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Long time no see

January 03, 2023

For other uses, see Long time no see (disambiguation).
Look up long time no see in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

"Long time no see" is an English expression used as an informal greeting by people who have not seen each other for an extended period. The phrase is also acronymized as LTNS in Internet slang.[1]

Its origins in American English appear to stem from pidgin English,[2] and is widely accepted as a fixed expression. The phrase is a multiword expression that stands against most varieties of Standard English.[3] It may, thus, derive ultimately from an English pidgin such as that spoken by Native Americans or Chinese, or an imitation of such.[4] The lexicographer Eric Partridge notes that the phrase is akin to "no can do" and "chop chop".[5]

Origin

The phrase "long time no see" first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1901.[citation needed]

Two etymological explanations exist. The expression might be derived from Native American Pidgin English, as close variations of the expression appear in at least two novels from 1900, both attributed to Native American characters. Alternatively, it might be a literal translation of the Cantonese phrase hou2 gau2 bat1 gin3 (simplified Chinese: 好久不见; traditional Chinese: 好久不見).[4]

In literature

The phrase can be found in Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains, by author W. F. Drannan, which recorded a Native American man greeting the narrator by saying, "Good morning. Long time no see you."[2]

Another early use of the phrase in record, though not as a greeting, may be found in the 1843 publication by James Campbell, titled Excursions, Adventures, and Field-Sports in Ceylon: "Ma-am—long time no see wife—want go to Colombo see wife."[6]

References

  1. ^ "Definition of 'LTNS'".
  2. ^ a b "long (a.1 c)". Oxford English Dictionary. 1989. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  3. ^ cited as an example by Attia, Mohammed A. (2006). "Accommodating Multiword Expressions in an Arabic LFG Grammar". In Salakoski, Tapio (Ed.) Fifth International Conference on Natural Language Processing, pp. 87–109. Springer. ISBN 3-540-37334-9.
  4. ^ a b Gandhi, Lakshmi (2014). "Who First Said 'Long Time, No See' And In Which Language?". Code Switch. NPR. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  5. ^ Partridge, Eric, and Beale, Paul (2002). A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, p. 1386. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-29189-5, ISBN 978-0-415-29189-7.
  6. ^ Campbell, James (1843). Excursions, Adventures, and Field-Sports in Ceylon; Its Commercial and Military Importance, and Numerous Advantages to the British Emigrant, Vol. 1, p. 254. London: T. and W. Boone.

January 03, 2023
long, time, other, uses, disambiguation, look, long, time, wiktionary, free, dictionary, english, expression, used, informal, greeting, people, have, seen, each, other, extended, period, phrase, also, acronymized, ltns, internet, slang, origins, american, engl. For other uses see Long time no see disambiguation Look up long time no see in Wiktionary the free dictionary Long time no see is an English expression used as an informal greeting by people who have not seen each other for an extended period The phrase is also acronymized as LTNS in Internet slang 1 Its origins in American English appear to stem from pidgin English 2 and is widely accepted as a fixed expression The phrase is a multiword expression that stands against most varieties of Standard English 3 It may thus derive ultimately from an English pidgin such as that spoken by Native Americans or Chinese or an imitation of such 4 The lexicographer Eric Partridge notes that the phrase is akin to no can do and chop chop 5 Origin EditThe phrase long time no see first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1901 citation needed Two etymological explanations exist The expression might be derived from Native American Pidgin English as close variations of the expression appear in at least two novels from 1900 both attributed to Native American characters Alternatively it might be a literal translation of the Cantonese phrase hou2 gau2 bat1 gin3 simplified Chinese 好久不见 traditional Chinese 好久不見 4 In literature EditThe phrase can be found in Thirty One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains by author W F Drannan which recorded a Native American man greeting the narrator by saying Good morning Long time no see you 2 Another early use of the phrase in record though not as a greeting may be found in the 1843 publication by James Campbell titled Excursions Adventures and Field Sports in Ceylon Ma am long time no see wife want go to Colombo see wife 6 References Edit Definition of LTNS a b long a 1 c Oxford English Dictionary 1989 Retrieved September 7 2010 cited as an example by Attia Mohammed A 2006 Accommodating Multiword Expressions in an Arabic LFG Grammar In Salakoski Tapio Ed Fifth International Conference on Natural Language Processing pp 87 109 Springer ISBN 3 540 37334 9 a b Gandhi Lakshmi 2014 Who First Said Long Time No See And In Which Language Code Switch NPR Retrieved March 29 2022 Partridge Eric and Beale Paul 2002 A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English p 1386 Routledge ISBN 0 415 29189 5 ISBN 978 0 415 29189 7 Campbell James 1843 Excursions Adventures and Field Sports inCeylon Its Commercial and Military Importance and Numerous Advantages to the British Emigrant Vol 1 p 254 London T and W Boone Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Long time no see amp oldid 1128249190, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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