Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2013 June 15

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June 15

Nom plural of Iesus

Is this Latin word ever pluralized? If so, what is its declension pattern? Wikt:Iesus suggests that it isn't ever pluralized. If it isn't, then, hypothetically, would it just follow regular fourth masc and be Iesūs? ÷seresin 07:50, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

Rarely, but the plural 'Iesus' is used by Tertullian, in book 4 of Against Marcion, he writes "Atque adeo si et Christus Marcionis natus ex homine diceretur, tunc et ipse caperet appellationis communionem, et essent duo filii hominis, sicut et duo Christi et duo Iesus.". - Lindert (talk) 08:21, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

I found an accusative multos Iesus, "many Jesuses", in Calvin, Ad quaestiones et obiecta Iudaei cuiusdam, 15. Iblardi (talk) 08:29, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

Why why?

I was wondering how do you question a why in the shortest possible manner when you want to ask why the other person has asked why and you don't understand it? An example: Jack says "I used to play the piano when I was young." Jill says: "Why?" Jack: "Why why? / Why what? / What do you mean why?" --Pxos (talk) 14:33, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

You could answer back with a properly-emphasized "Why?" and wait for them to elaborate. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 15:10, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

Alternatively, you could say 'Eh?' or 'Hm?'. I believe saying "Why?" back would have your interlocutor expect you to have an explanation. E.g. "Why? Because I did." KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 17:55, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

"Why what?" rʨanaɢ (talk) 18:04, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

There are ways of enunciating "Why?" that will indicate you're questioning the other guy's "Why?" You can do that with any sentence: Echoing it back to them with the right inflection delivers the message just fine. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:10, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

A puzzled look uses no words, and is therefore the shortest. Clarityfiend (talk) 21:44, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

Excellent point. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:12, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

Except in writing, where almost anything trumps "He gave her a puzzled look" for conciseness. -- Jack of Oz ^[Talk] 22:13, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

Yes, it depends on the medium. In a cartoon, putting a large question mark in a balloon over someone's head expresses it. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:18, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

Or you could just wait and say nothing. If they really want to know, they will ask you again, possibly with an clarification. Nothing much shorter than that. This action does not even have to be written down. "Because I said so!" was the usual response from my mother when I was a kid. That was the shortest she could manage. Too busy watching soap operas to explain anything to me. :) KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 16:26, 16 June 2013 (UTC)

? Clarityfiend (talk) 01:25, 17 June 2013 (UTC)

KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 02:31, 17 June 2013 (UTC)

Thx. Ta. :) ! --Pxos (talk) 21:27, 17 June 2013 (UTC)

To the question "Why?", the question "Why not?" is sometimes the response.

—Wavelength (talk) 04:47, 18 June 2013 (UTC)

Hebrew help

What does it mean? ?שלום. אנ' מ'כל. מ'את — Preceding unsigned comment added by LoweIan (talk • contribs) 22:29, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

I'm not a Hebraist, but it appears to say: "Hello, I am Michael. Who are you?" Iblardi (talk) 22:51, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

However, prime marks are used in place of the letter Yod. Under that spelling, it technically says Michal (feminine name), not Michael... AnonMoos (talk) 23:47, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

More specifically, the pronoun "you" is feminine singular. See wikt:Appendix:Hebrew pronouns.

—Wavelength (talk) 05:19, 16 June 2013 (UTC)