Alan Jackson

Mr. Alex · 08-30-2010, 09:25 AM

Quote:

She's gone country, look at them boots
She's gone country, back to her roots
She's gone country, a new kind of suit
She's gone country, here she comes

I don't get this phrase - "look at them boots". Makes no sence to me. Can you guys please explain me?

Look at them booting?
Or maybe "look at their boots"?

David the H. · 08-30-2010, 09:31 AM

It's a fairly common form used in some kinds of slang, particularly in rural areas. Them is used as a substitute for those. "Look at those boots."

gnashley · 08-30-2010, 10:02 AM

m r ducks
m r not
osar, c m wangs
lib m r ducks

Here, those(them) is replaced by 'm'
Translation:
Those are ducks.
They are not.
Oh yes they are -see those wings?
Well, I'll be, those are ducks

Mr. Alex · 08-30-2010, 10:09 AM

gnashley, what dialect is this?

win32sux · 08-30-2010, 10:26 AM

As David the H. said, it's just a common way of speaking in rural areas.

salasi · 08-30-2010, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Alex

Makes no sence to me. Can you guys please explain me?

Can I suggest to you that using the lyrics to Country Music songs to hone your English is like using the historical practices of Microsoft to learn high quality software engineering? Dangerously on topic for Linux Questions (I hope that's allowed in General), I suppose, but there is some, errr, eccentric and idiomatic usage on display.

MrCode · 08-31-2010, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Dangerously on topic for Linux Questions (I hope that's allowed in General)

From the /General topic title:

Quote:

This forum is for non-technical general discussion which can include both Linux and non-Linux topics. Have fun!

So I guess you could say you're "having fun"...

Mr. Alex · 08-31-2010, 03:47 AM

"General" is for:
non-technical general discussion which can include both Linux and non-Linux topics. Have fun!

So I find no problem here.

David the H. · 08-31-2010, 07:46 AM

Another common variation is to further reduce them to dem, as in this famous old spiritual:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYb8Wm6-QfA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dem_Bones

And if you haven't yet figured out the secret to gnashley's post #3, it's simply a bit of classic humor based on common rural speech patterns. Try pronouncing each letter separately.

win32sux · 08-31-2010, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David the H.

Another common variation is to further reduce them to dem

And also to 'em.

Mr. Alex · 08-31-2010, 08:28 AM

" 'em " is widely-spread in the US, isn't it?

win32sux · 08-31-2010, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Alex

" 'em " is widely-spread in the US, isn't it?

In some cities more than others, but yeah.

gnashley · 08-31-2010, 02:30 PM

Get 'em while ther hot! I would say that 'dem' comes from old-South African American dialect: dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones, dem dry, dry bones
Here, wikipedia agrees:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dem_Bones

As to where my earlier example came from: it's Wes Texis

rokytnji · 08-31-2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

As to where my earlier example came from: it's Wes Texis

shur enuf aint.

brianL · 09-01-2010, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokytnji

shur enuf aint.

Un thats nor ow wid say it in Owdam. It ud be:
Nay, lad, thas wrong theer.