Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2012 June 25

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June 25

Franconian dialect of bavarian german

Hello, I have been looking for about 64 years for the answer to this . Background first. In 1948 I used the Franconian word for entschuldigen which means excuse. My uncle said to never use that word again and I promtly forgot. The next time I heard it was in 1989 in Kulmbach at a Rotary club meeting, and forgot it again! Can someone please help me find that word? Please? Even tne people around Kulmbach, Triebenreuth, Baiersbach, and Marktleugast do not know. Bob W — Preceding unsigned comment added by 31delux (talk • contribs) 13:25, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

I can't help you, but I strongly believe your chances of getting that question answered would be higher at the German Wikipedia's Auskunft. Its regulars have proven some expertise in (or is it on?) exactly this area repeatedly in the past. --Michael Fleischhacker (talk) 21:06, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Only a guess: Hobberla. --Pp.paul.4 (talk) 22:27, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

The psychic sidekick

My son keeps mixing up psychic and sidekick. Any suggestions on how I can help him distinguish the two words (not their meanings, just the words). Thanks. -- JeffreyBillings (talk) 15:28, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Apparently, it came from The Psychic Sidekicks! (2001) Pokémon episode #156. -- JeffreyBillings (talk) 15:32, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Have him look at a picture of, say, Batman and Robin. Where is the sidekick standing? Orange Suede Sofa (talk) 15:44, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

(ec)It depends how old your son is and whether he likes to find out about words, likes jokes, puns and wordplay (most children do). If so, I have some ideas and other people here will have more. You could tell him that a side kick is someone who is by your side and can kick people. You could make up stories and poems together about Puh-sychics, siccicks, sideykickies and kicksides. See if he wants to learn to spell these two words and some other really tricky spellings. But if he's not interested in any of that you can just leave it and he will work it out one day. Itsmejudith (talk) 15:49, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

He should be familiar with the words "side" and "kick", so "sidekick" is no problem. "Psychic" is a bit harder. He might know the words "psych", as in "to psych out your opponent", or "psycho", along with "ick", so you can build off his knowledge of those words. I'm guessing he's too young to read, because the difference in spellings make it obvious which is which. StuRat (talk) 16:34, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Wouldn't that be a great idea, StuRat! If only it actually applied in practice. Then we could, for example, tell the difference between "it's" when used as an abbreviation and "it's" when used as a personal pronoun. But as it is, we have to be guided by the context. I wonder why nobody has ever thought of spelling these words differently, to "make it obvious which is which". -- ♬ Jack of Oz ♬ ^{[your turn]} 20:27, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

As Judith points out, it depends on how old your son is. The way to help him distinguish these words will be quite different if he's 3 than if he's 8, which again will be different than if he's 17. Angr (talk) 16:50, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

And, of course, his age would also determine how serious this mix-up if. For a three-year old, I'd guess the true meanings would become more apparent with time and use. As Judtih says: Just leave it and he will work it out by himself. V85 (talk) 18:03, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Note that if he confuses lots of similar words, especially as he gets older, this could be caused by a hearing loss, so he should have his ears checked out by a doctor. StuRat (talk) 18:33, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Thanks for all the replies! You've given me some good ideas. -- JeffreyBillings (talk) 02:04, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

You're welcome. Can we mark this Q resolved ? StuRat (talk) 04:49, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Translation and Meaning of Beija

I have named my Beauty Salon "Beija Rouge". I would like to know the meaning of "Beija" translated in English. As I understand it "Beija" is a French word meaning "Kiss". Would "Beija Rouge" translate to "Red Kisses" or "Kisses of Red"? Am I correct on this assumption? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.64.214.135 (talk) 18:54, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

No, it's a Portuguese word meaning "kisses"--but not as the plural of the noun "kiss", rather as the 3rd person singular of the verb "to kiss" (as in "John kisses Mary every morning before he goes to work"). So "Beija Rouge" doesn't really make a lot of sense, as it combines a Portuguese verb form with a French adjective. If you want your salon to have a name that means "red kisses" in French, you'll have to change the name to "Baises Rouges". Angr (talk) 19:01, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

"Baisers Rouges", surely, if you're meaning kisses (nouns) that are red? Alternatively, "Baiser Rouge" if you only want one of them, or the other way round for dramatic emphasis. There has been a film called Rouge Baiser and there already exists a brand of makeup by that name, which could cause problems. Karenjc 19:42, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

You're right, Baisers Rouges. I made either a typo or a thinko. In order to avoid conflict with the brand of makeup, the OP could go for all-Portuguese name and call her salon Beijos Vermelhos instead. Angr (talk) 20:23, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Why did you name your salon before you know what the name means ? Could be risky. StuRat (talk) 19:05, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Personally I do not like the look of Baisers rouges, and besides baiser (as a verb) is also a not-so-polite word for making love. I would prefer a more casual, borderline argotic word such as Bisous rouges or Bécots rouges — Preceding unsigned comment added by 152.97.171.80 (talk) 22:51, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Why not call it "The Rouge Kiss" ? That will be understandable by all English speakers (since "rouge" has been borrowed from French into English) and avoid you having to explain the name a dozen times every day, for life. Also, as a business owner, you might be concerned that the inability of people to recall, spell, and look up foreign words might reduce return business.

Or, since you're not averse to mixing languages, how about something like "Le Rouge Kiss" (or "Kiss Le Rouge", if you want to be a bit naughty) ? StuRat (talk) 23:05, 25 June 2012 (UTC)

Ugh le ugh. —Tamfang (talk) 21:16, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

I prefer Czerwene Baczi (pronounced "cherWENeh BAHchee"). μηδείς (talk) 17:37, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Care to give us the language ? StuRat (talk) 17:39, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

"Red kisses" in my family's dialect of Rusyn, aka Ruthenian, which is about equidistant between standard Slovak and Ukrainian. I chose to use the quasi-Polish orthography I have seen in old family documents, although it is nowadays usually written using Cyrillic or Slovak when it is still written. μηδείς (talk) 18:21, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Interesting that Baczi is pronounced just like the Italian word for kisses, baci. -- ♬ Jack of Oz ♬ ^{[your turn]} 18:38, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Yes, I used to tell my grandmother she was speaking perfect Italian when she would say Daj mi baczi. μηδείς (talk) 21:25, 26 June 2012 (UTC)