THE BRITISH THREAD II

@McTag,

I think the distinction lies in how the word is used - as an adjative or a verb. I think you would agree that walking, talking, looking, going, etc. are all taditional usages, just as are those adjetival usages you listed.

1 Reply

@McTag,

The origin of the word is Dutch so I dont think it matters what english speakers do with it.

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@georgeob1,

Yes but to use the ...ing ending in this kind of adjectival sense is just silly.

I think you will find that I am right.

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@Ionus,

Old Dutch, Low German, Old English...very strong common roots, wouldn't you say?

Still, the language evolves and moves on. I just think this usage is a misunderstanding, and a "gentrification" of a well-understood and perfectly satisfactory word. All in the interests of sounding twee and slightly more posh, I would suggest.

1 Reply

@Ionus,

Ionus wrote:

The origin of the word is Dutch ...

Which is at least disputable - the first written notion is in the Karlmeinet

we hei mit sime helme
geink ficken in dem melme. (79, 44)

and

den schilt hei vur sich druckede,
mit sporen hei do vickede
dat ravît. (119, 51)

The Kartmeinet was written at a time (13th/14th century) when Old West Low Franconian (aka Old Dutch) still was very similar Old Low German - both being only really different to Old High German by the High German consonant shift.

(In High German as well as in Low German of today the word [still] is ficken)

1 Reply

@Walter Hinteler,

Is the word used in German to mean tired-out, washed-up, defeated, broken or knackered?

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@spendius,

Ficken means the very same what to **** means in English (though to shag would be pimpern ).

'*******' as in Austrian place's name means "the village of Focko's men".

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@Walter Hinteler,

I knew that Walt.

Would a German builder who couldn't start a cement mixer up say "This ficker's ficking ficked"?

What's "This" in German

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@spendius,

'This' is dieser (m), diese (f), dies (f).

I suppose (speaking here from [own] experiences), the builder would say "Diese Scheiß-Mischmaschine tut's schon wieder nich". [The 't' in "nicht" is left out by purpose.]

'*******' generally can be translated with "verdammt". (So the foreman certainly would say in above situation "Diese verdammte Mischmaschine springt nicht an." or similar.)

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So how come Germans get things finished quicker than us?

Presumably because their maschinen are seldom ficked.

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@McTag,

The Reds finished that 12 seconds of play goal pretty quick Mac.

1 Reply

@spendius,

That's in Bavaria, spendi.

1 Reply

@Walter Hinteler,

And they fix it at the end.

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@Walter Hinteler,

Yeah--the best side won.

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@spendius,

I hate Fergie's Wallets.

Come on you Leathershorts.

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@McTag,

Quote:

Old Dutch, Low German, Old English...very strong common roots, wouldn't you say?

Certainly. But it came across to english usage during the early days of sailing and world exploration. Rather late to have the anglo-saxon roots many think it has.

1 Reply

@Ionus,

The days of world exploration, you say. I wonder where these theories come from? The language was beginning to gel long before that, surely.

I think when you're in a hole, you stop ficking digging.

1 Reply

@McTag,

Quote:

The language was beginning to gel long before that, surely.

No, it wasnt.You seem ignorant of the large number of foriegn words english has and continues to accept into regular useage. It comes from the dutch fokken around 1500.

Quote:

I wonder where these theories come from?

Clearly they do not have to be accepted by you first. The connection between english and dutch traders caused the word to enter common usage. Any other connection presupposes a method for the word to move imbetween peoples.

Quote:

I think when you're in a hole, you stop ficking digging.

I think when you are in a hole but try to bluff you might be fokken mad.

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@Ionus,

Well I might be wrong.

But I so rarely am, it must be considered a vanishingly remote possibility.

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@McTag,

Oh I wasnt out to prove you wrong, McT...I recognise the impossible almost immediately nowadays.....I simply hoped to point out that when it comes to ******* I am more knowledgable than you. If you get the chance, watch the "Adventure of English", a very entertaining look at how bastardised our common toungue is and where we have collected so many words....

1 Reply

THE BRITISH THREAD II

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