Why Ylvis used go instead of say in phrases like Dog goes “woof”?
Why Ylvis used "go" verb instead of "say" in their song "what the fox say?".
Dog goes "woof"
Cat goes "meow"
Bird goes "tweet"
Is there some specific meaning for "go"?
lyrics
asked 1 hour ago
Alexey RyazhskikhAlexey Ryazhskikh
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Why Ylvis used "go" verb instead of "say" in their song "what the fox say?".
Dog goes "woof"
Cat goes "meow"
Bird goes "tweet"
Is there some specific meaning for "go"?
lyrics
asked 1 hour ago
Alexey RyazhskikhAlexey Ryazhskikh
1161
New contributor
Alexey Ryazhskikh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Note that Ylvis is Norwegian; to me, Dog goes "woof" sounds like a non-native-speaker's approximation of a child's book, not something a native speaker would say – the dog goes "woof" or dogs go "woof" would be OK, but this form sounds awkward.
– 1006a
1 hour ago
@1006a Apparently it doesn't sound awkward to folks in Kentucky: books.google.com/books?id=YSEIPwp0RUsC&pg=PA61
– michael.hor257k
44 mins ago
@michael.hor257k I'm open to the possibility of dialect differences here, but I'm not sure I'd take the lyrics of an old folk song as evidence for what modern Kentuckians would find acceptable in speech.
– 1006a
40 mins ago
@1006a I was being sarcastic. And we are discussing a song, not speech.
– michael.hor257k
37 mins ago
add a comment |
Why Ylvis used "go" verb instead of "say" in their song "what the fox say?".
Dog goes "woof"
Cat goes "meow"
Bird goes "tweet"
Is there some specific meaning for "go"?
lyrics
asked 1 hour ago
Alexey RyazhskikhAlexey Ryazhskikh
1161
New contributor
Alexey Ryazhskikh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Why Ylvis used "go" verb instead of "say" in their song "what the fox say?".
Dog goes "woof"
Cat goes "meow"
Bird goes "tweet"
Is there some specific meaning for "go"?
lyrics
lyrics
asked 1 hour ago
Alexey RyazhskikhAlexey Ryazhskikh
1161
New contributor
Alexey Ryazhskikh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
Alexey RyazhskikhAlexey Ryazhskikh
1161
New contributor
Alexey Ryazhskikh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
Alexey RyazhskikhAlexey Ryazhskikh
1161
New contributor
Alexey Ryazhskikh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
Alexey RyazhskikhAlexey Ryazhskikh
1161
asked 1 hour ago
Alexey RyazhskikhAlexey Ryazhskikh
1161
1161
New contributor
Alexey Ryazhskikh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Alexey Ryazhskikh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Note that Ylvis is Norwegian; to me, Dog goes "woof" sounds like a non-native-speaker's approximation of a child's book, not something a native speaker would say – the dog goes "woof" or dogs go "woof" would be OK, but this form sounds awkward.
– 1006a
1 hour ago
@1006a Apparently it doesn't sound awkward to folks in Kentucky: books.google.com/books?id=YSEIPwp0RUsC&pg=PA61
– michael.hor257k
44 mins ago
@michael.hor257k I'm open to the possibility of dialect differences here, but I'm not sure I'd take the lyrics of an old folk song as evidence for what modern Kentuckians would find acceptable in speech.
– 1006a
40 mins ago
@1006a I was being sarcastic. And we are discussing a song, not speech.
– michael.hor257k
37 mins ago
add a comment |
1
Note that Ylvis is Norwegian; to me, Dog goes "woof" sounds like a non-native-speaker's approximation of a child's book, not something a native speaker would say – the dog goes "woof" or dogs go "woof" would be OK, but this form sounds awkward.
– 1006a
1 hour ago
@1006a Apparently it doesn't sound awkward to folks in Kentucky: books.google.com/books?id=YSEIPwp0RUsC&pg=PA61
– michael.hor257k
44 mins ago
@michael.hor257k I'm open to the possibility of dialect differences here, but I'm not sure I'd take the lyrics of an old folk song as evidence for what modern Kentuckians would find acceptable in speech.
– 1006a
40 mins ago
@1006a I was being sarcastic. And we are discussing a song, not speech.
– michael.hor257k
37 mins ago
1
1
Note that Ylvis is Norwegian; to me, Dog goes "woof" sounds like a non-native-speaker's approximation of a child's book, not something a native speaker would say – the dog goes "woof" or dogs go "woof" would be OK, but this form sounds awkward.
– 1006a
1 hour ago
Note that Ylvis is Norwegian; to me, Dog goes "woof" sounds like a non-native-speaker's approximation of a child's book, not something a native speaker would say – the dog goes "woof" or dogs go "woof" would be OK, but this form sounds awkward.
