Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2024 April 7

Welcome to the Wikipedia Language Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

April 7

Arabic help - please see Draft:Battle of Wadi Bu Taga

Hi all,

According to this website, this wadi in Libya: "Uádi Bu Tága is also known as Uadi Bu Taga, Uádi Bu Tága, Wadi Bu Taqah, Wādī Bū Ţāqah"

"Wādī Bū Ţāqah" looks to me like a good, or at least good enough Romanization of this place in Libya.

Could you possibly have a look into this, and identify what it actually is in Arabic?

Pete AU aka Shirt58 (talk) 🦘 10:28, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

The name in Arabic is وادي ابو طاقة , it is mentioned here https://archive.org/stream/muajmmaark/muajmmaark_djvu.txt . With Romanization of Arabic there is always arbitrary choices, but Wadi Bu Taqah seems ok. The full name in MSA would be Wadi Abu Taqah. "Uadi" is rather an Italian Romanization. Taga instead of Taqah would be closer to local pronunciation. --Soman (talk) 10:45, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

what is that quailtyless superlative called?

like when someone says 'that was one of the x of all time' or 'that was definitely one of the x ever made' or 'of all the x I've seen, that was one of them'; is there a name for that? Will Hendrix (talk) 17:08, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

Given that the qualityless superlative is a relatively new invention and only used for the somewhat-niche application of sarcastically subverting expectations, I don't think there is a unified name for it, but phrases like 'one of the x of all time' count as snowclones. GalacticShoe (talk) 18:42, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

Sadly, I very commonly see it in the ungrammatical form of "One of the greatest <singular noun> of all time", rather than the correct "One of the greatest <plural noun> of all time". The writers seem to be bamboozled by the word "one".-- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 21:26, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

certainly one of the misuse of all time GalacticShoe (talk) 21:46, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

I could tell you things about my misuses of time —Tamfang (talk) 21:18, 18 April 2024 (UTC)

A German translation for a 1907 news article

I'm working on Draft:Adelaide Bronti and came across this news article about, presumably, a theatre production she was in. But I don't know German and the OCR translation from the text is...not the best. Can anyone assist? I really just need to know what the name of the play was and, if mentioned, what her role was. Silverseren^C 17:23, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

My best guess is that the play is called Vergeßt nicht Mr. Bowser ("Don't forget Mr. Bowser"), presumably written by the "Fory Mr. Bowser" Company themselves ("Fory" is an odd word). Ms. Bronti is lauded for her beautiful alto, a "well-cultivated, musical voice", her role is characterised as a starkgeistige Frau, a "strong-spirited woman", or maybe a "strong-willed woman"? No role name is given. --Wrongfilter (talk) 17:51, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

Thank you so much for your help! Silverseren^C 17:55, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

Silver seren I think the play was "Foxy Mr. Bowser" based on newspapers.com hits.

My version for Google translate

"Die'Foxy Mr Bowser' Company begreift Alles in sich im Menu von theatralischer Posse und die schöne Altstimme von Frl. Adelaide Bronti gewinnt und erfreut alle Theaterbesucher wo immer diese Attraktion erschienen ist. Ihre Darstellung einer starkgeistigen Frau und ihre gutkultivirte musikalische Stimme sind bewunderungswürdig. Hr. Wills als englischer Professor in seiner drolligen Weise als eifriger Liebhaber und die singende und tanzende Soubrette geben dem Stück gesunden fröhlichen Humor. Als großer Pantoffelheld gewinnt Jesse A Manola das Herz des Publikums beim ersten Auftritt. Er ist sanft und demüthig wie ein Lamm und witzig und schlau wie ein Philadel-phia Advokat. Die ganze Attraktion ist von Anfang bis zu Ende vorzüglich. Vergeßt nicht Mr Bowser im Opern- haus Samstag den 16 März." Wilis --> Wills; singend --> singende; eisten --> ersten.  --Lambiam 09:01, 8 April 2024 (UTC) Lambiam I have incorporated your corrections. TSventon (talk) 10:33, 8 April 2024 (UTC)

translation

The "Foxy Mr. Bowser" company encompasses everything in the menu of theatrical farce, and the beautiful alto voice of Miss Adelaide Bronti wins and delights all theatergoers wherever this attraction appears. Her portrayal of a strong-spirited woman and her well-cultivated musical voice are admirable. Mr. Wills as the English professor, in his amusing manner as an ardent lover, and the singing and dancing soubrette, bring healthy, cheerful humor to the piece. As a great henpecked hero, Jesse A. Manola wins the audience's heart from the first appearance. He is gentle and humble like a lamb and witty and cunning like a Philadelphia lawyer. The entire attraction is excellent from beginning to the end. Don't forget Mr. Bowser at the Opera House, Saturday, March 16th.  --Lambiam 09:01, 8 April 2024 (UTC)

There is a similar English report in The Grand Island Independent Fri, Mar 15, 1907 Page 4 via newspapers.com. TSventon (talk) 18:21, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

You're right about "Foxy" — in some Fraktur fonts, r and x are very similar, with the x having a little tail at the lower left, which is just about visible in the article scan. That may also be the title of the play, although I find the immediatly following "Company" a bit confusing. Well, it's Nebraska German, so there may be a few particularities. Can you please provide links to whatever you've found on newspapers.com? I don't seem to be allowed to use their search function, not even through wikipedia library... --Wrongfilter (talk) 18:56, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

Wrongfilter my link is this. I haven't registered to make clippings. The English article says "the company numbers some twenty people" and refers to "the Foxy Mr. Bowser orchestra", so I guess that " "Foxy Mr. Bowser" Company" is borrowed from English with the word company capitalised as a German noun. TSventon (talk) 19:18, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

I've clipped it for you here. Silverseren^C 19:25, 7 April 2024 (UTC)

Thanks. Incidentally, google sent me this article (which I can see) from Arkansas a couple of months later, might be useful. --Wrongfilter (talk) 19:41, 7 April 2024 (UTC)