In an obituary for a 'Doctor Poon', it was said that she "passed away in
haste".

I suspect that it was written by a non-native English speaker, so I am
wondering if anyone recognizes the phrase from another language. Link to
the obituary withheld, as I am not sure of the appropriateness of
posting it.

--
Frisbeetarianism: The belief that when you die, your soul goes up on
the roof and gets stuck.

In article <ul2e93$2ah6b$1@dont-email.me>,
larry@invalid.ca says...
>
> In an obituary for a 'Doctor Poon', it was said that she "passed away in
> haste".
>
> I suspect that it was written by a non-native English speaker, so I am
> wondering if anyone recognizes the phrase from another language. Link to
> the obituary withheld, as I am not sure of the appropriateness of
> posting it.

In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".

Janet

Janet wrote:

>> In an obituary for a 'Doctor Poon', it was said that she "passed away in
>> haste".
>>
>> I suspect that it was written by a non-native English speaker, so I am
>> wondering if anyone recognizes the phrase from another language. Link to
>> the obituary withheld, as I am not sure of the appropriateness of
>> posting it.
>
> In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".

If you get diagnosed with cancer and die fourteen days later, you have
died quickly, but not suddenly.

--
Bertel, Denmark

On 2023-12-09 13:59, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> Janet wrote:
>
>>> In an obituary for a 'Doctor Poon', it was said that she "passed away in
>>> haste".
>>>
>>> I suspect that it was written by a non-native English speaker, so I am
>>> wondering if anyone recognizes the phrase from another language. Link to
>>> the obituary withheld, as I am not sure of the appropriateness of
>>> posting it.
>>
>> In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".

Here, it would usually be 'passed away suddenly'.

> If you get diagnosed with cancer and die fourteen days later, you have
> died quickly, but not suddenly.

There''s always Steven Wight's take on 'killed instantly'.
He says that's just the way it works.

You're alive. You're alive. You're alive. You're dead.

--
I have the words already.
What I am seeking is the perfect order of words in the sentence.
~ James Joyce

On Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 11:59:10 AM UTC-8, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> Janet wrote:
>
> >> In an obituary for a 'Doctor Poon', it was said that she "passed away in
> >> haste".
> >>
> >> I suspect that it was written by a non-native English speaker, so I am
> >> wondering if anyone recognizes the phrase from another language. Link to
> >> the obituary withheld, as I am not sure of the appropriateness of
> >> posting it.
> >
> > In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".
> If you get diagnosed with cancer and die fourteen days later, you have
> died quickly, but not suddenly.
>
Either -- quickly or suddenly -- might be appropriate, but we don't enough context
to be certain. I agree that it could have been written or translated either by someone
who is either new to English, or speaks a variation of English different from mine.

I asked Google about the family name Poon and got this:

The dialect in which this form of the name is found is spoken in eastern Guangdong ...
Fujian province and Taiwan from where some people migrated to Malaysia Thailand
Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia.

bill

"Larry":
>>>> In an obituary for a 'Doctor Poon', it was said that she "passed away in
>>>> haste".

"Obituary" means either an article describing the noteworthy life and
recent death of a person and printed as news, or else a notice typically
written by family members and printed as an advertisement. I prefer to
limit the word to the first meaning and use "death notice" for the other.

"Janet":
>>> In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".
"Larry":
> Here, it would usually be 'passed away suddenly'.

In a death notice, I think it would usually be just "Suddenly",
although depending on how it's worded, "passed away (suddenly)"
is certainly possible. In an obituary, I'd expect plain language:
"died (suddenly)".
--
Mark Brader | I remember singing "God Save the Queen" every morning...
Toronto | "Long live our noble Queen!" ... I guess it worked.
msb@vex.net | She's still alive. --Rick Moranis, 2009

My text in this article is in the public domain.