– 1006a
1 hour ago
@1006a Apparently it doesn't sound awkward to folks in Kentucky: books.google.com/books?id=YSEIPwp0RUsC&pg=PA61
– michael.hor257k
44 mins ago
@1006a Apparently it doesn't sound awkward to folks in Kentucky: books.google.com/books?id=YSEIPwp0RUsC&pg=PA61
– michael.hor257k
44 mins ago
@michael.hor257k I'm open to the possibility of dialect differences here, but I'm not sure I'd take the lyrics of an old folk song as evidence for what modern Kentuckians would find acceptable in speech.
– 1006a
40 mins ago
@michael.hor257k I'm open to the possibility of dialect differences here, but I'm not sure I'd take the lyrics of an old folk song as evidence for what modern Kentuckians would find acceptable in speech.
– 1006a
40 mins ago
@1006a I was being sarcastic. And we are discussing a song, not speech.
– michael.hor257k
37 mins ago
@1006a I was being sarcastic. And we are discussing a song, not speech.
– michael.hor257k
37 mins ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
go
9. Informal To say or utter. Used chiefly in verbal narration: First I go, "Thank you," then he goes, "What for?"
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language
An example that shows the usage can be wider than that:
I fly into JFK
My heart goes boom boom boom
I know that customs man
He’s going to take me
To that little room
from Paranoia Blues by Paul Simon
answered 53 mins ago
michael.hor257kmichael.hor257k
12.3k41941
3
A nitpick: "My heart goes boom boom boom" (also seen in Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill") is really not something someone said or uttered. If a heart or a drum goes "boom" it's just a sound made by an action. I'd suggest your answer would be improved by a different example.
– Robusto
42 mins ago
add a comment |
Verbs with very broad meanings like do or go get the sense of "say" in many languages. English uses "go" to mean "say" in very informal speech. There are children's songs about animal sounds that use it in this way.
answered 1 hour ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
1
Yes, for example the "speak and say" toy uses "The [animal] goes:" almost as often as "The [animal] says:" (along with variations like "Do you hear the [animal]?" and "Here is a/an [animal]:"). And of course a stereotypical teenage conversation includes sentences like So then he goes "wait, what did the fox say?"
– 1006a
53 mins ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
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votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
go
9. Informal To say or utter. Used chiefly in verbal narration: First I go, "Thank you," then he goes, "What for?"
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language
An example that shows the usage can be wider than that:
I fly into JFK
My heart goes boom boom boom
I know that customs man
He’s going to take me
To that little room
from Paranoia Blues by Paul Simon
answered 53 mins ago
michael.hor257kmichael.hor257k
12.3k41941
3
A nitpick: "My heart goes boom boom boom" (also seen in Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill") is really not something someone said or uttered. If a heart or a drum goes "boom" it's just a sound made by an action. I'd suggest your answer would be improved by a different example.
– Robusto
42 mins ago
add a comment |
go
9. Informal To say or utter. Used chiefly in verbal narration: First I go, "Thank you," then he goes, "What for?"
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language
An example that shows the usage can be wider than that:
I fly into JFK
My heart goes boom boom boom
I know that customs man
He’s going to take me
To that little room
from Paranoia Blues by Paul Simon
answered 53 mins ago
michael.hor257kmichael.hor257k
12.3k41941
3
A nitpick: "My heart goes boom boom boom" (also seen in Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill") is really not something someone said or uttered. If a heart or a drum goes "boom" it's just a sound made by an action. I'd suggest your answer would be improved by a different example.
– Robusto
42 mins ago
add a comment |
go
9. Informal To say or utter. Used chiefly in verbal narration: First I go, "Thank you," then he goes, "What for?"
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language
An example that shows the usage can be wider than that:
I fly into JFK
My heart goes boom boom boom
I know that customs man
He’s going to take me
To that little room
from Paranoia Blues by Paul Simon
answered 53 mins ago
michael.hor257kmichael.hor257k
12.3k41941
go
9. Informal To say or utter. Used chiefly in verbal narration: First I go, "Thank you," then he goes, "What for?"
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language
An example that shows the usage can be wider than that:
I fly into JFK
My heart goes boom boom boom
I know that customs man
He’s going to take me
To that little room
from Paranoia Blues by Paul Simon
answered 53 mins ago
michael.hor257kmichael.hor257k
12.3k41941
edited 39 mins ago
answered 53 mins ago
michael.hor257kmichael.hor257k
12.3k41941
answered 53 mins ago
michael.hor257kmichael.hor257k
12.3k41941
answered 53 mins ago
michael.hor257kmichael.hor257k
12.3k41941
12.3k41941
3
A nitpick: "My heart goes boom boom boom" (also seen in Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill") is really not something someone said or uttered. If a heart or a drum goes "boom" it's just a sound made by an action. I'd suggest your answer would be improved by a different example.
