Do native speakers say "So Long"?

[Maggie]

Hi,Torsten

I am wondering if native speakers say this tern,"So Long". I have heard this term from some English records. However,I havent heard anyone speaks this term. That's why I am asking you this question. Thanks in advance.

BTW,if I have made any mistakes,please tell me if you want,also. Thanks in advance.

Best Wishes,

Maggie^^
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[Prezbucky]

"So long" is one of the many standard forms of "Goodbye".

I do not use it that often... but I (and many others) use it on occasion.
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[Maggie]

Hi,Prezbucky

I am curious is "prezbucky" your name, and is Avatar(refer to your profile)your family name? I am not native speaker,so sometimes I get confused with native speaker's name. I hope I can identify at least family name and their name. And thanks for quick reply.

[Yankee]

Hi Maggie and welcome to the forum.

Prezbucky's real name is Tom -- at least, that's what he's told us in the past.
Tom will have to explain how he came up with "prezbucky".
My forum nickname is "Yankee". My real name is Amy. Is your real name Maggie?

An avatar is the picture you use in a forum. (I don't have an avatar at the moment.)
Click on the following link and read definition 3: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/avatar

As Tom mentioned, the expression "so long" is only used occasionally. It sounds a bit old-fashioned to me. My parents used to use it fairly often, but I don't use the expression at all.
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

[Maggie]

Hi,Amy

Well,Maggie is my nickname,too. My family name is Hsieh,and my real name is Li-Man. I bet you haven't heard this family name and real name. Ha Ha. I am inquisitive why you created this forum? When I see it first time(actually recently I found it when I searched some English terms.),I was surprised. It's so great to have it. I think it will much use for me or other people who love English. Anyway,many thanks truly and pleased to meet you in the Internet. I wish I can be one of your friends.

And one more question. For example,Daniela Encheva. Daniela is a kind of family name and Encheva is a kind of real name. Am I right?

Sincerely,

Maggie^^
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In my view,the more mistakes someone else corrects me,the more I could learn.
And welcome to my blog: http://0rz.tw/793HL

[Yankee]

Hi Maggie

You're right -- I've never heard the names 'Hsieh' and 'Li-Man' before. How did you decide on 'Maggie' as your English nickname?

Daniela is a first name and Encheva is a last name (family name, surname).

As regards the forum, I didn't create it. The founders are Torsten, Alan and Slava. You can read about the founding of the forum and forum's founding fathers here: http://www.english-test.net/about/

I probably discovered the forum much the same way you did -- I was looking for ESL information online and happened to stumble across this forum.
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

[Maggie]

Hi,Amy

I thought you are one of the primary members of this forum because I see the title,native speaker of American English *ESL/Business English* and you are "MOderator". So you meant you are the same as me who simply joined this forum? You are NOT the teachers,like Torsten? Oh,gosh. Sorry for my poor English.
Another thing is that why I use "Maggie" to be my nickname. Because in my opinion,for non-native speakers,remember English is not easy. So I wanna let others remember my name first time easilier. And I dont wanna find a name that native people dont use. Moreover,I certainly know "Maggie" are used by native speakers. That's why I used it. That's all.
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In my view,the more mistakes someone else corrects me,the more I could learn.
And welcome to my blog: http://0rz.tw/793HL

[Prezbucky]

Maggie

Prez = President

Bucky = Bucky Badger (University of Wisconsin's mascot)
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Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.

[Prezbucky]

Here's a bit of history about Bucky Badger:

Bucky Badger
Badgers in various forms have been recognized as the school mascot for decades. The version currently known as Bucky, sporting a cardinal and white letter sweater, was first drawn in 1940 by artist Art Evans. At that time, the badger went by names like Benny, Buddy, Bernie, Bobby and Bouncey. Art Lentz, the department's publicity director, had the idea to bring the mascot to life.

The original badger mascot was too vicious to control. On more than one occasion, the live badger escaped handlers before a sideline hero recaptured the animal with a flying tackle. It was decided in the interest of fan and player safety that Wisconsin's mascot be retired to the Madison Zoo. The Badger Yearbook replaced the live badger with a small raccoon named Regdab (badger backwards) and passed it off as a 'badger in a raccoon coat.'

In 1949, a student in the university's art department, Connie Conrad, was commissioned to mold a paper-mache badger head. Gymnast and cheerleader, Bill Sagal, of Plymouth, Wis., was directed by homecoming chair Bill Sachse, to wear the outfit at the homecoming game. A contest was staged to name the popular mascot. The winner was Buckingham U. Badger, or Bucky. The name apparently came from the lyrics in a song which encouraged the football team to 'buck right through that line.'

