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testify

Several good robots are surrounded by an army of enemy robots, and are going to be easily defeated, when the sister of one of them (the good ones) shows up with an enormous group of robots that have come to help the good robots out. And now, just before the fight, the sister says:
-- ... let's get started!
-- [her brother] Testify, sister!
Robots, animation

What does "testify" mean here? Thank you.
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At face value it does not appear to be a meaningful use of the word. I'm interested in other people's interpretations.
In this context, it refers to people in a (perhaps Southern Baptist) church coming forward to tell their stories of conversion to Christianity. Such a story is often met with shouts of "Testify!" which here really means the same as "Amen!" or "You tell them!"
It's either some sort of pseudo-religious talk more familiar in African-American English,
(to my British mind) meaning 'Say the truth according to God/ the Lord', or it's the same as 'tell the truth' as in 'testifying on oath' in court. Of course I don't speak Robot;
I'm assuming they're American and have been correctly programmed.
(perhaps Southern Baptist) church coming forward to tell their stories of conversion to Christianity. Such a story is often met with shouts of "Testify!" which here really means the same as "Amen!" or "You tell them!"

Pobs, I'm sure you are right about the Southern Baptist vocabulary. So is my explanation way off-mark? 👁 Smile :)
During the movie, this speaker sometimes shifts over to the Scottish (and maybe archaic) accent, speaking pompously.

So he probably refers to the upcoming battle as an act of "testifying".

Thank you for the replies!
The meaning is that given in post #3 by pob14. You will also hear such acts of testifying referred to as a "testimony". (Here, for example, a Baptist church explains how to present such a "testimony".)

Not that "Testify, Sister!" is such a well-known and recognizable phrase in certain Christian circles that there is even a magazine named "Testify, Sister!"
Sorry if you mean that it's literally got to do with "Southern Baptist church stories" and "conversion to Christianity", then I'm a little confused. It doesn't fit the context.
Sorry if you mean that it's literally got to do with "Southern Baptist church stories" and "conversion to Christianity", then I'm a little confused. It doesn't fit the context.

What I am telling you is that although they are religious in origin, phrases such as "Testify, Sister!", or "Preach it, Sister!" are so familiar to so many people that they may be (and are) used in situations completely unrelated to religion. For example, I can easily imagine a staff meeting at a business in which a woman is talking emphatically about how too many people are leaving trash in the lunch room, and how everyone needs to clean up after themselves, and someone else shows agreement with her by humorously saying "Preach it, sister!"
What I am telling you is that although they are religious in origin, phrases such as "Testify, Sister!", or "Preach it, Sister!" are so familiar to so many people that they may be (and are) used in situations completely unrelated to religion. For example, I can easily imagine a staff meeting at a business in which a woman is talking emphatically about how too many people are leaving trash in the lunch room, and how everyone needs to clean up after themselves, and someone else shows agreement with her by humorously saying "Preach it, sister!"
Ah, I probably misunderstood -- so this expression is usually said after the speech, as an expression of agreement; and then in OP it refers to "let's get started". Am I right?
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