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#131329 08/13/04 01:57 PM
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a Softie That's what they're called?? HA!

jheem, I think I've seen 'dursn't' in books, occasionally--usually where the characters' language is represented as colloquial. Hey--for some reason, my mind just flashed on Tom Sawyer. Anybody remember reading it there?


#131330 08/13/04 02:09 PM
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I think I've seen 'dursn't' in books, occasionally

According to Google, Dickens. Though, maybe dasn't for Tom and Huck.

"Oh! I durstn't do it," rejoined the small servant; "Miss Sally 'ud kill me, if she know'd I come up here."

But I think these forms are from the present "dares not", whereas durst is a preterite or past participial form of to dare.

I durst not go abroad == I dared not go abroad.


#131331 08/13/04 11:28 PM
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a Softie ... That's what they're called??

Yup, 'cause, if you called 'em "micros", nobody would know whatcha meant.


#131332 08/14/04 12:01 AM
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My darling daughter dated a Softie for a time

Funny, in the Valley we allus called 'em rat bastards.


#131333 08/14/04 07:28 PM
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Pennsylvania Dutch people use dare and daren't quite often. I particularly like the way my very Dutchified grandparents use dare. For instance, Grandma might say to a small grandchild staring longingly at a dish of candy, "You dare take one!" This meaning, in essence, "Don't be shy, you're allowed to have one!"



#131334 08/14/04 07:51 PM
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Haven't heard much from Rapunzel in quite a while. The bookselling business must have been brisk and all-consuming.

Thanks for this insight into the sometimes-peculiar speech of the Pennsylvania Dutch.

Have you seen the new television program where the producers put some Amish kids and some California kids in the same house and watch them interact?



#131335 08/14/04 08:46 PM
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...doesn't the U.S. versions of Word have dictionaries in a whole slew of languages like ours?

Only if you choose to install all/the foreign language supports when setting Word up ... not that anyone on this board wouldn't choose to do so by default... [embarassed-e]



*********

Yes I "set Word up", I don't "set up Word", for the same reason I "take Word down", I don't "take down Word". Work with me here, Jackie...


#131336 08/14/04 11:16 PM
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Have you seen the new television program where the producers put some Amish kids and some California kids in the same house and watch them interact?

I haven't-- don't go in for reality TV myself. Now, if the producers would put California kids on an Amish farm and make them live and work as the Amish do... that I might watch!



#131337 08/15/04 12:00 AM
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#131338 08/15/04 07:36 AM
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I looked at this a few days ago. They're not Amish kids as such, they're ex-Amish kids. It's as bad (and similar to) Big Brother ...


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