Translating Phil
In today’s reprint of For Better or For Worse, Phil Richards uses a number of slang phrases which make understanding what he is saying a little diffcult. To this end, I will provide definitions for you, so you can understand what he is saying:
Panel 1: Connie! Far out! Too much!
Far Out - An interjection meaning "great" or "cool," as in All he could say when he won the lottery was "Far out!" Originally a slang term for daringly creative jazz, this expression has been applied to other art forms and undertakings. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
Too much - overwhelming; excellent. : It's wonderful. It's just too much!
Phil Translation: Connie. It is great you are here. It is excellent.
Panel 2 - Some gig, eh? --- The place is no banana---but the dough is cool.
Gig– a single professional engagement, usually of short duration, as of jazz or rock musicians.
Eh? - Chiefly Canadian Used to ascertain or reinforce a listener's interest or agreement.
Banana - an American of East Asian descent who acts too much like a Caucasian. (The person is yellow on the outside and white on the inside. Patterned on oreo. See also apple. Rude and derogatory.) : Stop acting like such a banana!
Dough - Slang. Money.
Cool - Slang - great; fine; excellent: a real cool comic.
Phil Translation: Don't you think I performed well? I am a Canadian. This place has nothing to do with American persons of East Asian descent who are trying to act Caucasian. The money they pay me here is excellent.
Panel 3 - Hang loose for one more set and we’ll rap, OK?
Hang loose, Slang. to remain relaxed or calm: Try to hang loose and don't let it bother you.
Set - Music. a group of pieces played by a band, as in a night club, and followed by an intermission.
Rap - Slang. to talk or discuss, esp. freely, openly, or volubly; chat.
Phil Translation: Remain calm until I finish playing one more group of pieces and we can talk.
There you have it. Aside from "banana", for which I could not find a slang phrase that fit the context of everything else, all of this language can easily be determined. Of course, the idea of a man speaking like this in the early 1980s when the strip was published instead of in the 1960s, does tell you a little bit about Phil. The idea that Phil did not speak like this in any other strip, does tell you a little bit about Lynn Johnston's ability to write consistent dialogue.
The thing I noticed this time looking at the strip as opposed to the times before, is Phil touches Connie once on greeting and once on departure. This does suggest a certain degree of familiarity between the two of them.
The bilingual joke takes an extra meaning when combined with the strip of the woman at Phil’s apartment. Originally intended to be a joke about Phil’s slang speech, there is now an unexpected reference to the “’Allo?” girl.
Panel 1: Connie! Far out! Too much!
Far Out - An interjection meaning "great" or "cool," as in All he could say when he won the lottery was "Far out!" Originally a slang term for daringly creative jazz, this expression has been applied to other art forms and undertakings. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
Too much - overwhelming; excellent. : It's wonderful. It's just too much!
Phil Translation: Connie. It is great you are here. It is excellent.
Panel 2 - Some gig, eh? --- The place is no banana---but the dough is cool.
Gig– a single professional engagement, usually of short duration, as of jazz or rock musicians.
Eh? - Chiefly Canadian Used to ascertain or reinforce a listener's interest or agreement.
Banana - an American of East Asian descent who acts too much like a Caucasian. (The person is yellow on the outside and white on the inside. Patterned on oreo. See also apple. Rude and derogatory.) : Stop acting like such a banana!
Dough - Slang. Money.
Cool - Slang - great; fine; excellent: a real cool comic.
Phil Translation: Don't you think I performed well? I am a Canadian. This place has nothing to do with American persons of East Asian descent who are trying to act Caucasian. The money they pay me here is excellent.
Panel 3 - Hang loose for one more set and we’ll rap, OK?
Hang loose, Slang. to remain relaxed or calm: Try to hang loose and don't let it bother you.
Set - Music. a group of pieces played by a band, as in a night club, and followed by an intermission.
Rap - Slang. to talk or discuss, esp. freely, openly, or volubly; chat.
Phil Translation: Remain calm until I finish playing one more group of pieces and we can talk.
