VOOZH about

URL: https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/a-knowing.844898/

⇱ a-knowing | WordReference Forums

Menu
Install the app
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.

a-knowing

Twilli

Senior Member
Italian - Italy
Hi, I don't understand the meaning of this sentence.
In a movie, Abraham Lincoln is not sure whether to move to the city and set himself up as a lawyer or stay in his small town. He doesn't know what to do, because he's afraid of making the wrong decision.

So he says:

"I admit, I got kinda a taste for somethin' different than this in my mouth. Still, I don't know. I'd feel such a fool settin' myself up as a-knowin' so much".

What does a-knowing mean in this context?
Thanks!
A- è un prefisso di enfasi, poetico e arcaico e a volte, come qui, leggermente ironico.
In questo caso suonerebbe come:
"... Mi sentirei davvero sciocco a pretendere a me stesso di sapere così tanto".
A-knowing, cosi' come somethin', rappresentano un tentativo (riuscito) di rendere il modo di parlare di un Americano del Sud (come il vecchio Abe).
Non è il linguaggio d'un "Americano del Sud" (Abe veniva da Illinois). Per me è il linguaggio provinciale ("country"), ma definativamente arcaico.
I stand corrected. Abe was not a Southerner, but you will agree that such kind of choice of words and spelling gives a clear impression of 'hillbillyness' (assuming such a word exists) if you know what I'm trying to say...
Back
Top Bottom