On 2023-12-09 16:18, bil...@shaw.ca wrote:
> On Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 11:59:10 AM UTC-8, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
>> Janet wrote:
>>
>>>> In an obituary for a 'Doctor Poon', it was said that she "passed away in
>>>> haste".
>>>>
>>>> I suspect that it was written by a non-native English speaker, so I am
>>>> wondering if anyone recognizes the phrase from another language. Link to
>>>> the obituary withheld, as I am not sure of the appropriateness of
>>>> posting it.
>>>
>>> In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".
>> If you get diagnosed with cancer and die fourteen days later, you have
>> died quickly, but not suddenly.
>>
> Either -- quickly or suddenly -- might be appropriate, but we don't enough context
> to be certain. I agree that it could have been written or translated either by someone
> who is either new to English, or speaks a variation of English different from mine.
>
> I asked Google about the family name Poon and got this:
>
> The dialect in which this form of the name is found is spoken in eastern Guangdong ...
> Fujian province and Taiwan from where some people migrated to Malaysia Thailand
> Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia.

Thanks. Onelook gives a definition of 'poon' as

"noun: Any of several East Indian trees of the genus Calophyllum,
yielding a light, hard wood used for masts, spars, etc."

Also "noun: A Chinese surname from Cantonese."

--
The past tense of William Shakespeare is WouldIwas Shookspeared.

On Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 4:38:27 AM UTC+5:30, lar3ryca wrote:
> On 2023-12-09 16:18, bil...@shaw.ca wrote:
> > On Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 11:59:10 AM UTC-8, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> >> Janet wrote:
> >>
> >>>> In an obituary for a 'Doctor Poon', it was said that she "passed away in
> >>>> haste".
>
That (probably incorrectly) suggests that she was in a hurry to pass away.
> >>>>
> Onelook gives a definition of 'poon' as
> "noun: Any of several East Indian trees of the genus Calophyllum,
> yielding a light, hard wood used for masts, spars, etc."
> Also "noun: A Chinese surname from Cantonese."
>
I recall reading of a note JFK wrote to himself on AF1 and threw into a waste basket.
It read 'My poon days are over'
If that meant womanizing or philandering days, they weren't over till he died.

<<(US, vulgar slang) Poontang, the vagina, or, intercourse with a woman.
I'm gonna get me some poon at this party.>>
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/poon>

On 2023-12-09 19:13:39 +0000, lar3ryca said:

> In an obituary for a 'Doctor Poon', it was said that she "passed away
> in haste".
>
> I suspect that it was written by a non-native English speaker, so I am
> wondering if anyone recognizes the phrase from another language. Link
> to the obituary withheld, as I am not sure of the appropriateness of
> posting it.

Not too difficult to find, though. After reading the whole obituary,
however, I don't feel any the wiser as to the meaning of "passed away
in haste". Probably Janet's interpretation is correct.

--
Athel -- French and British, living in Marseilles for 36 years; mainly
in England until 1987.

On 2023-12-09 20:21:09 +0000, lar3ryca said:

> On 2023-12-09 13:59, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
>> Janet wrote:
>>
>>>> In an obituary for a 'Doctor Poon', it was said that she "passed away in
>>>> haste".
>>>>
>>>> I suspect that it was written by a non-native English speaker, so I am
>>>> wondering if anyone recognizes the phrase from another language. Link to
>>>> the obituary withheld, as I am not sure of the appropriateness of
>>>> posting it.
>>>
>>> In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".
>
> Here, it would usually be 'passed away suddenly'.

Yes, but why? Why are North Americans frightened of the word "die"?
>
>> If you get diagnosed with cancer and die fourteen days later, you have
>> died quickly, but not suddenly.
>
> There''s always Steven Wight's take on 'killed instantly'.
> He says that's just the way it works.
>
> You're alive. You're alive. You're alive. You're dead.

--
Athel -- French and British, living in Marseilles for 36 years; mainly
in England until 1987.

