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Sat 21 May, 2011 03:35 am
2) by gar = darn it?
3) dat Buck = damned Buck?
Context:
"Never such a dog as dat Buck! " he cried. "No, never! Him worth one thousand dollair, by Gar! Eh? What you say, Perrault?"
_Jack London The Call of the Wild
No. He is imitating the accent of a French Canadian.
@Setanta,
Setanta wrote:
No. He is imitating the accent of a French Canadian.
So dollair = dollar, and "dat Buck" is Buck?
By gar =?
@oristarA,
dat Buck = that Buck
by gar
gar is a euphemism for God
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gar
@oristarA,
oristarA - have you ever had the opportunity to listen to English language or French language radio?
Buck is the name of the dog. He says "dat Buck" because there is no "th" sound in French. Confronted with a "th," a native speaker of French will substitute a "d" sound or a "t" sound. So, for example, the French word for theater is théâtre, which is pronounced (roughly) "tay-ah-treh."
@Setanta,
Setanta wrote:
Buck is the name of the dog. He says "dat Buck" because there is no "th" sound in French. Confronted with a "th," a native speaker of French will substitute a "d" sound or a "t" sound. So, for example, the French word for theater is théâtre, which is pronounced (roughly) "tay-ah-treh."
I see.
His French skill makes Setanta proud of himself.
I envy you, you veteran.
@oristarA,
That's pretty nasty. I am not made "proud of myself" for having mastered French to a certain, very modest degree. I was just trying to help you. More and more these days, i don't think the effort is worth it.
@Setanta,
Look on the bright side, Set: your effort is worth it.
To err is human. But this time it is probably my fault.