tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post6284989165228828058..comments2024-03-28T10:42:53.231-05:00Comments on TYWKIWDBI ("Tai-Wiki-Widbee"): What the frak is a shibboleth ?Minnesotastanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-59134105204244221482011-03-02T20:23:09.675-06:002011-03-02T20:23:09.675-06:00In addition to frak and Red Dwarf's "smeg...In addition to frak and Red Dwarf's "smeg", there's also the alien words "skxawng" from Avatar, though if someone was unfamiliar with the pronounciation of the Na'vi language, it might be considered a kind of shibboleth. This would be kind of on the line with the way a shibboleth is handled in Inglorious Basterds, in way Lt. Hicox orders a round of drinks while posing as a German soldier, he uses his three middle fingers, rather than his thumb, his index and middle finger.<br /><br />There are quite a few interesting fictional shibboleths, including on the word "unionized" by Asimov.CloudSampsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05459873067554831037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-2056943897164432532011-03-02T16:54:49.412-06:002011-03-02T16:54:49.412-06:00I read in a World War II book -- it may have been ...I read in a World War II book -- it may have been EB Sledge's With the Old Breed -- that when selecting night-watch passcodes (most people know that militaries use oft-changing passcodes and responses at night, eg. 'thunder' and 'flash') in Japanese territories, the US Marines always selected words with the letter 'L.' The idea was that even if a Japanese soldier found out the passcode or response, he would be unable to pronounce it.Conorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05586703182703124095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-76488431704769076972011-03-02T01:08:14.403-06:002011-03-02T01:08:14.403-06:00Another variation of "frak" would be &qu...Another variation of "frak" would be "smeg" from Red Dwarf - used as an expletive, in various forms. I've used it in conversation, and been able to pick out who else gets the reference, which is fun, considering the low numbers of teenagers that have also watched enough Red Dwarf to understand/react!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-64106155620940937762011-03-01T07:37:30.648-06:002011-03-01T07:37:30.648-06:00Thank you, Z. Constantine. Info added to the post...Thank you, Z. Constantine. Info added to the post.Minnesotastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-26253428374847228562011-03-01T03:42:49.081-06:002011-03-01T03:42:49.081-06:00Now you know what the frak Battlestar fans are say...Now you know what the frak Battlestar fans are saying, but do pay a visit to Wikipedia's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shibboleths" rel="nofollow">list of shibboleths</a> for examples which turn a native tongue into an Achilles' heel.<br /><br />Favorite: "Woolloomooloo was used by Australian soldiers in the Pacific Theatre during the Second World War to identify themselves when approaching a camp."Z. Constantinehttp://blog.operator-speaking.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-48695877878982174122011-03-01T03:27:18.799-06:002011-03-01T03:27:18.799-06:00BazingaBazingaKittycathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02157780907026129233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-16179671190938837032011-02-28T21:32:56.412-06:002011-02-28T21:32:56.412-06:00I know - I'm not dissing you.I know - I'm not dissing you.Minnesotastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-60112421102018996082011-02-28T21:13:37.433-06:002011-02-28T21:13:37.433-06:00Yes, it was but a weak attempt at a pun.Yes, it was but a weak attempt at a pun.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-77910941743701370742011-02-28T21:01:07.560-06:002011-02-28T21:01:07.560-06:00I'm sure you know that is "fracking"...I'm sure you know that is "fracking" - but in environmental terms it may mean the same thing. :.)Minnesotastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-91196552896613491542011-02-28T20:35:07.701-06:002011-02-28T20:35:07.701-06:00I thought frakking was what the oil companies are ...I thought frakking was what the oil companies are doing to the midwest in their neverending search for yet more oil to suck out of the ground.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com