Bucky Badger has persevered through the years, even surviving a threat by then assistant attorney general, Howard Koop, in 1973. He suggested that Bucky be replaced by Henrietta Holstein, a loveable cow. Koop argued that 'kids love cows. A generation could grow up supporting the university and Henrietta Holstein.' Koop's effort to overthrow Bucky failed.

Bucky even survived a cameo appearance by former Sports Illustrated writer Rick Telander. In preparation for a book about the athletic department, Telander wore Bucky's costume at a '91 volleyball game. Telander overcame 'terminal claustrophobia' in his appearance.
---------------------

There are myriad pictures of Bucky Badger at this site:

http://www.uwbadgers.com
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.

[Yankee]

Hi Maggie

Yes, I know a few Americans named Maggie and also a German named Maggie! So 'Maggie' is a very easy name for me to remember. But Li-Man isn't really difficult. I think I might be able to remember that, too. Do your family and friends in Taiwan call you Li-Man? Is that a common name in Taiwan?

Yes, I'm a member here just like you. I'm a certified teacher who has also studied and worked in business. I'm a native speaker of American English and have been teaching English (ESL) for more than 20 years now -- mainly Business English. You will not find my picture as a member of the "forum team" because I don't write any of the tests for this site. Basically, I only answer questions in the forum.

Your English is pretty good. How long have you been learning English? Tell us a little more about yourself.

PS@Tom
Thanks for the Bucky tale.
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

[Prezbucky]

no problemo, Amy
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.

[Maggie]

Hi,Yankee

Yup. My parents and my friends call me 'Li-Man'. Sometimes they will call me 'Little Man'. It's usual in Taiwan that people call the last name,like mine,'Man' and add 'little' before the last time. It sounds like friendly. Well,I dont think my English is good because I think I need to improve my listening. I can speak a little bit English,but sometimes I will speak 'Taiwanese English.' So I am curious how do you identify someone's English is good enough or not. In here,this forum,we can not know someone's speaking and listening,right? So how to confirm their English abilities? Actually I simply chat with you:)

Now I wanna introduce a little bit myself . I have graduated from University. My major is Information Management. I worked before one month ago,but I have resigned job. I was a Test Engineer. Now I am preparing one exam of Information Management. I hope I can pass it. Actually,I am still thinking if I can be a English editor or other jobs about English. I think I prefer to find this kind of job,but if I can not find better job about English,I will still continue to do the similar job of Informaiton Management. Could you give me some suggestions?

I am still wondering that why you answer questions in here? You simply like to help others or this is your actual job?

Greeting!

Maggie^^
_________________
In my view,the more mistakes someone else corrects me,the more I could learn.
And welcome to my blog: http://0rz.tw/793HL

[Haihao]

Could I guess 'Little Man' pronounced 'Hsiao Man'? Also, I would infer you are a young lady otherwise you should have been called 'Lao Hsieh'(old Hsieh), but I am not sure if people as well use 'Lao' to call a lady though they call gentlemen that way to show both respect and friendliness in Taiwan, am I right?

Nice meeting and talking to you, Maggie.

Haihao

[Maggie]

Hi,Haihao

Nice meeting to you ,too. After seeing your thinking,I got some feeling of when I asked native speaker that 'do you speak so long'. I meant,of course not,young people dont speak 'old Hsieh' now in Taiwan. I think this way of speaking is used by elder people. According to my memory,I have read this term in old novels of Chinese. I saw your avatar and profile,and I infer that you are Japanese,right? Most Taiwanese have read the history,so we know the history of Taiwan and Japanese. Moreover,I think some histories of Japan and Taiwan are connected. As I know,some Chinese terms are the same as Japan terms. Well,I hope we can share some information if you want. It will be amazing me.

Have a nice day.

Maggie^^
_________________
In my view,the more mistakes someone else corrects me,the more I could learn.
And welcome to my blog: http://0rz.tw/793HL

[Haihao]

Hi Maggie,

It's good to hear from you and talk to you again. Your inference is perfectly right and your comment accurate. Actually I got to know these terms from Chinese novels, too, as well as I heard people use them in mainland China. Now I re-realized there ARE many subtle differences in usage, not to mension the pronunciation, of Mandarin Chinese between Taiwan and China.

Also as you said, many Japanese expressions are similar to or totally the same as the Chinese ones especially the four-word-idioms (Cheng Yu) because Japan has learnt a lot, more than we commonly know, I suppose, from China since the ancient times. By the way, I love to read old Chinese literature. San Guo Yan Yi and Shui Hu Zhuan are among my favorite, known as Sangokushi and Suikoden here in Japan and I guess most Japanese know them as well as Xi You Ji (Saiyuki) recently been made into a TV drama with great popularity.

Haihao