Language Geeks, Unite!

Jan 24, 2023 13:03

This is your chance to do your bit for the Greater Good today ( Read more... )

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Comments 7

lash_larue January 24 2023, 21:01:36 UTC
I think that "step-by-step" is as close as you are likely to get, but I am no scholar.

All I ever heard whispering answers called was "cheating".

Sorry to be of no help.

L

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mywitch January 27 2023, 00:02:22 UTC

I came here to give these same replies! Or with the second you could always go with "being a cheatypants" :P

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therealsnape January 27 2023, 11:34:25 UTC
Step-by-step plan it's going to be, then.

And actually, your comment was very helpful. I wondered whether the English language has that precise word, and the answer is clearly 'no'.

The reason I use that particular word is that it is the positive connotation part of 'cheating'. Cheating is to better yourself in a dishonest way.

The act of 'voorzeggen', whispering the answer, is where a person actively tries to help a mate in trouble. In a dishonest way, yes, but there is that positive connotation of 'helping a mate'.

I'm going to use the word 'help', which will be the best. A small part of the fun of the Dutch word will be lost, but there it is.

Again, actually this was helpful, indeed.

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minervas_eule January 24 2023, 22:46:48 UTC
Whispering the right word in a theatre is "prompting".... could that be used??

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therealsnape January 27 2023, 11:38:02 UTC
There is that, but prompting is helping a person remember what they already know, and our voorzeggen / vorsagen means that you get information that you didn't actually know.

They don't have a word in English. I'm going to use 'help', but there is a difference between "the teacher helps you' and 'Der Lehrer sagst du vor", the latter being more 'fun' for the students because of the hint of the illegal help. As you will understand, having the word in German!

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lash_larue January 25 2023, 23:47:15 UTC
It occurs to me that "coaching" might apply, but that does not imply a whisper.

L

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therealsnape January 27 2023, 11:42:21 UTC
True. As I just mentioned to Minnie (who knows what I mean, for the word exists in German as well), there is a difference between "the teacher helps/coaches you' and 'Der Lehrer sagst du vor", the latter being more 'fun' for the students because of the hint that the teacher provides illegal help.

That's the fun part of the Dutch word. The student gets help (in a totally legal way, mind!) but by using this word I can make it sound as if they have an exiting insiders track; a bit of 'tricking the system'. I

t's the system that helps them, intentionally, it's just about making it sound more interesting and fun.

But it can't be done in English, and that's all there's to it.

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