Sir Terry Pratchett has died • Hacker News Board

Re: Sir Terry Pratchett has died

#231

Post by myrmi » Fri, Mar 13, 2015, 2:23 PM UTC

thret wrote: post #217

The 25th of May is Towel Day, to commemorate Douglas Adams. If we keep the 8th of April as Terry Pratchett day, perhaps we could all wear wide-brimmed fedoras? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towel_Day http://www.sfwa.org/2014/04/international-sir-terry-pratchet...

25th of May is also the Glorious Twenty-fifth on the Discworld, where those involved in the People's Revolution wear lilacs to memorialise those they've lost.

Seems obvious what should happen at this point.

Re: Sir Terry Pratchett has died

#232

Post by ENTP » Fri, Mar 13, 2015, 4:16 PM UTC

dredmorbius wrote: post #109

jgrahamc wrote: post #22

‘Goodbye,’ Mort said, and was surprised to find a lump in his throat. ‘It’s such an unpleasant word, isn’t it?’ QUITE SO. Death grinned because, as has so often been remarked, he didn’t have much option. But possibly he meant it, this time. I PREFER AU REVOIR, he said. So, goodbye, Sir Terry; or at least let's hope it's just au revoir.

Interesting, etymologically. "Good bye" is a contraction of "God be with ye (you)", which isn't quite so abrupt. "Au revoir", literally, "until (we) see again". Similar to "Hasta manyana" (until later), or "bis später" (same), Spanish and German, or "zài jiàn" ("see (you) again", Mandarin Chinese) . Farewells (literally, "fare thee well", be well) in many languages share similar attributes.

In Welsh we say "hwyl" which literally translates to "fun". We never say "goodbye", we just wish fun on people until we see them again.

Re: Sir Terry Pratchett has died

#233

Post by dredmorbius » Fri, Mar 13, 2015, 6:17 PM UTC

kazinator wrote: post #150

dredmorbius wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting, etymologically. "Good bye" is a contraction of "God be with ye (you)", which isn't quite so abrupt. "Au revoir", literally, "until (we) see again". Similar to "Hasta manyana" (until later), or "bis später" (same), Spanish and German, or "zài jiàn" ("see (you) again", Mandarin Chinese) . Farewells (literally, "fare thee well", be well) in many languages share similar attributes.

So perhaps the French translation of "good bye" which more closely matches the idiom's etymology is "adieu".

Spanish as well, I believe "via con dios": go with God.

Re: Sir Terry Pratchett has died

#234

Post by dredmorbius » Fri, Mar 13, 2015, 6:19 PM UTC

madaxe_again wrote: post #123

dredmorbius wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting, etymologically. "Good bye" is a contraction of "God be with ye (you)", which isn't quite so abrupt. "Au revoir", literally, "until (we) see again". Similar to "Hasta manyana" (until later), or "bis später" (same), Spanish and German, or "zài jiàn" ("see (you) again", Mandarin Chinese) . Farewells (literally, "fare thee well", be well) in many languages share similar attributes.

Never mind "bis später", what about "auf wiedersehen"... and "à bientôt" - see you soon. Strangely, I don't really say "goodbye" all that often - it's either "later" or "'til next time.".

Right. I wasn't necessarily contrasting the primary parting phrases in various languages, but showing the similarities of many with equivalent varients in others.