I have a brother-in-law who is low IQ. He is Hispanic, which is relevant in that the term "what happened?" is a common question in general conversation Spanish translation, "que pasa" An example of a conversation with him is as follows:
"Hey man. I heard you got a job."
"Uh? Job? Oh. Uh? I got a job?"
" That's what I heard, yes."
"Wha happen? Job? I got a job? Oh. Oh yeah. I got a job, uh huh."
** end of conversation **
Now it makes so much more sense. You can almost hear the gears grinding as his mind tries to process what is happening. He has had my wife handle basic paperwork that is too complex for him to process -- like job applications, which was always maddening to me.
Incidentally, the resultant jobs have included bed pan specialist, and currently "security guard." (shudder) I can't imagine my BIL standing up to ANY form of resistance or threat . . . So beware - 'they' are everywhere!
Currently working security, and the people, if you can call them that, that they send to fill in a slot... hooooooooly shit, there are some stupid people out there. Just today, one of our guys is on vacation. I showed the guy where the bathroom is, and he still got lost a little later. I showed him where the locker room is, and he still got lost a little later.
You're right about the literal translation, but having spent 2 years in Panama, I know it also has a sense of "what's going on?" Or whats happening? It can be used in both contexts.
Agreed. I often hear it being misused, where "excuse me?", " I beg your pardon" or ""I didn't hear you - would you please repeat what you just said."
It just seems to demonstrate mental laziness, more often than not.
Of course, every cultural group has their own such terms. I suspect that it's the low-IQ folks who use them the most, either due to said laziness or just an inability to formulate complete sentences.
I have a brother-in-law who is low IQ. He is Hispanic, which is relevant in that the term "what happened?" is a common question in general conversation Spanish translation, "que pasa" An example of a conversation with him is as follows:
"Hey man. I heard you got a job."
"Uh? Job? Oh. Uh? I got a job?"
" That's what I heard, yes."
"Wha happen? Job? I got a job? Oh. Oh yeah. I got a job, uh huh." ** end of conversation **
Now it makes so much more sense. You can almost hear the gears grinding as his mind tries to process what is happening. He has had my wife handle basic paperwork that is too complex for him to process -- like job applications, which was always maddening to me.
Incidentally, the resultant jobs have included bed pan specialist, and currently "security guard." (shudder) I can't imagine my BIL standing up to ANY form of resistance or threat . . . So beware - 'they' are everywhere!
Currently working security, and the people, if you can call them that, that they send to fill in a slot... hooooooooly shit, there are some stupid people out there. Just today, one of our guys is on vacation. I showed the guy where the bathroom is, and he still got lost a little later. I showed him where the locker room is, and he still got lost a little later.
The security guard for my company at one point was a 90 pound introverted 20 year old girl who was afraid to look at anyone.
You're right about the literal translation, but having spent 2 years in Panama, I know it also has a sense of "what's going on?" Or whats happening? It can be used in both contexts.
Agreed. I often hear it being misused, where "excuse me?", " I beg your pardon" or ""I didn't hear you - would you please repeat what you just said."
It just seems to demonstrate mental laziness, more often than not.
Of course, every cultural group has their own such terms. I suspect that it's the low-IQ folks who use them the most, either due to said laziness or just an inability to formulate complete sentences.