• EleventhHour@lemmy.world
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    27 days ago

    Heard it explained once that they “do not stand under the law,” therefore they “overstand” it.

    It’s obstinacy mixed with idiocy.

    • Lowpast@lemmy.world
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      27 days ago

      Maybe…

      But overstand is a common word in Rasta.

      They make a lot of intentional linguistic “adjustments” that are made for political/ spiritual reasons. I believe the switch from understand to overstand has to do with feelings of sovereignty and not being “under” someone.

      The sovcits have probably borrowed this idea of making a political statement by changing language

      • EleventhHour@lemmy.world
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        27 days ago

        I believe the switch from understand to overstand has to do with feelings of sovereignty and not being “under” someone.

        This is what I was trying to describe and it’s just linguistic hullabaloo. The word “understand” has absolutely nothing to do with literally standing under anything/one. It simply means to comprehend. This under/overstand distinction is borne out of ignorance and nothing more.