A shibboleth is either a saying that people repeatedly cite that some think to be wrong, or a word or custom whose variations in pronunciation or style distinguish members of ingroups from those of outgroups, with an implicit value judgment based on familiarity with the shibboleth.
During World War II, some United States soldiers in the Pacific theater used the word lollapalooza as a shibboleth to challenge unidentified persons, on the premise that Japanese people often pronounce the letter L as R or confuse Rs with Ls; the word is also an American colloquialism that even a foreign person fairly well-versed in American English would probably mispronounce or be unfamiliar with. In George Stimpson’s A Book about a Thousand Things, the author notes that, in the war, Japanese spies would often approach checkpoints posing as American or Filipino military personnel. A shibboleth such as “lollapalooza” would be used by the sentry, who, if the first two syllables come back as rorra,would “open fire without waiting to hear the remainder”. During the Allied breakout from the Normandy beachheads in 1944, hand-to-hand fighting occurred throughout the hedgerows and thick undergrowth of the Norman countryside. British and American troops were told to use the word “Thunderer” as a countersign through the thick foliage. Given the number of syllables and the leading “th” sound, it was believed that the word would invariably be mispronounced by native German speakers.
I don’t know how to categorize today’s FA. Some of the categories I’ve created, so far, include: deliciously lame, painfully cryptic, shockingly melancholic, grotesquely absurd, blatantly pretentious, tearfully tender. Help me add to my list, dear friends.
Heretical Blasphemy! Talking animals is one of the signs of the Apocalypse, as is the Cubs winning the World Series. Beware the Eclipse, Gumball Watterson!
There are disturbing racial overtones (or undertones) to today’s strip as master Whitey leads Brownie towards “socially acceptable” speech patterns. But Brownie turns the tables on the Ah-dog and commands equality….
Dogs, whether if they may be owned by neighbors or are mere strays, maintain personality. Individually, as one shall be in their own yard admiring their property, one can’t help to simultaneously feel a sense of how their life may feel threatened by neighbor dogs that happen to currently inhabit property on the other side of the fence. Chain link fence, do not fail now.
A dog shall speak without tongues, only to encourage her message through motion; while her bark on the other hand was ear piercing. Many years ago there was once a dog who had spoken quietly by using her head. A smart dog she was indeed, to insinuate that she was quite hungry by allowing her human to know by nudging her head consistently against her human’s side..
SumoSasquatch (aka a boy named Su) about 7 years ago
A shibboleth is either a saying that people repeatedly cite that some think to be wrong, or a word or custom whose variations in pronunciation or style distinguish members of ingroups from those of outgroups, with an implicit value judgment based on familiarity with the shibboleth.
During World War II, some United States soldiers in the Pacific theater used the word lollapalooza as a shibboleth to challenge unidentified persons, on the premise that Japanese people often pronounce the letter L as R or confuse Rs with Ls; the word is also an American colloquialism that even a foreign person fairly well-versed in American English would probably mispronounce or be unfamiliar with. In George Stimpson’s A Book about a Thousand Things, the author notes that, in the war, Japanese spies would often approach checkpoints posing as American or Filipino military personnel. A shibboleth such as “lollapalooza” would be used by the sentry, who, if the first two syllables come back as rorra,would “open fire without waiting to hear the remainder”. During the Allied breakout from the Normandy beachheads in 1944, hand-to-hand fighting occurred throughout the hedgerows and thick undergrowth of the Norman countryside. British and American troops were told to use the word “Thunderer” as a countersign through the thick foliage. Given the number of syllables and the leading “th” sound, it was believed that the word would invariably be mispronounced by native German speakers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibboleth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shibboleths
Mad-ge Dish Soap about 7 years ago
The key it seems.
painedsmile about 7 years ago
I don’t know how to categorize today’s FA. Some of the categories I’ve created, so far, include: deliciously lame, painfully cryptic, shockingly melancholic, grotesquely absurd, blatantly pretentious, tearfully tender. Help me add to my list, dear friends.
The Old Wolf about 7 years ago
“Ayuh.” If you can’t say it right, you’re “from away.”
Brass Orchid Premium Member about 7 years ago
Heretical Blasphemy! Talking animals is one of the signs of the Apocalypse, as is the Cubs winning the World Series. Beware the Eclipse, Gumball Watterson!
Mad-ge Dish Soap about 7 years ago
I drop my jaw, open up and say ah, my tongue rolls out, and I jump and shout!
Melki Premium Member about 7 years ago
Wow! And to think I was impressed the day my dog said something that sounded like Aruba.
coltish1 about 7 years ago
The last statement could just be a random, boffo non sequitur, an accusatory retort, or the standard fall-back response in this theater of war.
Rotifer HEATHEN POTATO WE KNEW YE WELL Thalweg Premium Member about 7 years ago
To show you what I know, I thought Shibboleth was Tilgathpilneser’s son.
chromosome Premium Member about 7 years ago
Frog Applause… guaranteed to make you think!
Sisyphos about 7 years ago
There are disturbing racial overtones (or undertones) to today’s strip as master Whitey leads Brownie towards “socially acceptable” speech patterns. But Brownie turns the tables on the Ah-dog and commands equality….
Or maybe not.
INGSOC about 7 years ago
Dogs, whether if they may be owned by neighbors or are mere strays, maintain personality. Individually, as one shall be in their own yard admiring their property, one can’t help to simultaneously feel a sense of how their life may feel threatened by neighbor dogs that happen to currently inhabit property on the other side of the fence. Chain link fence, do not fail now.
INGSOC about 7 years ago
A dog shall speak without tongues, only to encourage her message through motion; while her bark on the other hand was ear piercing. Many years ago there was once a dog who had spoken quietly by using her head. A smart dog she was indeed, to insinuate that she was quite hungry by allowing her human to know by nudging her head consistently against her human’s side..