The Linguistics of Farting
@Sandra1952 (6047)
Spain
January 18, 2010 1:43am CST
No, I don't mean it's possible to fart in different languages! A response to one of my other farting discussions yesterday inspired this. Apparently in Norwiegian, 'fart' means 'speed.' This got me thinking about the German language, where 'fahrt' (slightly different spelling, but same pronunciation) means 'trip,' and a motorway exit is an 'ausfahrt.' 'Father' is 'vater,' pronounced 'farter.'
Now, in English, 'fart' has basically one meaning, and the word is onomatopaeic, meaning when you say 'fart' it sounds a bit like one. What about in your language? Does 'fart' mean something different? Do you know any other ways in which 'fart' is used in English? One that springs to mind is 'farting about,' which we say when someone is messing about, or not doing something properly.
So come on, exercise your brain cells instead of your farting muscles for once and let's get educational here!
3 people like this
7 responses
@thedailyclick (3017)
•
18 Jan 10
As far as I remember, and yes I did once look this up being the juvenille saddo that I am, that fart only has two meanings in the English lingo being the obvious use for expelling gas, cutting the cheese, letting rip etc etc and also to describe a fool as in an old fart being an old fool or farting about being fooling about. Shame really as it's such a great word it should be applicable for many uses and definitions.
2 people like this
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
18 Jan 10
But, aren't brain cells and farting muscles one and the same? I mean, at least sometimes? I'm sure we've all had brain farts from time to time. I know I have. 
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
18 Jan 10
Yes, you're right on that one, Marti. I've had plenty of those.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45597)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Jan 10
Oh, I see they haven't been forgotten. I must have had a brain fart, then.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
18 Jan 10
only thing i can think of that hasn't been mentioned is car fart.
it's when your car either backfires or just stinks in general for no good reason.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
18 Jan 10
Hello, Scarlet_woman. Now we're motoring! A car fart. I like it.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
28 Jan 10
Hello, Hubfee. That's a great talent. I can do some quite musical ones, although I can't actually fart a tune. There's a chap called Mr Methane who can, though. I've heard him and he's very good. Nothing to be embarrassed about - farting is a perfectly natural function.
@hexeduser22 (7253)
• Philippines
19 Jan 10
Wow! This is a good one Well I don't know much about how to use the word fart in any other way unless the one talking has a P and F problem. For example "We should part ways here" --- "We should fart ways here"
I would like to add an additional info though...Do you know that the gas you release in farting is the same gas you release in a burp? Yes it is, so when you burp it is like farting. They say that farting is more proper than burping because the gas is proper to be released in the lower area than in the mouth
Well I don't know much about how to use the word fart in any other way unless the one talking has a P and F problem. For example "We should part ways here" --- "We should fart ways here"
I would like to add an additional info though...Do you know that the gas you release in farting is the same gas you release in a burp? Yes it is, so when you burp it is like farting. They say that farting is more proper than burping because the gas is proper to be released in the lower area than in the mouth1 person likes this
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
19 Jan 10
Hello, Hexeduser. I like that one! 'The farting of the ways.' It has a certain poetic resonance, don't you think? I don't suppose those that are on the receiving end of the lower end releases would agree that farting is more proper, though. 
1 person likes this
@hexeduser22 (7253)
• Philippines
19 Jan 10
I guess that would be the case and in any situation they would really prefer burping than farting
Yes Indeed it has some Poetic resonance and I must say farting is an art
Yes Indeed it has some Poetic resonance and I must say farting is an art1 person likes this
