590s, from godbwye (1570s), a contraction of God be with ye (late 14c.)

Interestingly linked

adieu (interj.)

late 14c., adewe, from Old French a Dieu, a Deu, shortened from phrases such as a dieu (vous) commant "I commend (you) to God,"

[–] Canadian_Cabinet@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Spanish and french share the same etymology, with adiós

[–] saimen@feddit.org 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Meanwhile germans with a very high pitched voice: Tschüüüs

[–] Obi@sopuli.xyz 4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Now that I think of it, is there an English equivalent for "adieu"? Because French also has "au revoir" which is used more like goodbye, "adieu" carries a meaning of finality, if you say this, you know you will never see that person again, it's quite heavy and not used very frequently at all.

[–] NoSpotOfGround@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

"Farewell" works for that purpose in English. And since you reminded me, that's the meaning of "sayonara" too -- you're not supposed to use it for casual goodbyes.

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 2 points 2 days ago

Same deal with Portuguese ⟨adeus⟩. With the role of casual valediction being taken by a borrowing, ⟨tchau⟩ [tʃäʊ̯] ~ ⟨xau⟩ [ʃäʊ̯]… etymologically way more problematic, given it's ultimately from Venetan ⟨sciao⟩ [stʃäʊ̯] "slave". Originally ⟨sciao vostro⟩ "your slave" (implied: "I'm at your service").

Glad etymology doesn't dictate current meaning though.