Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2008 August 30

= August 30 =

presidency/prime ministership
We can say in English "Such and such an event happened during the presidency of X", "The presidency lasted X years". What is the proper term for a Prime Minister (UK)? Is it Prime-ministership as in "during the Prime Ministership of so-and-so".

thanks Duomillia (talk) 00:52, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
 * 'Premiership' is more common, I think, but it might be better to avoid this phrasing entirely. Algebraist 00:59, 30 August 2008 (UTC)


 * In historical works, 'ministry' is used (eg 'Disraeli's second ministry'), but I don't think this would be readily understood in reference to a recent PM. --ColinFine (talk) 16:28, 30 August 2008 (UTC)


 * The term "government", as in "During the x years of the Blair government...", is used quite frequently. If you want to refer to a particular personal combination of executives you may also use "In Blair´s second cabinet Robin Cook resigned...".  --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 20:06, 30 August 2008 (UTC)


 * In Australia, the head of the federal government is the Prime Minister and the heads of the state governments are premiers. The term "premiership" is sometimes used in relation to PMs, where it would not be misunderstood in the context.  But because of that very potential for ambiguity, the term "prime ministership" is more often seen for PMs, and "premiership" is usually reserved for premiers.  --  JackofOz (talk) 22:12, 1 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Likewise here in Canada, except I'd say that "premiership" is not used at all here in relation to the PM. --Anonymous, 08:22 UTC, September 2, 2008.

The Douche Renaissance
We seem to have embarked on a new golden age of the terms "douche" and "douchebag." I'm curious as to the impetus of the resurgence of these phrases.

Oh yes, and is this urbandictionary definition of "d bag" fairly accurate: Ironic term for douche bag, since by abbreviating "douche-bag" unnecessarily, you, in turn, resemble a "douche-bag." Sappysap (talk) 01:06, 30 August 2008 (UTC)


 * It's rather funny hearing people calling other people shower... --antilivedT 07:13, 30 August 2008 (UTC)


 * "He's an absolute shower" was a fairly common term of pejoration among upperish-class Brits at one time. Terry-Thomas used it a few times to good effect in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.  --  JackofOz (talk) 07:33, 30 August 2008 (UTC)


 * I thought it had returned because of South Park, which also seems to be the reason for the popularity of "sweet" as an exclamation. Adam Bishop (talk) 07:55, 30 August 2008 (UTC)


 * I assumed "sweet" was from Family Guy; Peter says it all the time. Matt Deres (talk) 16:11, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
 * I used "sweet" as an exclamation back in at least 1996. I hadn't seen South Park at the time, but I may have picked it up from people who had. Steewi (talk) 02:36, 1 September 2008 (UTC)

Swear words
Why are swear words often put in quotation marks? February 15, 2009 (talk) 12:51, 30 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Are they? Presumably it's because they are being quoted. Can you provide examples of what you mean?--Shantavira|feed me 14:35, 30 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Okay:

'You mustn't refer to others as "cuntheads" or "fuckheads".'

'That place, where you called others "bitches"...'

February 15, 2009 (talk) 23:26, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Those quotes are due to the use-mention distinction. They show that you're mentioning the word 'cuntheads' (say), not using it. There's nothing specific to swearwords about this usage. Algebraist 23:29, 30 August 2008 (UTC)

Tits
I am trying to find the derivation of the term 'tit' or 'tits' in relation to the female breast. I have looked at tits and breasts but am unable to find the answer there.--79.76.176.172 (talk) 16:51, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
 * That's something a dictionary would have. Try wiktionary or another online dictionary. Friday (talk) 17:02, 30 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Looking at tits and breasts, to quote the OP, infrequently provides useful answers to the encyclopedic inquisitive mind. From the very slim booklet "The collected wit and wisdom of --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 17:50, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
 * PS: Looking at tits and teats in the Wiktionary will enable you to find the answer there, however (OE, of Teutonic origin).  Of course, your method seems to be much more fun.  --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 17:50, 30 August 2008 (UTC)

japanese grammar
Would it be OK to say...

1. "Kate-san wa sensei ga suisenjou wo kaite itadakeru ka dou ka kiki ni ikimashita" to mean "Kate went to ask her teacher whether or not he could write a recommendation for her" ?? Or is the grammar here screwed up?

Would it be better to say "Kate-san wa sensei ni suisenjou wo kaite moraeru ka dou ka kiki ni ikimashita"??

2. "Ryuugaku suru tame no shougakukin" or "Ryuugaku suru koto ga dekiru you ni shougakukin" or "Ryuugaku puroguramu no shougakukin"? Which is "scholarship to let someone go on an exchange program"?

2:Gakusei koukan puroguramu no tameno shougakukin. I think this site is helpful for you. Oda Mari (talk) 18:56, 30 August 2008 (UTC)
 * 1:it's better to use 'moraeru' and to omit 'san'.

RE: Minugahana, for Oda Mari, I would just translate it as 'not what I expected'.--ChokinBako (talk) 23:22, 30 August 2008 (UTC)