On 10/12/2023 09:13, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> On 2023-12-09 19:13:39 +0000, lar3ryca said:
>
>> In an obituary for a 'Doctor Poon', it was said that she "passed away
>> in haste".
>>
>> I suspect that it was written by a non-native English speaker, so I am
>> wondering if anyone recognizes the phrase from another language. Link
>> to the obituary withheld, as I am not sure of the appropriateness of
>> posting it.
>
> Not too difficult to find, though. After reading the whole obituary,
> however, I don't feel any the wiser as to the meaning of "passed away in
> haste". Probably Janet's interpretation is correct.
>

I find the opposite (of "passed away in haste") - "fought cancer bravely
for 2 years" - equally baffling. Do these people don special battle
gear and go into battle every day? Or do they just lie back and let the
body do what it does best - ward off death as best as nature can?

I think these phrases are written to comfort those left behind (as was
the case of Dr. Sandra Rayson Poon). Two extracts from the obituary:

1- "A Catholic Prayer Service will be held ..."
2- "Guests with accessibility needs may use the ramp but are advised the
elevator is *out of service*."

There is scope for ambiguity there.

P.S.
https://leaderpost.remembering.ca/obituary/sandra-rayson-poon-1089050527

Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:

>>>> In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".
>>
>> Here, it would usually be 'passed away suddenly'.
>
> Yes, but why? Why are North Americans frightened of the word "die"?

Is that specific North American? In Danish there exists several
euphemisms for "die". I'm sure there does in many languages.

--
Bertel, Denmark

On Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 1:12:39 AM UTC-8, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>
> >>>> In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".
> >>
> >> Here, it would usually be 'passed away suddenly'.
> >
> > Yes, but why? Why are North Americans frightened of the word "die"?
> Is that specific North American? In Danish there exists several
> euphemisms for "die". I'm sure there does in many languages.
>
Of course. And we have seen no evidence of the claim that North Americans
are frightened of the word "die".

bill

On 2023-12-10 09:12:14 +0000, Bertel Lund Hansen said:

> Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>
>>>>> In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".
>>>
>>> Here, it would usually be 'passed away suddenly'.
>>
>> Yes, but why? Why are North Americans frightened of the word "die"?
>
> Is that specific North American? In Danish there exists several
> euphemisms for "die". I'm sure there does in many languages.

Yes, but many North Americans would prefer to pass away rather than
utter the word "die".

More than half a century ago (so this is not new) Jessica Mitford
mocked the American mealy-mouthedness in The American Way of Death. In
one passage she had two morticians discussing how to present suicides
for display at their funerals, one of who had passed away with a rope,
and another had passed away with a gun.

--
Athel -- French and British, living in Marseilles for 36 years; mainly
in England until 1987.

On 10/12/23 20:19, bil...@shaw.ca wrote:
> On Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 1:12:39 AM UTC-8, Bertel Lund Hansen
> wrote:
>> Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>>
>>>>>> In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".
>>>>
>>>> Here, it would usually be 'passed away suddenly'.
>>>
>>> Yes, but why? Why are North Americans frightened of the word
>>> "die"?
>> Is that specific North American? In Danish there exists several
>> euphemisms for "die". I'm sure there does in many languages.
>>
> Of course. And we have seen no evidence of the claim that North
> Americans are frightened of the word "die".

What I've seen tends to suggest that North Americans are, on average,
more fond than others of the word "pass" to describe a death. This can
be explained by the unusually high proportion of the population that
believes in life after death.

--
Peter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW

occam wrote:

> I find the opposite (of "passed away in haste") - "fought cancer bravely
> for 2 years" - equally baffling. Do these people don special battle
> gear and go into battle every day?

Some do. They may do physical excercises to try to keep fit and counter
the bad effects of the medicine. One could also describe the voluntary
intake of very harmful drugs as a way of fighting against a disease.

Others just await what's going to happen. I have no idea which approach
is most succesful.

> Or do they just lie back and let the
> body do what it does best - ward off death as best as nature can?

Lying back (in both literal and figurative sense) will reduce the muscle
and bone mass.

