devout Jews and their discontents (PG for language)

[kvschwartz]

Hi all

Comments

[berseker]

Well... my family usually just says Oy Vey. I translate it like dammit, or, you know,to express that feeling of "WTF?" ^_^

I´ve never seen anyone using by HaShem or anything like that.

[kvschwartz]

Thanks for your reply!

But, let's say an Orthodox Jew dropped something heavy on his foot. Would he really bellow, OY, VEY!"?

I'm speaking from ignorance here, but I think of "Oy!" and "Oy, vey!" as more things one says when rolling one's eyes than things one screams in agony.

[kvschwartz]

Thanks for your reply.

What would they say if, for instance, they hurt themselves? Stubbed a toe, touched something very hot, bit a tongue, chipped a tooth, broke an arm, etc? Would "oy, veh" really cover it?

[rickmangled]

there are plenty of "non-religious" cusses -- Shit! Fuck! Ass! Bastard! Motherfucker! All work quite well... :p

[kvschwartz]

Hmm. I can't imagine these characters using the f-word ... heck, 98% of the time I'm *agnostic* and 80% of the time I lean toward atheist, and =I= can't even bring myself to use it ...

But "Shit!" and "Ass!" are probably good for when these characters hurt themselves. Then they can feel guilty afterward.

"Bastard!" doesn't strike me as something someone would say WHEN, say, stubbing one's toe ... but I can imagine one saying it while hopping around in pain and rage afterward.

Many thanks!!

Oh, wait ... another question. These are not curses, because the person speaking is not actually CURSING anyone (well ... leaving aside the last two you listed). They are not swears, because the person speaking is not VOWING anything.

So ... what ARE these, aside from, ehhhh, angry ejaculations (wow, that sounds weird)?

Profanities?

Vulgarities?

Oh, man. I can't GET OVER how much NICER people are here than, say, at academics_anon (another place I asked some questions related to this book -- with horrible results).

[redfoxnine]

I think you mean the second commandment. Or, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_commandments, the third commandment.

[kvschwartz]

Thank you -- and my apologies.

[redfoxnine]

Haha! Don't apologize.

[dragonbat2006]

Vay iz mir! (literally 'woe is me' exclamation of shock, and sometimes of relief. Appropriate response to 'I was driving and a kid ran in front of me. Luckily I slammed on the breaks in time, but I almost killed him...)

Ribono shel olam! (Master of the world. It's close to but not quite taking His name in vain.)

Rachmana litzlan! (have mercy!)

Lo aleinu (G-d forbid!)

[rosehiptea]

I've heard all those. Plus "Chas v'sholem" for G-d forbid.

also Nebach! ("It's a shame")

[dragonbat2006]

Yup. I knew I was leaving out some. Oy va voy! (another Vay iz mir, Oy vey alternative)

[kvschwartz]

Thank you.

[kvschwartz]

Ashkenazi.

[kvschwartz]

And thanks.