Sweetie, honey, darling

Posted by ESC on January 24, 2004

In Reply to: posted by Word Camel on January 24, 2004

: : From SheffieldToday.net: One asylum seeker from Syria [said] . . . "I think Sheffield people are very friendly and have helped me feel at home. I have learnt to say 'mi duck' and now I support Sheffield United".

: : I'm supposing that "mi" is pronounced "mee" or a fast M-apostrophe. Why "duck"? Is this a particular-to-Sheffield expression? Meaning?

: 'Me' means 'my' as in 'my duck'. It's used in speaking as a sort of familiar 'flavouring element' (at least that's what my German professor called them). It's a bit the way people sometimes use 'my friend'. I think 'duck' is used in other parts of the UK as well to varying degrees.

I don't know if this is the same thing. Women in service professions (store clerks, waitresses, etc.) here in Kentucky have all started talking like Flo in the TV show "Alice." They call their customers "honey," "darling," "baby." My husband was annoyed/bemused when the assistant at the vet's office called him "sweetheart." She was new and he'd just met her. It doesn't bother me but I do think it's odd.

• Sweetie, honey, darling James Briggs 24/January/04