There you have it. Aside from "banana", for which I could not find a slang phrase that fit the context of everything else, all of this language can easily be determined. Of course, the idea of a man speaking like this in the early 1980s when the strip was published instead of in the 1960s, does tell you a little bit about Phil. The idea that Phil did not speak like this in any other strip, does tell you a little bit about Lynn Johnston's ability to write consistent dialogue.
The thing I noticed this time looking at the strip as opposed to the times before, is Phil touches Connie once on greeting and once on departure. This does suggest a certain degree of familiarity between the two of them.
The bilingual joke takes an extra meaning when combined with the strip of the woman at Phil’s apartment. Originally intended to be a joke about Phil’s slang speech, there is now an unexpected reference to the “’Allo?” girl.
posted by howard at 10:13 PM
19 Comments:
What it also tells me is that Lynn hadn't decided on Connie's origins quite yet; we started out with her being her father's last chance at having a son but, well, that didn't tell us where they lived. It was only later that we learned that French is supposedly her first language.
Gig– a single professional engagement, usually of short duration, as of jazz or rock musicians.
Perhaps this is the first instance of 'Gig' as FOOBian / Lynnglish for sexual encounter. Phil already knows that Connie is 'hands-on' and will 'go roadside', ergo:
"Am I to understand that you've come to see me for some more casual sex? I am a Canadian...[etc.]"
Phil Translation: Don't you think I performed well? I am a Canadian. This place has nothing to do with American persons of East Asian descent who are trying to act Caucasian. The money they pay me here is excellent.
::snerk::
"Eh": Canadian people's way of asserting and affirming their national identity to one another. ;)
I just wish Lynn had used it more often. Like instead of any instance of "hum."
The idea that Phil did not speak like this in any other strip, does tell you a little bit about Lynn Johnston's ability to write consistent dialogue.
Lynn: Don't you see? This is the way he talks when he's around those discordant jazz-musician friends of his! They are such a bad influence! He needs a good influence, like Elly!
Disagree with your assessment of "Banana". The Asian-related slang exists, but in this Jazz Musician context it refers to a hip / crazy venue.
This is closely related to the term "Go Bananas", as in acting crazy.
Musicians are a fruity bunch. They gave NYC it's name "The Big Apple" due to the high end Harlem Jazz Clubs.
DreadedCandiru2,
What it also tells me is that Lynn hadn't decided on Connie's origins quite yet; we started out with her being her father's last chance at having a son but, well, that didn't tell us where they lived. It was only later that we learned that French is supposedly her first language.
That’s true. In the original publication, we knew Connie had a cousin in Montreal, but that is not necessarily an indication of Connie’s origins. If anything, after viewing the “’Allo?” girl strip, you would come to the conclusion Connie had not been brought up in Quebec.
forworse,
Perhaps this is the first instance of 'Gig' as FOOBian / Lynnglish for sexual encounter. Phil already knows that Connie is 'hands-on' and will 'go roadside', ergo:
"Am I to understand that you've come to see me for some more casual sex? I am a Canadian...[etc.]"
I think you got it. The early use of “gig” was back in 1981.
aprilp_katje,
I just wish Lynn had used it more often. Like instead of any instance of "hum."
It’s hard to say about “Eh”. Lynn may have been trying to avoid a stereotype, or perhaps she doesn’t say “Eh” and says, “hum.”
Lynn: Don't you see? This is the way he talks when he's around those discordant jazz-musician friends of his! They are such a bad influence! He needs a good influence, like Elly!
But then he would be saying “hum”!!
Joey,
Disagree with your assessment of "Banana". The Asian-related slang exists, but in this Jazz Musician context it refers to a hip / crazy venue.
I understood what “banana” was supposed to mean in the context of the strip, but I could not find any on-line slang dictionary which would give me that word with that meaning.
They gave NYC it's name "The Big Apple" due to the high end Harlem Jazz Clubs.
Actually “The Big Apple” was given with respect to horse racing; but it is a common belief that it came from the Harlem Jazz Clubs. That could be where Lynn got her "banana" reference.
