Any Questions?

[Tonyblack]

I see there are a lot of members here from outside the UK and some of Terry's references are very British. Or maybe you missed a reference because you are too young.

Let's use this thread to try and answer any questions you may have about the books.

Not saying that we'll have the answers, but we can probably work out most of them.

 

[LadyL]

A very good idea, Im sure I will come up with something soon.

However, if some of you more or less english speaking people
have questions to Terrys often used german phrases, I try to give a helping hand or hint but please ensure its not Latin, thats too far away

 

[Tonyblack]

Great idea!

I know for example that Uberwald means something like 'over forest' and that is more or less what Transylvania means as well.

 

[LadyL]

Yes exactly

And I was much surprised to find the counterpart to Sergeant Colon

in Sergeant Doppelpunkt (Amazing Maurice) seeing that Doppelpunkt and

Colon have the same meaning.

 

[Tonyblack]

Yes exactly

And I was much surprised to find the counterpart to Sergeant Colon

in Sergeant Doppelpunkt (Amazing Maurice) seeing that Doppelpunkt and

Colon have the same meaning.

I didn't know that! Thanks Lydia.

 

[VesuvianRuin]

I can't remember if PTerry has used any Spanish references but if he has or does in the future, I'll be happy to help out with those.

 

[50ft queenie]

(...) seeing that Doppelpunkt and Colon have the same meaning.

Thanks for that info! ^__^

I'm sure I will come up with some questions too! I have to admit that dictionaries, encyclopedias and wikipedia have been a great help when I've come up against something I couldn't understand. I think there are references to some people I couldn't figure out, so I'll look them up and come ask!

(On my part, I could try answer questions on the plate-smashing, grape-juice-drinking, squid-eating and running-around-naked-after-a-bath, habits of Ephebe! xD)

 

[Tonyblack]

I can't remember if PTerry has used any Spanish references but if he has or does in the future, I'll be happy to help out with those.

Witches Abroad.

 

[VesuvianRuin]

I can't remember if PTerry has used any Spanish references but if he has or does in the future, I'll be happy to help out with those.

Witches Abroad.

Can you remember what it was because I'm wracking my brains and can't think what it was!

 

[Tonyblack]

There are a lot of puns based on a sort of personal Esperanto that Nanny speaks. Sort of a mixture of French, Spanish and Italian with bits of English inserted.

The one that always makes me chuckle is when they try to book into the Hotel Nova Cancies.

 

[VesuvianRuin]

There are a lot of puns based on a sort of personal Esperanto that Nanny speaks. Sort of a mixture of French, Spanish and Italian with bits of English inserted.

The one that always makes me chuckle is when they try to book into the Hotel Nova Cancies.

Of course (I am a muppet at times!). Yes, Nanny's attempts at 'Uno bed roomo toot suite me old mucker etc etc'

 

[SapphireForgeCat]

I may be from South Africa.. But having very British ancestry i do know a thing or two about Britain.. Besides.. I was always under the impression that Pratchett drew references from all over the world, not just Britain. Heh heh i'm sounding insulted.. Lol i'm not.. Just wanted to point that out.

 

[GREEBO]

What was Terry reading whilst writing thief of time as there are some very Zen like and buddist references, or should I put what were his references from and does anybody know how he researches his material, or is he just a vat of knowledge, and he draws on this while writing and to which he applies his wit.

 

[Tonyblack]

What was Terry reading whilst writing thief of time as there are some very Zen like and buddist references, or should I put what were his references from and does anybody know how he researches his material, or is he just a vat of knowledge, and he draws on this while writing and to which he applies his wit.

There's bits of Karate Kid and the Kung Fu TV series in there that's for sure.

 

[TheMole]

well, for one, I don´t know what is "Wagga Hay - It´s the Rye Grass" from the Last Continent supposed to mean - could somebody help?

 

[Tonyblack]

well, for one, I don´t know what is "Wagga Hay - It´s the Rye Grass" from the Last Continent supposed to mean - could somebody help?

I can't actually remember that bit - do you have the page or the context the sentence is used in?

I'm assuming it's something to do with Wagga Wagga a city in New South Wales and the fact that hay fever and asthma are common there mainly due to rye grass pollen. But I could be barking up the wrong gum tree here.

Maybe our Aussie friends here can help.

 

[TheMole]

well, for one, I don´t know what is "Wagga Hay - It´s the Rye Grass" from the Last Continent supposed to mean - could somebody help?

I can't actually remember that bit - do you have the page or the context the sentence is used in?

oh, I´m sorry - it´s on p. 156 in my Corgi paperback:

Something similar had happened with the kangaroos. There were the pointy ears and they definitely had snouts, but now they were leaning on the bar drinking this thin, strange beer. One of them was wearing a stained vest with the legend 'Wagga Hay – it's the Rye Grass!' just visible under the dirt.

 

[Dotsie]

Can someone tell me what "Dear Jason unt so witer" means? It's the start of one of Nanny Ogg's postcards home in Witches Abroad. I think I got most of the references, but you never know!

Dotsie

 

[Tonyblack]

Can someone tell me what "Dear Jason unt so witer" means? It's the start of one of Nanny Ogg's postcards home in Witches Abroad. I think I got most of the references, but you never know!

Dotsie

I've been trying to run it through a German translator, as I'm pretty sure it's Nanny trying her 'foreign' - trouble is Nanny doesn't spell too well.

The closest I can come to is "unt so weiter" which I think means "and so on" - which would sort of make sense - "Dear Jason and so on" as she is writing to everone back home.

Maybe LadyL can confirm this - or anyone here who sprechans de Deutch

 

[TheMole]

Yes, "Dear Jason and so on" or "Dear Jason and others".
If there are any more troubles with Nanny Ogg´s language, let us know