'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

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Wednesday 25 January 2012

Dijea's Photo Challenge. #2



Twins spotted near the Dart River bridge, near Glenorchy, in the South Island of New Zealand*.


*Some visitors to New Zealand are confused about how to talk about where you are in New Zealand.
We don't say this photo was taken 'on South Island' or even 'in South Island', but 'in (never on) the South Island'.
'South Island' and 'North Island' are not names of islands. It is always the South Island or the North Island because the 'of New Zealand' always follows, even if not explicitly stated.

Odd, but true.

Imagine that implied '... of New Zealand' and you'll sound like a true blue Kiwi.

8 comments:

  1. Just like here, we live "in the northern suburbs" [of Atlanta] or "in the southern suburbs" etc.

    But some people have to be different and say "on the north side" or "on the south side"...and the city is always implied as the answer to the unasked question "of what?"

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  2. There is a curious parallel to be drawn with some of the Scottish Islands. I live in The Western Isles (a proper noun for the Outer Hebrides). The Northern Isles is simply a collective noun for the two sets of Islands of Orkney and Shetland.

    However within the Western Isles there is 'the Southern Isles' being a term used within the area for the Islands South of the Straights between Harris and North Uist.

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  3. Lovely pic. Yes I can imagine getting that name wrong! It's the "in" bit, particularly. Thank you :)

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  4. I've ridden the Dart River...shallow and wide, but a couple of trips back.

    I popped into your sight this morning to thank you for visiting me and your comments. I really didn't get to post much while I was in NZ because my sister's computer didn't have a good photo program to work with. Imagine my surprise when the first thing on the screen was : Dijea's Photo..." She's my daughter, if you remember.

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  5. Robert - I suspect every city has a 'side'. Often it's the 'other side of the tracks'.

    Geeb - The local terminology for areas is interesting. It's akin to a dialect in placing us geographically.

    Emily - thanks. Oh by the way, I am full of admiration for your climbing progress!

    Judy - yes, I did remember! Are you going to do some retrospective NZ posts now you are back?

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  6. Well, that makes sense now that you explain it. We have streets here that are always known by The- The Danforth or The Lakeshore. We have a tendency to not use the st or ave or rd after the name. I once called for auto service and got someone in some far, far away place in a call centre and had to admit I wasn't really sure if it was Lakeshore Road or Avenue, I just kept saying it is THE Lakeshore.
    Unfortunately no-one know why we do this.

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  7. That's interesting Violet. But, as you say, taken for granted until you encounter someone who doesn't do it!
    I hope you found the number you wanted...

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  8. Thanks for your concern Katherine. Soggy but not swimming !!!!
    Cheers

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