2 questions about language - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

rachmaninov · 06-29-2003, 09:47 PM

Hi, I live in Holland, so my english is not so good.
I would like to ask 2 questions about english language.

In this episode:
-------------------
"155. MIKE AND GLORIA SPLIT
Mike spends a night with Archie after a fight with Gloria"
-------------------
when Mike visits Archie and Edith in the middle of the night,
Edith says to Mike "Don't worry, we was only sleeping"
Archie replies "Don't tell that, suppose we was not sleeping.

After Edith said it, I thought i did not hear it well, but
after Archie used the same phrase, I am sure I heard well.

Does somebody know why it is not "we were sleeping"?
Is this a kind of "slang" language?
Something like "I did not hear nothing"?

Later in this episode Archie tells Mike that a nephew died in
his bed. Mike asked the reason of his death.
Archie answers: "his feet"
"The nephew always said, my feet will be my death"
Is that an expression? Does someone know the right expression?
And what is the exact meaning of the expression?

Thank you very much!
rachmaninov

KayEn78 · 06-30-2003, 12:42 PM

Edith: "...we was only sleeping."
Archie: "Suppose we wasn't slepping, would you give him a run down of that?" I think that's how the quote went. Edith told the truth...they really were fast asleep. But Archie sarcastically remarks, what if we weren't sleeping? Meaning, I think, that there are other things done in bed besides sleeping and would Edith have told Mike what they had been doing, besides sleeping. (No, she wouldn't have--that's a private matter). I think that's what it meant. If not, someone correct me if I'm wrong. I hope this answers your first question. As for the second question, I can't remember that quote, I'll have to go back and look at the episode. But, I hope I answered the first question.

-Kristi

TVgen62 · 06-30-2003, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KayEn78
Edith: "...we was only sleeping."
Archie: "Suppose we wasn't slepping, would you give him a run down of that?" I think that's how the quote went. Edith told the truth...they really were fast asleep. But Archie sarcastically remarks, what if we weren't sleeping? Meaning, I think, that there are other things done in bed besides sleeping and would Edith have told Mike what they had been doing, besides sleeping. (No, she wouldn't have--that's a private matter). I think that's what it meant. If not, someone correct me if I'm wrong. I hope this answers your first question. As for the second question, I can't remember that quote, I'll have to go back and look at the episode. But, I hope I answered the first question.
-Kristi

That explains the subtext of the statement, KayEn78. However, I think Rachmaninov's question was of a grammatical nature.

Rachmaninov, yes, "we were sleeping" would be grammatically correct. However, Archie and Edith were not very well educated and this was demonstrated in, among other things, their manner of speaking. (I hope that answers your question.)

As to your other question, I'm not familiar with the scenario or what was meant by the expression you mentioned. I can only assume that Archie remembered something that the deceased once said and took it literally. Maybe someone else can give you a better answer about that one.

KayEn78 · 06-30-2003, 11:50 PM

Ooops, you're probably right about the grammar thing. My mistake.

Just ignore my post...
-Kristi

TVgen62 · 06-30-2003, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KayEn78
Ooops, you're probably right about the grammar thing. My mistake. Just ignore my post...
-Kristi

No, no! Not at all! Goodness, I certainly didn't intend to discourage you.

Besides, only Rachmaninov knows for sure what he meant. We'll find out when he reads our posts.

KayEn78 · 07-01-2003, 12:55 PM

Oh no, I'm not discouraged, but sometimes I do get things mixed up and think someone means one thing, when they mean another. But only he would know!

So, we'll have to wait and see.

-Kristi

Kitt · 08-06-2003, 01:36 AM

Since it's been awhile, maybe we're not going to find out what Rachmaniov meant. My guess is that he was asking about the grammatical nature of the statement by Edith and also what Archie meant by his coimment. So between the two of you, both of his questions we're answered.

06-29-2003, 09:47 PM	#1
rachmaninov Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 11, 2003 Posts: 6	2 questions about language Hi, I live in Holland, so my english is not so good. I would like to ask 2 questions about english language. In this episode: ------------------- "155. MIKE AND GLORIA SPLIT Mike spends a night with Archie after a fight with Gloria" ------------------- when Mike visits Archie and Edith in the middle of the night, Edith says to Mike "Don't worry, we was only sleeping" Archie replies "Don't tell that, suppose we was not sleeping. After Edith said it, I thought i did not hear it well, but after Archie used the same phrase, I am sure I heard well. Does somebody know why it is not "we were sleeping"? Is this a kind of "slang" language? Something like "I did not hear nothing"? Later in this episode Archie tells Mike that a nephew died in his bed. Mike asked the reason of his death. Archie answers: "his feet" "The nephew always said, my feet will be my death" Is that an expression? Does someone know the right expression? And what is the exact meaning of the expression? Thank you very much! rachmaninov

06-30-2003, 12:42 PM	#2
KayEn78 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 23, 2002 Location: Rolling Meadows, Illinois Posts: 201	Edith: "...we was only sleeping." Archie: "Suppose we wasn't slepping, would you give him a run down of that?" I think that's how the quote went. Edith told the truth...they really were fast asleep. But Archie sarcastically remarks, what if we weren't sleeping? Meaning, I think, that there are other things done in bed besides sleeping and would Edith have told Mike what they had been doing, besides sleeping. (No, she wouldn't have--that's a private matter). I think that's what it meant. If not, someone correct me if I'm wrong. I hope this answers your first question. As for the second question, I can't remember that quote, I'll have to go back and look at the episode. But, I hope I answered the first question. -Kristi
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06-30-2003, 11:50 PM	#4
KayEn78 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 23, 2002 Location: Rolling Meadows, Illinois Posts: 201	Ooops, you're probably right about the grammar thing. My mistake. Just ignore my post... -Kristi

07-01-2003, 12:55 PM	#6
KayEn78 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 23, 2002 Location: Rolling Meadows, Illinois Posts: 201	Oh no, I'm not discouraged, but sometimes I do get things mixed up and think someone means one thing, when they mean another. But only he would know! So, we'll have to wait and see. -Kristi

08-06-2003, 01:36 AM	#7
Kitt James Dean Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 16, 2001 Location: California Dreamin' Posts: 6,115	Since it's been awhile, maybe we're not going to find out what Rachmaniov meant. My guess is that he was asking about the grammatical nature of the statement by Edith and also what Archie meant by his coimment. So between the two of you, both of his questions we're answered.