– Robusto
42 mins ago
add a comment |
3
A nitpick: "My heart goes boom boom boom" (also seen in Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill") is really not something someone said or uttered. If a heart or a drum goes "boom" it's just a sound made by an action. I'd suggest your answer would be improved by a different example.
– Robusto
42 mins ago
3
3
A nitpick: "My heart goes boom boom boom" (also seen in Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill") is really not something someone said or uttered. If a heart or a drum goes "boom" it's just a sound made by an action. I'd suggest your answer would be improved by a different example.
– Robusto
42 mins ago
A nitpick: "My heart goes boom boom boom" (also seen in Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill") is really not something someone said or uttered. If a heart or a drum goes "boom" it's just a sound made by an action. I'd suggest your answer would be improved by a different example.
– Robusto
42 mins ago
add a comment |
Verbs with very broad meanings like do or go get the sense of "say" in many languages. English uses "go" to mean "say" in very informal speech. There are children's songs about animal sounds that use it in this way.
answered 1 hour ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
1
Yes, for example the "speak and say" toy uses "The [animal] goes:" almost as often as "The [animal] says:" (along with variations like "Do you hear the [animal]?" and "Here is a/an [animal]:"). And of course a stereotypical teenage conversation includes sentences like So then he goes "wait, what did the fox say?"
– 1006a
53 mins ago
add a comment |
Verbs with very broad meanings like do or go get the sense of "say" in many languages. English uses "go" to mean "say" in very informal speech. There are children's songs about animal sounds that use it in this way.
answered 1 hour ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
1
Yes, for example the "speak and say" toy uses "The [animal] goes:" almost as often as "The [animal] says:" (along with variations like "Do you hear the [animal]?" and "Here is a/an [animal]:"). And of course a stereotypical teenage conversation includes sentences like So then he goes "wait, what did the fox say?"
– 1006a
53 mins ago
add a comment |
Verbs with very broad meanings like do or go get the sense of "say" in many languages. English uses "go" to mean "say" in very informal speech. There are children's songs about animal sounds that use it in this way.
answered 1 hour ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
Verbs with very broad meanings like do or go get the sense of "say" in many languages. English uses "go" to mean "say" in very informal speech. There are children's songs about animal sounds that use it in this way.
answered 1 hour ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
answered 1 hour ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
answered 1 hour ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
answered 1 hour ago
jlovegrenjlovegren
12k12143
12k12143
1
Yes, for example the "speak and say" toy uses "The [animal] goes:" almost as often as "The [animal] says:" (along with variations like "Do you hear the [animal]?" and "Here is a/an [animal]:"). And of course a stereotypical teenage conversation includes sentences like So then he goes "wait, what did the fox say?"
– 1006a
53 mins ago
add a comment |
1
Yes, for example the "speak and say" toy uses "The [animal] goes:" almost as often as "The [animal] says:" (along with variations like "Do you hear the [animal]?" and "Here is a/an [animal]:"). And of course a stereotypical teenage conversation includes sentences like So then he goes "wait, what did the fox say?"
– 1006a
53 mins ago
1
1
Yes, for example the "speak and say" toy uses "The [animal] goes:" almost as often as "The [animal] says:" (along with variations like "Do you hear the [animal]?" and "Here is a/an [animal]:"). And of course a stereotypical teenage conversation includes sentences like So then he goes "wait, what did the fox say?"
– 1006a
53 mins ago
Yes, for example the "speak and say" toy uses "The [animal] goes:" almost as often as "The [animal] says:" (along with variations like "Do you hear the [animal]?" and "Here is a/an [animal]:"). And of course a stereotypical teenage conversation includes sentences like So then he goes "wait, what did the fox say?"
– 1006a
53 mins ago
add a comment |
Alexey Ryazhskikh is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Alexey Ryazhskikh is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
Note that Ylvis is Norwegian; to me, Dog goes "woof" sounds like a non-native-speaker's approximation of a child's book, not something a native speaker would say – the dog goes "woof" or dogs go "woof" would be OK, but this form sounds awkward.
– 1006a
1 hour ago
@1006a Apparently it doesn't sound awkward to folks in Kentucky: books.google.com/books?id=YSEIPwp0RUsC&pg=PA61
– michael.hor257k
44 mins ago
@michael.hor257k I'm open to the possibility of dialect differences here, but I'm not sure I'd take the lyrics of an old folk song as evidence for what modern Kentuckians would find acceptable in speech.
– 1006a
40 mins ago
@1006a I was being sarcastic. And we are discussing a song, not speech.
– michael.hor257k
37 mins ago