Following on from Porgie's qs, who knows why we call each other China?
I know, i wanna see who else knows...
2007-12-10 18:30:14 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ South Africa
Kay, heres my first hint:
Comm, no its not from Zimbabwe, its from much farther away...
Lise, youve almost got it, but not quite...
2007-12-10 20:32:54 · update #1
The working-class people of London, particularly east London, use a rhyming slang that is very colorful. The original form they used was "china plate" which rhymes with "my mate". British immigrants brought this rhyming slang over to South Africa, but it died out except for a few like "my china".
PS: If you ever have the opportunity, go and rent "Snatch" from the video store. Brad Pitt does a mean Cockney rhyming accent. Most of the times you won't even know what he's saying!
2007-12-10 21:05:22 · answer #1 · answered by Porgie 7 · 7⤊ 3⤋
Hey Jake old mate I have heard / read this before, (probably on the net) Makes for an interesting story, huh. I wouldnt go so far as to say it is undenyably true, but it does get a lot of "support" from the "experts"
2016-04-08 07:51:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Porgie is right, it's not a SA thing.
It originated in the UK with the words China plate that rhymes with "mate".
EDIT
I guess I'm in good company if Cakes and MJ's answers also got a few thumbsdowns...
But I'm actually pretty sure we are right just like Porgie...
2007-12-11 06:40:31 · answer #3 · answered by backhand-smash 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'm guessing from Cockney slang...'china plates' = 'mates'
e.g. I'll go and fetch all the teapots and lids, first let me get down the apples and pairs. If my wife be telling me some porky pies I'll zip around to old china plates and then be off to Jim Tar's. lol...good luck
2007-12-12 17:55:33 · answer #4 · answered by -♦One-♦-Love♦- 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dude, I know the real answer to this question, it comes from very old cockney rhyming slang from the turn of the century, "china plate" = mate! It came over with the British soldiers who came from the "lower" echelons of British society. Another word is "pel" from N.English "pal" used in much the same way. An SA word that went back to Britain was "skoff", as in "skoff" your food which they use in Lancashire.... Dude is surf slang from California.
2007-12-11 07:07:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
It originated in the British Royal Air Force, Navy and Army and has nothing to do with South Africa. . . .don't fancy yourself!
The Brits were in China and up to recently in Hong Kong, it was a friendly nickname used to greet a co-pilot or somebody in the same squad.. . .'Hey Old China'. The same group were also using names such as Old Sweat, Old Bean (for a lanky person), Old Stiff (for an up-tight or reserved member) etc.
2007-12-11 07:45:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Hi Stuyvies, your question caused me to discover a nes site. One has to register to see some of its content. There are some nice recipes which one can eccess for free, but the for link to the slang (which defines the china mate, .... plate thing Porgie was talking about) one has to be logged in. (click on contact)
http://www.southafrican.za.net/sa-slang.html
2007-12-11 02:17:47 · answer #7 · answered by cakes4southafrica 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
I am guessing, my China, that we call each other China because porcelain was a precious commodity years ago when we all had wooden and tin plates and only the rich could afford imported china plates and cups ....like the voortrekkers.
2007-12-10 18:37:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
its the cockney thing - rhyming for slang - mate rhymes with plate, best plates used to be china, so your china becomes your best mate
2007-12-11 22:10:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I have no idea about china, which does seem to be a very South African thing. Here's one for you..
What does "dude" actually mean?
Check back later for my addition
2007-12-10 23:23:38 · answer #10 · answered by chickyboo222 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