From Mike Robson
Andrew McDonald is right (31 January, p 29). As a southern African myself I can confirm that we do indeed use “now now” as indicating time urgency.
However, I have observed that there is a similar use of repetition here in England, but in respect of location rather than time. For example, a broken yellow line painted near the kerb is said to mean “no”, as in “no, don’t park your white van here”. A solid yellow line means “no no”, while a double yellow line means “no no no”, and in inner London I have seen solid red lines which are said to mean “no, no, no no”.
Interestingly enough, none of these symbols appears to have any effect whatsoever on white vans.
Sevenoaks, Kent, UK
