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A man at the end (bis)

eBrain
User since 2009
Posts: 613

22 April 2011



The man at the end
How do you translate "man" in the following sentence:
J.H. observes: The government has become blatantly anti-union, man.?
Added: 04/18/2011 - 09:23 AM By Sunny19 Reply w/Quote

your question is what some people call double bind:
- if I answer to you and translate it I will use french or german, or italian..., and here we must use only english...it's a fault.
- and if I don't answer, I'll feel guilty for giving no answer to a friendly question.

I think that is the reason why nobody answered.
But I must say I am very pleased to find your question because I am fed up with this May Day on top of the topics.

Thank you for your bright question, Sunny19

17 comments

  • User since 2006
    Posts: 2715

    23 April 2011

    As Sophie rightly noticed, it was a double bind question, I won't try and give any translation, but another word instead of 'man'.
    By saying, 'man', we guess the person being spoken to is not higher than the speaker on the social ladder.
    Let's suppose it's a friend of the speaker:
    The government has become blatantly anti-union, pal.
    The government has become blatantly anti-union, buddy.
    The government has become blatantly anti-union, bro.
    Let's state it's not a friend:
    The government has become blatantly anti-union, guys.
    We can just swear that the person being spoken to is male.
  • User since 2008
    Posts: 499

    25 April 2011

    Somebody has already put his (her) best foot forward in this double bind (maybe it is a double bind). Hence, I shall not make bones about my thoughts about this matter. I hope this will not appear saucy.


    Maybe, the 'man' at the end of the setence is to put an angry emphasize on what it to say, presumably because the other people, that is the person spoken to, doesn't catch the meaning or has doubts:


    'Don't you see? The government has become blatantly anti-union, man!'


    That is, 'man' with the meaning of an exclamation mark, but far more colloquial, between (as Sandy expounded it) two persons on the same social level. (=peers)
  • User since 2009
    Posts: 613

    18 May 2011

    Shall we consider we are peers on this forum which gives us a good chance of being able to communicate :), otherwise it'd be orders :(
  • User since 2008
    Posts: 253

    25 May 2011

    I just think that it's an expression ended a phrase, 'man' , to emphazise, which is not, very smart ; at least, it's what people said to me when i was a student in London, so , i got used to be careful when using "man" at the end of a phrase.
    nb : i 'am a simple mind.
    Vic.
  • User since 2006
    Posts: 2715

    26 May 2011

    Simpletons are widespread in London schools, gal.
  • User since 2008
    Posts: 499

    27 May 2011

    You are damn right, man. ;)
  • User since 2009
    Posts: 613

    30 May 2011

    simpleton ? what does it mean :(?
  • User since 2008
    Posts: 499

    30 May 2011

    I don't know. I am a simpleton myself :p
    But simpletons don't realize they are simpletons.
    But I realize it. Ergo, I can't be a simpleton


    Hmmmm
  • User since 2009
    Posts: 613

    30 May 2011

    well, this is just an assumption which must be proven,
    but perhaps, you are bipolar, with
    one phase simpleton :p
    and another phase optimistically realistic :)
    ergo altogether whacky ? ;)

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