A philosophical question for P. Burke
While offering blogday congratulations to M. Feuillet de Figue Feuille de Vigne,* Philadelphia Burke said:
One of my favorite things about your blog is the atmosphere in the comments section. I feel pretty nervous about conversing over the Internet (one reason I couldn't keep up the momentum on my own blog), but nobody here has ever made me feel belittled or uncomfortable. It's not like everybody agrees about everything but the regulars are respectful of each other, and disrespectful people don't stick around for too long.
Sorry to hear that because I truly enjoyed reading your blog, Philadelphia. Perhaps a philosophical question may entice you to resume blogging. If I recall correctly, your examination of Wittgenstein was quite thorough. So this question is for you, although others are encouraged to reply if so moved.
If, for as long as I could remember, I had an interest in spanking, would it be correct to classify that knowledge as a priori? However, if I realized I was an enthusiast only after I was spanked, would that knowledge be classified as a posteriori?
;-)
* Note: Here I need the assistance of one who has a command of both the English and French languages. A in France: is "M. Feuillet de Figue" the appropriate translation for "Mr. Figleaf"? I thought that combining the masculine "feuillet" and the feminine "figue" would be a good choice considering his views on gender stereotypes. But, like too many Americans, I am a monolinguistic dolt, so please advise.
Update: my linguistic knuckles have been rapped by Zeborah, who explains in her comments, "Re "feuillet" - no, you can't do that..." This author is appropriately red-faced and grateful to receive such prompt instruction. As for the long-awaited never-delivered spanking promised by M. Feuille de Vigne, the author has resigned herself to the fact that she may be the first blogger to be spanked posthumously.
;-(
Re "feuillet" - no, you can't do that; "feuillet" isn't a masculine version of "feuille" so much as a word inspired by "feuille" which, because of the change of sound, is interpreted as masculine. Er gender in French grammar (as in anything else really) is complicated. Long story short, it means something completely different.
In any case the literal translation for "figleaf" as used figuratively is actually "feuille de vigne" (grape leaf). (My secret method for translating things like this when (as now) my dictionary is in a box somewhere in the garage: look up the English in Wikipedia, then look down the left hand column for the other languages to find "Français". Click on that and you get the article in French, and the title is your translation.) Unfortunately "vigne" is also feminine.
If you really want the masculine/feminine, you could use "feuille de figuier" -- "figuier", fig-tree, is masculine (French uses the name of the tree rather than the name of the fruit to describe the leaves). But then you lose the figurative associations of the figleaf as "a veil of modesty" as the "feuille de vigne" article says. French speakers are more likely to notice these associations than to notice the genders of the words (which just fade into the background) so I'd go with "feuille de vigne" myself.
Incidentally, here's a gorgeous image about skirt lengths in Victorian times from the French article on modesty.
[Thank you, Zeborah, for the linguistic instruction and the link to the article on skirt lengths. One of my favorite sources for such information is Godey's Ladies' Book. The Newberry Library in Chicago had several issues in the permanent collection. It was a strange juxtaposition to see the patterns for lace collars along with the publication of some of Edgar Allen Poe's goriest short stories. Figleaf, I think that this would be an interesting piece of information for you to peruse if you decide to write more about the relationship of beauty and pain. -- Kochanie]
Yes on both counts! And if you discovered that you liked it after experimenting with a plastic or fiberglass paddle, your knowledge would be both a posteriori and synthetic. Analytic a posteriori knowledge is a more advanced subject; I recommend proceeding slowly and using lots of lube. (Congratulations; you have hit the dorky pun-production button.)
[Thanks, P. Burke! By the way, you should try your hand at screen writing because there's a movie hiding in your comment. Here's the fictitious ad copy: ;-) -- Kochanie]
Oh. My.
Paronomasia-gasm.
I reiterate (from my comment to the entry "Purloined Letters and Penis Purposes), facility with language is highly erotic.
Sunflower
Oh Kochanie, so sorry to have been absent in your hour of need :) but I see Zeborah has answered you. It took me a long time to "get" the way that French speakers just don't see the gender of words. Everyone, male or female, is une personne and then referred to as elle. Similarly a doctor is always masculine even if female.
Interesting too (sorry I'm off at a tangent now) that the figleaves as we know them depicted in art, often are vine leaves. Figleaves, certain varieties anyway, are extremely rough and hairy on the underside so it's no surprise if vine leaves are preferred ;) :)
and the reCaptca words are wobbly association :)
To go back to P. Burke's comment, I couldn't agree more. Figleaf and you, Kochanie, make this a comfortable place to be. I've recently had a different experience when I attempted to put right, as tactfully as I could, some dreadful misconceptions about female genital mutilation. There is none so blind as he who will not see.
[Thank you for your kind words, A. As for your recent experience with "none so blind as he who will not see," that is an experience that is all too common on many blogs. Some blog owners have a policy of not deleting comments, but I think that a dread of censorship opens the door to those who think rudeness and sarcasm are substitutes for wit. All too quickly the more judicious commenters become silent and eventually stop visiting. I think Figleaf does an excellent job of deflating the rude comments, without insulting the commenters. Often he will find a point, albeit a minor one, on which he can agree with a disgruntled reader. Confused, the bellicose commenter departs to search for another blog that will allow virtual fisticuffs. -- Kochanie]
Kochanie, you didn't ask for German - and I realize it's not generally considered a sexy language. But "Herr Feigenblatt" has the same metaphorical meanings as "Mr. Figleaf" along with the same literal meaning.
Trouble is, "das Feigenblatt" is neutral, which I think is *not* the best descriptor of Mr. Figleaf. :-)
[If Figleaf's plans for world domination include a microbrewery, Herr Feigenblatt would be the perfect name for his signature brew, world-renowned for its generous foam. Perhaps he will open a Feigenblatt theme park, complete with a troop of pony girls and boys to replace the famous Clydesdales. ;-) Thanks, Sungold! -- Kochanie]