"Netrunner" <e-mail.me@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:atogp3l14d95q5bpt3peb1nrm5l7caaacb@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Standing in the dark, rainy shadows of a city alleyway, I spied the
> Replicant Evil Sponge covertly transmitting a message to renegade
> friends in alt.fan.blade-runner. Tracking...
>
>>
>>"Netrunner" <e-mail.me@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>>news:5144p3phespq8c1f3lm3infllfi2qp84jl@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> Standing in the dark, rainy shadows of a city alleyway, I spied the
>>> Replicant Evil Sponge covertly transmitting a message to renegade
>>> friends in alt.fan.blade-runner. Tracking...
>>>
>>>>ja?
>>>
>>> WTF?
>>>
>>
>>Woah! Is it that surprising? I use it all the time in real life...
>>
> A very interesting thought. Perhaps I do have some prejudice here
> (where I have almost none elsewhere). I equate "ja" directly with
> "ya", which is the stem of "ya-hoo" as in a person who is a "poncy
> git". That is not necessarily someone who is rich and privileged
> (people with whom I do not have any problem per se), but someone who
> is that plus being a poncy git, but even worse, the people who are not
> even that, but are still poncy gits.
Ah, now that's interesting. I too equate "ya" with poncy gits, but then I
say it myself in a kind of post-modern ironic mockery of such people (oh,
the hilarity of my world). But then, of course, it becomes habitual, and
people tend to misunderstand (understandably).
Yuppies, don't you just hate them, ya? *headbutt*
At the same time, there can be a hint of German/Swedish mimicry/lampooning
in its usage, probably arising from memories of old school German lessons.
A
common example is when someone shouts you from across the room, and you
turn
round and say "jaaaaaaaaaaaa?" It's more interesting than saying "yes?" or
"what?" And, hey, I'm not alone in this, so don't look at me like I'm some
kind of freak : )
It interests me that I use many
> non-English words without concern, but "ja" really irritates me. I
> have learned several other languages and "ja" is a relevant word in a
> few of them and, within context, I happily use it. I just have some
> issue with it being used by native-English speakers using it when
> speaking English. Sorry if that offends you or even simply surprises
> you. Guess it is something I have to reflect upon.
>
Not at all. I'm interested to hear your thoughts on it.
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