The Imperial “We”

[JesusA (imported)]

I was reminded today that the Imperial First Person Singular pronoun in Japanese is “chin” (朕). It is a word that is supposed to be used exclusively by the emperor in referring to himself.

I find it interesting that “chin-chin” is the most common Japanese children’s word for ‘penis’. How is that related to the Royal First Person “we” in English becoming ‘we-we’? Are we common folk making a comment on royalty?

[Arab Nights (imported)]

Hmmm. I use 'dick head.'

[Chesleyt (imported)]

Hahaha Iiked that one

[Arab Nights (imported)]

Sorry. A past or present politician must have come to mind.

[jamiepan (imported)]

Neat. Love seeing odd connections between languages like that. In this case, it's probably purely coincidental, but it's still neat. I love etymology.

Speaking of odd phrases parents use for things...

My mom referred to pooping as a "big job". At the time, it seemed okay, but as I became an adult, I realized how... truly weird a phrase it is. A "Big Job".

To this day, in my 50s, if a co-worker or ANYbody in my life ever referrers to something being a big job, I giggle.

[Arab Nights (imported)]

Neat. Love seeing odd connections between languages like that. In this case, it's probably purely coincidental, but it's still neat. I love etymology.

One I stumbled across was 'feel.' Think of all the different ways it is used. Tactile. The wallpaper feels rough. Emotional. I feel sad. Eerie. I feel the presence of a ghost. In Spanish, 'sentir' covers the same three. I mentioned that to our translator in Arabia and he said that it is the same in Arabic.

[Chesleyt (imported)]

I was taught that it was a pee pee I didn't know better until junior high school when I learned it was a penis in biology class.