> I think these phrases are written to comfort those left behind (as was
> the case of Dr. Sandra Rayson Poon). Two extracts from the obituary:

Of course the phrase may be used as a standard phrase with no relation
to the approach of the person.

--
Bertel, Denmark

Le 10/12/2023 à 09:30, Peter Moylan a écrit :
> On 10/12/23 20:19, bil...@shaw.ca wrote:
>>
>> Of course. And we have seen no evidence of the claim that North
>> Americans are frightened of the word "die".
>
> What I've seen tends to suggest that North Americans are, on average,
> more fond than others of the word "pass" to describe a death. This can
> be explained by the unusually high proportion of the population that
> believes in life after death.

There's a comment that Styx.

In article <ul2gu8$2b066$1@dont-email.me>,
gadekryds@lundhansen.dk says...
>
> Janet wrote:
>
> >> In an obituary for a 'Doctor Poon', it was said that she "passed away in
> >> haste".
> >>
> >> I suspect that it was written by a non-native English speaker, so I am
> >> wondering if anyone recognizes the phrase from another language. Link to
> >> the obituary withheld, as I am not sure of the appropriateness of
> >> posting it.
> >
> > In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".
>
> If you get diagnosed with cancer and die fourteen days later, you have
> died quickly, but not suddenly.

In UK obituaries/ media reports, that circumstance would
be "died after a short illness". If the fatal cancer was
prolonged, it would be "died after a long illness", or
(if they were lucky) "died peacefully at home after a long
illness".

"Died suddenly" in UK obituaries, suggests the death
was natural but swift, involuntary and not
foreseen/expected, such as a fatal stroke or heart attack.

"Died tragically" can imply fatal accident, murder,
suicide or accidental overdose.

Janet

In article <ktleu4Fnub2U1@mid.individual.net>,
me@yahoo.com says...
>
> On 2023-12-10 09:12:14 +0000, Bertel Lund Hansen said:
>
> > Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> >
> >>>>> In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".
> >>>
> >>> Here, it would usually be 'passed away suddenly'.
> >>
> >> Yes, but why? Why are North Americans frightened of the word "die"?
> >
> > Is that specific North American? In Danish there exists several
> > euphemisms for "die". I'm sure there does in many languages.
>
> Yes, but many North Americans would prefer to pass away rather than
> utter the word "die".
>
> More than half a century ago (so this is not new) Jessica Mitford
> mocked the American mealy-mouthedness in The American Way of Death. In
> one passage she had two morticians discussing how to present suicides
> for display at their funerals, one of who had passed away with a rope,
> and another had passed away with a gun.

I remember my mother reading that book aloud in the
1960's, howling with laughter. She had been a nurse and
had strong views on the proper,natural way to die, and
handle dying people before and after death.

When her own time came she left nothing to chance and
sent me exact written instructions.
Janet

On Sun, 10 Dec 2023 10:32:51 +0100, Athel Cornish-Bowden
<me@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On 2023-12-10 09:12:14 +0000, Bertel Lund Hansen said:
>
>> Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>>
>>>>>> In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".
>>>>
>>>> Here, it would usually be 'passed away suddenly'.
>>>
>>> Yes, but why? Why are North Americans frightened of the word "die"?
>>
>> Is that specific North American? In Danish there exists several
>> euphemisms for "die". I'm sure there does in many languages.
>
>Yes, but many North Americans would prefer to pass away rather than
>utter the word "die".
>
>More than half a century ago (so this is not new) Jessica Mitford
>mocked the American mealy-mouthedness in The American Way of Death. In
>one passage she had two morticians discussing how to present suicides
>for display at their funerals, one of who had passed away with a rope,
>and another had passed away with a gun.

Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.

