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From: deb5@ellis.uchicago.edu (Daniel von Brighoff)
Subject: Re: please insult me (in some other language)
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References: <3n2bso$gd@riscsm.scripps.edu> <3o24su$97o@ixnews2.ix.netcom.com> <D87z7q.7Hv@midway.uchicago.edu> <3oqhk2$i10_004@actrix.gen.nz>
Date: Fri, 12 May 1995 04:44:53 GMT
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In article <3oqhk2$i10_004@actrix.gen.nz>,
Paul J. Kriha <kriha_p@actrix.gen.nz> wrote:
>In article <D87z7q.7Hv@midway.uchicago.edu>,
>   deb5@ellis.uchicago.edu (Daniel von Brighoff) wrote:

Da:
>>One of my favourite insults is the Latin "FVTEO TVVM ET CABALLVM
>>IPSVM!" which I often use in English in the truncated form "AND the
>>horse you rode in on!"

Er, I believe that should be FVTVE instead of FVTEO.  They're both
quite insulting phrases, but the nuance is very different in each!

>>As for Arabic, I wish I could remember the Levantine for "May your
>>religion be destroyed!"  There's something so over-the-top about it.
>
>Grrrrrr. I am irreligious person but I suspect I would still get
>somewhat miffed if anybody yelled that at me. I guess it's the old
>trick, if you want to hurt somebody badly, you don't waste time
>insulting him, you insult his mother, sister, family, country or 
>religion.

That's what I mean:  it's so damning, so encompassing, it can't be
laughed off in the way that "You suck!" or even "Screw your mother
with a broomhandle and break it off!" can.

>Anybody knows the origins of "May all your children be stillborn!".
>Is it Italian?

No, but I remember the hand gesture for "Damn you and all of your
ancestors to hell!"

Shall I demonstrate it for you?




-- 
	 Daniel "Da" von Brighoff    /\          Dilettanten
	(deb5@midway.uchicago.edu)  /__\         erhebt Euch
				   /____\      gegen die Kunst!
