GalacticCactus Forum

Forums => English & Linguistics => Topic started by: Jonathon on November 28, 2011, 11:23:14 AM

Title: Yiddish question
Post by: Jonathon on November 28, 2011, 11:23:14 AM: Is there a preferred spelling for the Yiddish word tuches/tuchus/tokus/tookes/tokhes/tuchas? My vote would be for the second one, but it's not in all dictionaries, and the ones that have it don't seem to have settled on one form.
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: rivka on November 28, 2011, 11:34:42 AM: I would use one of the first two (personal preference for the first); the rest are just weird.
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: Tante Shvester on November 28, 2011, 12:06:37 PM: I'm with Rivka on this.

Jonathon, were you reading my Facebook page by any chance?
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: Jonathon on November 28, 2011, 12:49:21 PM: I wasn't, but I just went and read it. :) The question came up on Twitter, and I was surprised to find such diversity of forms in the major dictionaries. The OED's main entry is tochus, and it then helpfully adds, "Also tochas ( -ess, etc.), tuchus /ˈtʊxəs/ , -as; anglicized tokus /ˈtəʊkəs/ , tocus, etc."
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: pooka on November 28, 2011, 07:58:36 PM: Spelled Channukah lately?
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: Marianne Dashwood on November 28, 2011, 08:16:44 PM: I distinctly remember Hanukkah being on my spelling test in 4th grade. I still feel violated by the fact that there are other acceptable Romanizations.
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: rivka on November 28, 2011, 08:21:46 PM: Quote from: pooka on November 28, 2011, 07:58:36 PM
Spelled Channukah lately?
Yes.

Oh, you mean in English.
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: Tante Shvester on November 28, 2011, 09:36:59 PM: Quote from: Marianne Dashwood on November 28, 2011, 08:16:44 PM
I distinctly remember Hanukkah being on my spelling test in 4th grade. I still feel violated by the fact that there are other acceptable Romanizations.

It's a giveaway; there are no wrong answers, apparently.
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: Porter on November 29, 2011, 09:15:47 PM: Hawnicka.
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: pooka on November 29, 2011, 09:44:03 PM: Now we know what to call our next baby. She will be a reality TV show star.
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: rivka on November 30, 2011, 12:13:59 AM: Quote from: Porter on November 29, 2011, 09:15:47 PM
Hawnicka.
I'll have to remember that for the next time someone claims there are no misspellings of the word. That's amazingly awful. ;)
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: Porter on November 30, 2011, 07:22:18 AM: :hat:
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: Brinestone on November 30, 2011, 11:55:11 AM: Quote from: pooka on November 29, 2011, 09:44:03 PM
Now we know what to call our next baby. She will be a reality TV show star.

:D
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: Porter on November 30, 2011, 12:43:10 PM: Quote from: pooka on November 29, 2011, 09:44:03 PM
...our next baby. She will be a reality TV show star.
If I were Emperor of the Universe, those words would be grounds to remove the child from an obviously unsafe environment.
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: pooka on December 01, 2011, 06:39:48 AM: Says the man who created the word in the first place. That, sir, is why you are not Emporer of the Universe!
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: Tante Shvester on December 01, 2011, 08:52:49 AM: But mainly because anyone who coins such an atrocity would never get the green light from The Cabal.
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: Porter on December 01, 2011, 01:55:23 PM: Quote from: pooka on December 01, 2011, 06:39:48 AM
Says the man who created the word in the first place. That, sir, is why you are not Emporer of the Universe!
You misunderstand. Desiring/raising their kid to be a reality star would be considered ample proof that they're a bad parent.
Title: Re: Yiddish question
Post by: pooka on December 01, 2011, 02:12:43 PM: Ahh. I thought that kind of outlandishly spelled name would be particularly suitable for said profession, is all.