peeves - 'have done' and 'fey'

[salixbabylon]

Peeve #1 --

"Have you ever gone fishing?" Viggo asked.

"I have done," Orli answered.

DONE is never used in this way in English. I am totally blown the heck away by all of you who speak and write in English when it's not your native tongue. This, however, is totally incorrect. I have never in my life read or heard this construction except in fanfiction.

If it's British, I will happily (oh, -so- happily *g*) take my 40 lashes as punishment. But I have never heard it and it's Wrong Wrong Wrong for American characters. (Please, feel free to argue with me... Maybe they say it in rural Alabama.)


Peeve #2 --

"He stood there in his Legolas costume, looking fey and inhumanly beautiful."

"He was in a fey mood."

"fey" does NOT mean dark or mysterious.


The Oxford English Dictionary defines "fey" as:
1. Fated to die, doomed to death; also, at the point of death; dying. And further notes that this use is archaic, but still in use in Scotland.
2. Leading to or presaging death; deadly, fatal. Obsolete.
3. Accursed, unfortunate, unlucky. Obsolete.
4. Feeble, timid; sickly, weak. Obsolete.
5. Disordered in mind like one about to die; possessing or displaying magical, fairylike, or unearthly qualities. Now freq. used ironically, in sense 'affected, whimsy'.

So the last meaning is kind of close, but still means DOOM AND GLOOM. Not sexy and pretty and ethereal and a lot of other words your handy thesaurus will supply you with.

And even http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=fey says:
Main Entry: fey
1 a chiefly Scottish : fated to die : DOOMED b : marked by a foreboding of death or calamity
2 a : able to see into the future : VISIONARY b : marked by an otherworldly air or attitude c : CRAZY, TOUCHED
3 a : PRECIOUS 3 b : UNCONVENTIONAL, CAMPY


This has been a public service announcement.

Thank you for your time.

Comments

[dragon-charmer.livejournal.com]

"Have you ever gone fishing?" Viggo asked.
"I have done," Orli answered.

I might very well reply to this question "I have done in the past." but I would be more likely to say "Yes I have."

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

I would be more likely to say "Yes I have."

So would I. But I guess it's a British thing and I'm just being a dumb American again. Thanks for your input - I'm always happy to learn. :)

*willingly bends over for her 40 lashes*
*wiggles bum*
;)

[dragon-charmer.livejournal.com]

40 seems to be an excessive punishment, but as you asked...
One...
...Two...
......Three...

[jasmineskie.livejournal.com]

possessing or displaying magical, fairylike, or unearthly qualities.

I think this part is what people mean when they use 'fey' as a description of either Legolas or Orlando, not realizing that it's a dark magical or fairylike quality. Not all elves in literature are nice.

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

I do agree that 'fey' can certainly be used appropriately in fanfic to describe an ethereal and yet dark tone.. but people seem to be mostly using it in a happy-bouncy-pretty way.

And you're not arguing with me, so why am I arguing back?

Sorry. It's a *grump*grump*grump* day. Again.

It's good word, though, and I'm pleased to have been grouchy enough to look it up and learn more about it.

<-- total OED whore

;)

[(Anonymous)]

On point number 1, I hate to be a British pain but we do say it. It references something you have done in the past but no longer do now. Sorry to ruin your rant... :)

aurient

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

That's OK, I guess I should have taken a deep breath and calmed down before I posted.

And hey, I learned something.

*willingly bends over for her 40 lashes*
Um, can you and franlet share the 40 lashes, or do I get 80 now? ;)

[ex-sarka257.livejournal.com]

What have you been reading, sweetheart?

I will profess my ignorance of #1, but I'd never use it myself. #2... I think I understand what the author is trying to get at, but I agree with you, it's not working.

My #1 pet peeve is Random!Danish. It makes me want to spork my eyes out, especially since I speak it and am therefore forced to understand the nonsense. Danish endearments, especially, make me cry blood. (Endearments are just not used at the drop of a hat in Nordic languages. It sounds unbelieavably corny.)

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

I don't want to embarrass any authors, so I'm going to leave what I've been reading a secret.

I never knew that about Danish, but it makes sense. Both that it would be wrong to use endearments so casually and that it would annoy you, since you speak it and understand the flavor of the language a lot more than those of who don't. It's odd how so many authors, myself included, write "foreign" characters who speak the way we do, making some changes for British (or Danish) -isms, but not quite grasping that the context is different. It must be very abrasive for native speakers...

Then again, the options are, we all only write in our actual languages... or we recognize that authors are doing their best and try to gently help them along when they fuck up. ;)

As always, anyone with BritPicking for me is most welcome.

[marlinadietrich.livejournal.com]

Hi Salix!
I think I knew about your livejournal, but I only just visited it again.
I've often heard that complaint about Americans speaking or writing British, but never Danish. That makes me laugh a lot :)
I'm going to put you on my friends list, is that all right?

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

Friend away!