Guns aren’t lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live

On 2023-12-10 03:32, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> On 2023-12-10 09:12:14 +0000, Bertel Lund Hansen said:
>
>> Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>>
>>>>>> In Br. E it would be  " died suddenly".
>>>>
>>>> Here, it would usually be 'passed away suddenly'.
>>>
>>> Yes, but why? Why are North Americans frightened of the word "die"?
>>
>> Is that specific North American? In Danish there exists several
>> euphemisms for "die". I'm sure there does in many languages.
>
> Yes, but many North Americans would prefer to pass away rather than
> utter the word "die".
>
> More than half a century ago (so this is not new) Jessica Mitford mocked
> the American mealy-mouthedness in The American Way of Death. In one
> passage she had two morticians discussing how to present suicides for
> display at their funerals, one of who had passed away with a rope, and
> another had passed away with a gun.

Upon reading that, I would immediately wonder if they had decided to
take said items with them.

--
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice,
however in practice there are many...

On 2023-12-10 03:32, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> On 2023-12-10 09:12:14 +0000, Bertel Lund Hansen said:
>
>> Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>>
>>>>>> In Br. E it would be  " died suddenly".
>>>>
>>>> Here, it would usually be 'passed away suddenly'.
>>>
>>> Yes, but why? Why are North Americans frightened of the word "die"?
>>
>> Is that specific North American? In Danish there exists several
>> euphemisms for "die". I'm sure there does in many languages.
>
> Yes, but many North Americans would prefer to pass away rather than
> utter the word "die".
>
> More than half a century ago (so this is not new) Jessica Mitford mocked
> the American mealy-mouthedness in The American Way of Death. In one
> passage she had two morticians discussing how to present suicides for
> display at their funerals, one of who had passed away with a rope, and
> another had passed away with a gun.

Upon reading that, I would immediately wonder if they had decided to
take said items with them.

--
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice,
however in practice there are many...

On 2023-12-10 05:05, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> occam wrote:
>
>> I find the opposite (of "passed away in haste") - "fought cancer bravely
>> for 2 years" - equally baffling. Do these people don special battle
>> gear and go into battle every day?
>
> Some do. They may do physical excercises to try to keep fit and counter
> the bad effects of the medicine. One could also describe the voluntary
> intake of very harmful drugs as a way of fighting against a disease.
>
> Others just await what's going to happen. I have no idea which approach
> is most succesful.

I have known several people who decided, after a few rounds of
chemotherapy or radiation treatment, decided to stop the treatment.

I fully understand the rationale.

>> Or do they just lie back and let the
>> body do what it does best - ward off death as best as nature can?
>
> Lying back (in both literal and figurative sense) will reduce the muscle
> and bone mass.
>
>> I think these phrases are written to comfort those left behind (as was
>> the case of Dr. Sandra Rayson Poon). Two extracts from the obituary:
>
> Of course the phrase may be used as a standard phrase with no relation
> to the approach of the person.
>

--
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?

On 09-Dec-23 19:44, Janet wrote:
> In article <ul2e93$2ah6b$1@dont-email.me>,
> larry@invalid.ca says...
>>
>> In an obituary for a 'Doctor Poon', it was said that she "passed away in
>> haste".
>>
>> I suspect that it was written by a non-native English speaker, so I am
>> wondering if anyone recognizes the phrase from another language. Link to
>> the obituary withheld, as I am not sure of the appropriateness of
>> posting it.
>
> In Br. E it would be " died suddenly".

Or "died unexpectedly".
i.e. there was little anticipation of this event (other than in the most
general sense).

--
Sam Plusnet

On 10-Dec-23 11:48, Hibou wrote:
> Le 10/12/2023 à 09:30, Peter Moylan a écrit :
>> On 10/12/23 20:19, bil...@shaw.ca wrote:
>>>
>>> Of course. And we have seen no evidence of the claim that North
>>> Americans are frightened of the word "die".
>>
>> What I've seen tends to suggest that North Americans are, on average,
>> more fond than others of the word "pass" to describe a death. This can
>> be explained by the unusually high proportion of the population that
>> believes in life after death.
>
> There's a comment that Styx.

But does it hold water?

--
Sam Plusnet