Wednesday 2 July 2008

Ja well no fine

ja-well-no-fine

I found a definition of this expression here, but I don't think it fully captures the flavour of this South-Africanism.

In substance, it's a very Beckettian phrase. Think Waiting For Godot, set in South Africa- that moment at the end of the play when Vladimir says to Estragon 'Shall we go?', and he replies 'Yes, let's go.' And neither of them move.

That's a very ja-well-no-fine moment.

11 comments:

Debra Kay said...

Ok.

Mim said...

Uh-huh

Anonymous said...

i think their eyebrows say it all. seriously.

Steve said...

Thanks Frutey.

As my characters often don't have mouths (and sometimes not even eyes), eyebrows DO need to say it all.

I'm still learning how to actually do that. At the moment, I've got anger and hopelessness down pat (they're interestingly, eyebrows-wise, mirror image angles of each other)

switch said...

suberb cartooninal timing.

Unknown said...

I like. I like alot. I'll have to start saying this now. It's very central Missouri as well.

(Should perhaps frames 3 and 4 be reversed?)

ElizT said...

I like that too; reminds me of 'Thrills for Noddy!'

Unknown said...

Jah Wobble on time

baggelboy said...

All we need is anger and hopelessness. All other emotions just mask how hopeless our angry lives are.

soulbrush said...

i love that you include me in your illos. ja well no fine!

i definitely want this one, ja well no fine!

Steve said...

Ah, yes, Armadillo.I can see (hear?) you're a musician. You're right. The rhythm would've been a bit more off-beat if done so. And better.