A Conversation for The Word 'Well'
SA English is well
Wrinkled Rocker Started conversation Sep 17, 2002
Colloquial South African English (and now appearing in the Concise Oxford Dictionary of South African English - moderators please note) has a very useful word, with a spectrum of meanings all the way from 'well', 'erm', 'umm', all the way to 'I really dont know what to say to you - can we change the subject?' 
The word is a combination of the Afrikaans expression 'Ja-nee' (pr. 'yar-near' and meaning literally 'yes-no') a sort of 'amen' and the words 'well' and 'fine'. Put them all together and you have 'Janowellfine' (pr. yar-no-well-fine) and any South African will understand your meaning under the circumstances...! 
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SA English is well
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