But then he would be saying “hum”!!
Exactly! Another reason it's good that he will eventually distance himself from his sister. ;)
Actually “The Big Apple” was given with respect to horse racing; but it is a common belief that it came from the Harlem Jazz Clubs. That could be where Lynn got her "banana" reference.
Lynn (thinking): Well, those jazz weirdos decided that New York is the Big Apple. Maybe Montreal is the Banana to them!
Also curious about your explanation of "no banana" as I can find no independent verification. Could you cite your source? I prefer to think it is related to "top banana" as others have suggested. Once source, http://www.worldwidewords.org/topicalwords/tw-ban2.htm, puts that "top banana" phrase in a stage context ("a slapstick comedian in vaudeville"), which fits the strip much better than a reference to certain Asian persons.
The discussion of Connie's possibly having a close, rather than remote, connection with her French-speaking ancestors makes me think of Lynn Johnston's ever-increasing desire to make cast of characters multicultural and multi-ethnic. This resulted in some absurd names, given the characters' supposed national backgrounds: Pablo DaSilva (Brazilian with a Spanish first name), Shawna-Marie Verranzo (Argentinean), and Connie Poirier (French-Canadian).
aprilp_katje
Exactly! Another reason it's good that he will eventually distance himself from his sister. ;).
Besides all that “hum”-ing would probably negatively affect his embouchure
Lynn (thinking): Well, those jazz weirdos decided that New York is the Big Apple. Maybe Montreal is the Banana to them!
We know Lynn knows Toronto is called The Big Smoke so why not? It certainly would better than those other nicknames for Montreal like “La Métropole”, “La Belle Ville”, “Sin City”, “La ville aux cent clochers”, “Mount Real”, “Mo-real” or “City of Saints”. Boring! Banana is much more exciting and evocative.
mikey,
Also curious about your explanation of "no banana" as I can find no independent verification. Could you cite your source?
Certainly. I favor the The Urban Dictionary.
Anonymous,
Pablo DaSilva (Brazilian with a Spanish first name) - While it is true this is a mismatch. Nevertheless, when I Iook through Brazilian phone listings on-line, I find that there are many Pablos in Brazil.
Shawna-Marie Verranzo (Argentinean) - I will agree that this is a mixture. Shawna is Irish. Marie is French. Verano is Spanish.
Connie Poirier (French-Canadian). Connie is English. Poirier is French.
Of course Elly Patterson has Elly (Greek/German) and Patterson (English).
We know Lynn knows Toronto is called The Big Smoke so why not
Remember how Lynn originally had "The Big Smoke" attributed to somewhere else? I think it was Spruce Narrows?
It certainly would better than those other nicknames for Montreal like “La Métropole”, “La Belle Ville”, “Sin City”, “La ville aux cent clochers”, “Mount Real”, “Mo-real” or “City of Saints”. Boring! Banana is much more exciting and evocative.
Montreal does have a Mont Royal. Though I felt it was more like a large-ish hill. :)
aprilp_katje,
Remember how Lynn originally had "The Big Smoke" attributed to somewhere else? I think it was Spruce Narrows?
You are correct. However, it was not in the strip. It was the monthly letters.
Liz's Letter, January 2005
One time, I went to the Narrows (or "the big smoke") to attend a dance.
Liz's Letter, May 2004
The closest town of any size with stores, medical center and small airstrip is Spruce Narrows - known as "the big smoke" (guess I'll find out why later!) There is a fairly good road to "The Smoke," and an unpaved but well maintained road into the village.
I found the slang term "no banana" to be Australian in origin. It means "close", simular to the term "no cigar."
cfminetree,
That's certainly closer to making sense in the context of the comic strip today, but not exactly right. In other words, Lynn Johnston's use of "no banana" is today's strip is no banana.
Wait. "Elly" IS linguistically related to the name of my niece Elana (from Greek "Helen", "light")?? Ewwwww.... I thought it was supposed to be derived from a nickname for "Elizabeth", following the relatively more recent trend of using nicknames as full first names.
Post a Comment
<< Home