A Way with Words A Way with Words

Discussion Forum

Please consider registering
guest

Log In Register

Login form protected by Login LockDown.


Register | Lost password?
Search
Advanced Search
Advanced Search:

— Forum Scope —



— Match —



— Forum Options —




Wildcard usage:
*  matches any number of characters    %  matches exactly one character

Minimum search word length is 4 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters

RSS
Ain't Poem
Original blog post
2013/02/20
9:06am
Grant Barrett
San Diego, California
Posts: 1393
Joined:
2007/08/02
Offline
1
0

For years, teachers have warned against using the word ain't, apparently with some success. Emily Hummell from Boston sent us a poem that may have contributed: "Don't say ain't / your mother will faint / your father will fall in a bucket of paint/ your sister will cry / your brother will sigh / the cat and dog will say goodbye." This is part of a complete episode.

2013/03/08
5:49pm
RobertB
Posts: 293
Joined:
2012/02/20
Offline
2
0

Is there another example of 'M'm' ?  (Some quotes maybe ? )

2013/03/09
2:51am
tromboniator
Alaska
Posts: 287
Joined:
2009/08/18
Offline
3
0

My memory is a bit hazy, but I believe I ran across something related in Dorothy Sayers, in one of her Lord Peter Wimsey novels, spelled imphm, or possibly imphim,  to indicate the casual nasal affirmative sound that results from saying "uh-huh" (meaning yes) with the mouth closed. 

 

Or it could be the kind of thoughtful descending hum that might indicate "Oh – yes, I think you're right" or "Okay, I get it now." 

 

In either case, it's an attempt to spell a sound that conveys meaning without actually being a word, if such a thing is possible.

All RSS