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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I am reading The Coalwood Way, by Homer Hickam, which is autobiographical, set in Coalwood WV, in 1960.
His mother uses I swan! --instead of i swear i guess.
the book is great, (crossing thread, now, since i posted here, not in Misc.) -- there are other words and expressions that are not ones i would use, but I swan ! is one i have never heard..
is this a southern expression, or one specific to Coalwood, WV
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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It's a generalized Southern euphemism, though very old- fashioned.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I have read "I swan" in stories about country life, but it did not seem to be a euphemism
for a forbidden word. More often it seemed to be an expression of mild surprise.
From radio program "Lum and Abner"
September 24, 1935:
Abner: That reminds me, too, Lum, you know I told you 'bout that vanella extract's been disappearin' down at the store. I
found out where it's been goin' to. Cedric's been gettin' it. He's usin' it for pre-fume!
Lum: Vanilla extract fer perfumery?
Abner: Yes, sir! Every time we get on that store I get hongry. Smells like somebody's bakin' a cake in there.
Lum: Hmph! I swan to goodness. That boy is a sight.
Abner: No tellin' how much of that stuff he's usin'. Just pours it all over hisself. Got the whole store to smellin' like vaneller. We
oughta just stop handlin' that vanella flavorin'.
Lum: Well, you better speak to him before he starts in on the bananer or lemon or some of them other flavorin's.
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Carpal Tunnel
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it was originally formed from "I shall warrant" and later taken as a mincing substitute for "I swear".
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old hand
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old hand
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In mid-last-century Alabama, no one said "I swan".
What was said was, "I swa-nee", meaning "I do declare", perhaps, as tsuwm reported, deriving in sound and meaning from "I shall warrant".
Wouldn't you think that in order for an euphemism to be a euphemism, a conscious avoidance usage would be the determinate aspect?
Back then and there a sentence like this would not be unusual...
"Well I swanee, would you look at that youn'un, I swear he's the spittin' image of his uncle Harry."
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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it was originally formed from "I shall warrant" and later taken as a mincing substitute for "I swear".Mincing...I love it! "I shall warrant"--Wow, just like good-bye! Cool! Thanks, O non-mincing one.  I've heard I'll swan and I'll swanee all my life. Helen, is "The Coalwood Way" as good as October Sky/Rocket Boys? I've thought about reading it.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Well, following on from The Crimson Lady's post, what is the origin of "Swanee" as in the song?
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
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I didn't read October Sky/Rocket Boys, but it picks up where that ended, and continue the next 2 years of Hickams teen years. It's wonderful... I remember 1960-- i was younger, but its still wonderful reading about the 1960's in West Virginia.
in 1960 we (my family) went to ireland, and we all sat in a row.. 3 and 2, in the very first row of coach, where there was enough room for a small wall hung basinet.. (my youngest sister wasn't even 1,) My 2 1/2 year old brother listen to the stewardess give all the safety information, and then ask "any questions?" and Stephen piped up--"When do we blast off?" I wasn't making rockets, and i didn't know any one who was, but i still remember how exciting and futuristic rockets seemed!
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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the origin of "Swanee"
It's from the Suwannee River in south Georgia and north Florida. I would expect Suwannee's from an Indian name.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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When I was a kid, if asked by an adult what we were up to, the answer would frequently be "Oh, just swanning about." I suspect that this referred to the way that swans move around on a lake or river in an appararently aimless fashion.
dxb
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veteran
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veteran
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"Oh, just swanning about." I suspect that this referred to the way that swans move around on a lake or river in an appararently aimless fashion
My first association, too. Is "swanning around/about" unknown over the Pond, then?
Also can imply a certain haughtiness, by the way - slightly "nose in the air".
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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paulb told me about Somebody & Swan, a comedy team. (Sorry I can't recall t'other half.) Could you say it again, please?
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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You must be thinking of that great songwriting team Flanders & Swan.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Yup. Swan was the other one's gangster girlfriend. Also known as the Moll of Flanders.
TEd
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Flanders & Swan can *still be heard on NPR's Weekend Radio. In fact we heard them yesterday. 
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Sadly, Donald Swann died in 1994 at the age of seventy.
dxb
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old hand
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old hand
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I just finished Lost by Gregory Maguire at 3:30 this morning... why can't I sleep? and in the last few pages found a usage that seems to agree with your assessment, Shona.
"Winnie didn't like the class system of the ghostly world. No more than she liked these living rich rich people who smelled like attar of heirloom roses as they went swanning by."
It's a completely different usage than what we're talking about, but I find it very evocative!
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Carpal Tunnel
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Gotta' go along with the "swan" idea.
"I swan" used by old timers here in New England to express amazement ... to denote more than surprise. Think I will take it up, see if it can be popularized hereabouts once again! I swan. Love it. Thanks of Troy ! Something new to do!
P.S. Just realized I made Carpal. Well, I swan!
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I'm a gnu, I'm a gnu, I'm the only one that they've got in the zoo ... so follow me, follow. Down to the hollow. And there let us wallow in g-l-o-o-o-o-o-o-r-i-u-s mud! Just swanning about in Flanders ...
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Mud, mud, glorious mud.
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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To the tune of Mozart Concerto K.495, movement III
I once had a whim and I had to obey it,
To buy a French horn in a second-hand shop.
I polished it up and I started to play it,
In spite of the neighbours who begged me to stop.
To sound my horn,
I had to develop my embouchure.
I found my horn,
Was a bit of a devil to play.
So artfully wound,
To give you a sound,
A beautiful sound,
So rich and round.
Oh the hours I had to spend,
Before I mastered it in the end.
But that was yesterday.
And just today,
I looked in the usual place.
There was the case,
But the horn itself was missing!
Oh where can it have gone?
Haven't you, hasn't anyone seen my horn?
Oh where can it have gone?
What a blow, now I know,
I'm unable to play my Allegro.
Who swiped that horn?
I bet you a quid somebody did.
Knowing I found a concerto,
And wanted to play it,
Afraid of my talent at playing the horn.
etc.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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A favourite song to a favourite piece of music. I particularly like their treatment of the coda: (My neighbour's asleep in his bed; // I'll soon make him wish he were dead; // I'll take up the tuba instead, Whah! Whah!"
(BTW, I love the other three Horn Concerti as well - I think the 2nd is probably my favourite.)
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