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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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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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