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Posted By: TenorTom spruik - 06/13/05 11:38 AM
Just looking online about spruik and got lots of Dutch websites which contain this word. I don't speak Dutch, but it seems that the etymology of this word must originally somehow come from there. Also the German word Spruch refers to a saying or pat response would seem to come from the same root word. My Webster's unabridged says it's an Australian word. Any ideas out there?

Posted By: maverick Re: spruik - 06/13/05 12:11 PM
Welcome to the board. Interesting query – this limey had never encountered the word before today, so I’ll wait with interest for more enlightened brethren and sistren’s pearls of wisdung (especially the hordes of New Zealander in the light of the second lookup I saw):

Promote by speaking in public
"Up and comers vying for their own taste of limelight will also spruik their talents along Peel Street"

http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/SPRUIK

spruik
verb
(Austral & NZ)
spruiked, spruiking
1. slang
Said especially of showmen, salesmen, etc: to speak in public, especially at length and using ornate language.
Derivative: spruiker
Noun

http://www.allwords.com/word-spruik.html


Posted By: lanisusan Re: spruik - 06/13/05 01:21 PM
It must have a very old root. I speak Afrikaans, which developed from 17th century Dutch, and "spraak" means speech. Look at these!

Old English: spraec
English: speech
Swedish: spra*k
Danish: Sprog
Dutch (and Afrikaans): spraak
German: Sprache


Posted By: maverick Re: spruik - 06/13/05 03:31 PM
Welcome lanisusan! Thanks for that extra info.

You must have some interesting linguistic perspectives - from Seth Efrica to South Korea - is that what's went by a korea move? ;)

Posted By: lanisusan Re: spruik - 06/14/05 12:40 PM
Hi Maverick

Not sure about the Korean move but we're a really cosmopolitan crowd teaching English here. I've learnt a little Korean - strange alphabet, strange sentence structure - it makes me appreciate the relative coherence of the Germanic languages!

Posted By: Butterfish Re: spruik - 06/30/05 06:07 AM
Spruik is certainly the word used in Australia for the people who try to talk you into coming into their shop/ restaurant. Jobs pages often have 'Spruiker required' adverts. I'd never heard the word until I came here (just over 2 years ago), now I can't think of any other word I'd use.

Posted By: tsuwm Re: other word - 06/30/05 06:29 AM
a USn at the carnie or on the Vegas "strip" might call him a barker.

-joe (step right up, folks!) spieler

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