Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: For Bambi or for whoever knows

Sorry,
I'm so curious to know what "I remain, as always, ecc. ecc.,"
 means.
May be is a common English way to finish a letter, and I really don't know
what is common in English,
I can just traslate word by word, as u can see.
So, above all, I'd like to know what does  "ecc. ecc." mean, please.
Thanks
Sofia

 Sofia
I remain, as always, your most humble and obedient servant,
Ian GC (Humble clerk)
Sent via Deja.com 
http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.


It's "etc." in English, where the abbreviation if of the original
Latin "et cetera", which in Italian evolved into "eccetera", abbr.
"ecc." Either way, it means literally, and is in fact used to mean,
"and everything else". (Compare the expression "ceteris paribus" =
"everything else being the same".) 
"I remain, [as always, ] etc., etc." implies that there is more to the
formula, but that it is being skipped in the interest of brevity.
In earlier times, people were much more given to long. flowing
expressions of praise, honor, faith, and subservience in their formal
dealings with others. This included lengthy formulas at the end of a
letter. Today, in the US, the closing is typically "Sincerely" or
"Very Truly Yours" or "Kindest Regards". (In France the longer
approach has been retained: "Je vous saurais gré, Monsieur, de croire
mes sentiments les plus distingués." Is this true in Italy?) But in
earlier days, in English you might have closings like:
	"I remain your humble servant, and in every instance
	sincerely hope, not only to meet with your approbation,
	but that also of my God."
"I remain your most humble servant", with an optional "as always", was
a common, and shorter, form. Ultimately, a writer would start the
formula off: "I remain" or "I remain, as always", and follow it with
"etc., etc." to indicate that the rest of the formula was implied even
though not written.
It's kind of like abbreviating the Our Father to "Our Father, who art
in Heaven, etc., etc.".
-- 
Harlan Messinger
There are no Zs in my actual e-mail address.

 Harlan Messinger
But what does Bambi's ecc. ecc. stand for
I think we should be told.


I think we should be told.
Oh, I see. I didn't realize that Sofia was referring to Bambi's
signature. Why Bambi uses "ecc., ecc." I can't speak on decisively,
but since "etc., etc." is not part of the expression being written,
but rather is a comment on the omission of part of it, I'd guess that
Bambi is just making her comment in Italian. Which makes perfectly
good sense. 


  means.
[....]
Dear Sofia,
The origin of my having adopted the 'signature' I have on my posts, dates
back to the early days of the newsgroup when there was a discussion as to
whether this particular closing was considered a 'proper' way to end a
letter, or if it had fallen out of use.
The majority thought the ending 'I remain as always'
too formal and stuffy.  I,  on the other hand, being somewhat old-fashioned
in my writing style, maintained that the ending was still perfectly
acceptable. I was, needless to say, in the minority.
My having adopted the signature for my posts therefore, is no more than an
affectionate tongue-in-cheek reference to my maintaining this position, with
the added change of  the English abbreviated form of 'et cetera' (etc. etc.)
to the Italian form, (ecc. ecc.) to emphasise the fact that we are on a
newsgroup which caters to a bi-lingual audience. Its inclusion in my posts
is, as Harlan has commented, an acknowledgement to the fact that I am
omitting the numerous accompaniments which _could_ follow, since I am
assuming said accompaniments can be taken for granted.
Harlan has also provided a very clear answer on the original usage of
the format once used to close letters,  and has even provided one of the
more flowery examples once considered appropriate.
Between my answer here and the one Harlan has posted, I trust your curiosity
(and Ian's as well) has been satisfied.
At this juncture, it but remains for me to hope most earnestly that the
accompanying communication finds your honourable and esteemed self in the
best of health, and in sending my sincerest salutations, I remain now as
always, your most humble and obedient servant,
Bambi
dtb

 dtb
Dear Bambi,
Whilst we are on the subject, what does dtb stand for?
Cheers, 
Loki
-- 
lo...@REMOVE-ASGARDclear.net.nz

 Whilst we are on the subject, what does dtb stand for?
Dear Loki,
Would you believe the answer to this lies in the FAQ?
Would you also believe that the English version has been completed? That
is... as in done, as in.....finished...as in really!
Answer to your query, extracted and pasted below.
'dtb (found at the end of Bambi's posts) = de-tribalised Brit - an English
person who has been away from England (the tribe) for a long period of time'
This would be my goodself of course.
I remain, as...oh well, you know.
Bambi
dtb

 always, your most humble and obedient servant,
This goes into my sig file. :-))
Mind you, I don't know when or even if I'll use it... 
-- 
Cut out the attention signal in my address to mail me
Togliete l'avvertimento nel mio indirizzo per scrivermi
http://www.fantascienza.net/sfpeople/elethiomel