italian-studies: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies
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> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of George FERZOCO
> Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 5:23 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [I-S] Upon reflection
>
> Now the second point: what is a 'muppet' (not a 'Muppet' -- I know
> Kermit the Frog when I see him)? What would a good Italian equivalent
> term be?
Bella domanda, since the use of "muppet" wasn't especially clear in English.
I'll be looking forward to hearing what madrelingua colleagues say; in the
meantime, I'd offer bamboccio, fantoccio, puffo or, if we want to follow the
etymology of the term "muppet" as coined by Henson: mapazzo.
Urbandictionary, meanwhile, defines muppet as:
-- A person who is ignorant and generally has no idea about anything.
-- a person who defies explanation with regard to common sense and logic
-- an idiot
-- A person controlled or told what to do
(summarizing madly).
And the OED confirms:
-- Brit. Prison slang (derogatory). A prisoner with psychiatric problems; a
vulnerable inmate liable to be bullied or harassed by others.
-- slang. An incompetent or ineffectual person; an idiot. Also (with less
derogatory force): someone enthusiastic but inept; a person prone to mishaps
through naivety.
Ed's use of the term (according to the explanation that he's now provided)
is entirely idiosyncratic.
W.
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