Whats up? What's Gnu?

Barklessdog · April 15, 2008, 04:00:37 PM

Both!

Dave W · April 15, 2008, 08:18:37 PM

The rhinos must think no gnus is good gnus.

I don't get why some of the spectators are laughing about it. This isn't Bambi.

uwe · April 16, 2008, 03:02:27 AM

Gnus of the world unite. But don't mess with the Rhino gang (whose reaction was rather benevolent and moderate considering (1) their size, (2) that they were attacked and (3) there was four of them.

Didn't know that the German word for wildbeest - Gnu - also existed in English. Probably has African origins.

Uwe

PS: The Gnus deserve all this. They killed Simba's father!

PhilT · April 16, 2008, 05:35:55 AM

A year ago last thursday, I was strolling in the zoo
When I met a man who thought he knew the lot
He was laying down the law about the habbits of baboons
And the number of quills a porcupine has got
So I asked him "What's that creature's name?" and he answered "That's a helk!"
And I'd have gone on thinking that was true
If the animal in question hadn't put that chap to shame,
And remarked—"I ain't a helk—I'm a gnu!

I'm a gnu—I'm a gnu
The g-nicest work of g-nature in the zoo
I'm a gnu—how do you do?
You really oughtta g-know w-who's w-who
I'm a gnu—spelt G - N - U
I'm not a camel or a kangaroo
So let me introduce, I'm neither man nor moose
Oh, g-no, g-no, g-no, I'm a gnu!"

I had taken furnished lodgings down at Rustington-on-sea
Whence I travelled on to Aston-under-lyne
On the second night I stayed there I was wakened from a dream
Which I'll tell you all about some other time
Among the hunting trophies on the wall above my bed
Stuffed and mounted was a face I thought I knew
A bison? An okapi? Could it be a Hartebeeste?
Then I seem to hear a voice—"I'm a gnu!

I'm a gnu—a-g-nother gnu
I wish I could g-nash my teeth at you
I'm a gnu—how do you do?
You really oughtta g-know w-who's w-who
I'm a gnu—spelt G - N - U
Call me bison or okapi and I'll sue
Nor am I in the least like that dreadful Hartebeeste
Oh, g-no, g-no, g-no, I'm a gnu!
G-no, g-no, g-no, I'm a gnu!
G-no, g-no, g-no, I'm a gnu!"

uwe · April 16, 2008, 07:22:38 AM

Who sang this?

Needless to say, you guys probably pronounce it "noo" or - God forbid - even "nuh", right? Of course it should be "gnoo". Pronouncing two consonants one after another isn't so hard, give it a try!

Barklessdog · April 16, 2008, 08:04:44 AM

No, we pronounced it NEU!, like the beloved Krautrock band!

like we pronounce Gryo's as Euro's (sandwich)

uwe · April 16, 2008, 10:26:27 AM

Quote from: Barklessdog on April 16, 2008, 08:04:44 AM
No, we pronounced it NEU!, like the beloved Krautrock band!

Bet you don't pronounce "Neu!" (their drummer just died, his conflict with Michael Rother still unresolved) correctly either!

It's not like in - ouch - neutered, but like in Hanoi Rocks.

Dave W · April 16, 2008, 10:30:15 AM

I love Phil's poem but gnu is usually pronounced "noo" in English.

PhilT · April 17, 2008, 05:56:19 AM

It's Flanders & Swann. They were a popular English concert act in the 1950/60s. They also had a hippopotamus love song, which seems oddly appropriate here.

'Mud, Mud, glorious mud
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood!
So follow me, follow
Down to the hollow
And there let us wallow
In glorious mud'

It's less well known, but I like the Philological Waltz

Oh, it's hard to say:
'Hoolima Kittiluca Cheecheechee'
But in Tonga that means: No
If I ever have the money
Is to Tonga I shall go
For each lovely Tongan maiden there
Will gladly make a date
And by the time she's said
'Hoolima Kittiluca Cheecheechee'
It is usually too late!

Dave W · April 17, 2008, 09:37:29 AM

LOL! Great stuff, Phil. That last one makes me think of John Prine's Let's Talk Dirty In Hawaiian.

SKATE RAT · April 18, 2008, 09:53:10 AM

what a bunch of weirdos!