Regional Dialects/Odd Sayings - Page 5

hazyshadeof · 03-30-2003, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by phat32
The one thing they all had in common was their lack of humor (ie didn't laugh at my jokes

If that was the case phat, then I'm amazed you've ever had any luck with women period.

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Eden · 03-30-2003, 11:20 AM

I went to school in the UK for a while and the differences in words amazed me. Someone, somewhere once said that America and England are "two countries, divided by a single language," and they were so right!

Words I remember from there are:
ladder = run in your stockings
jumper = sweater
nappie = diaper
serviette = napkin
cleaner = maid
martini = vermouth
roundabout = traffic circle
lorry = truck
ploughman's = bread, cheese and a pint
pint = glass of beer
nick = steal
fancy = like

I picked up a little bit of an accent while there, and to this day I pronounce mascara (mas-care-ah) as mas-car-ah.

StevieM · 03-30-2003, 11:43 AM

Amna,
I wrote about meeting a guy on-line (while back) he was from Blackpool England.
We spoke for over a year before he came here (Massachusetts)
to meet me and my friends & family. So, I understood him fine. My friends and family - I had to be a translater for the 3 weeks he was here.
They couldn't understand half the stuff he said.
I loved his accent! It wasn't as strong as the guys from say the movie "The Full Monty" but, they couldn't understand everything he said.
I can't remember all the different terms and words that were different but, there were so many.
And he said I was the one with the strong accent .. : )

Leo · 03-30-2003, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by StevieM
And he said I was the one with the strong accent .. : )

To any good English speaker, it's always the rest of the world that has a strong accent.

phat32 · 03-30-2003, 12:01 PM

Eden,

All right, luv? Lurvly to run into someone else from Blighty, eh?

I am also endlessly fascinated by the differences in American English and The Queen's English.

Some of my favorites:

tea = the beverage, but also an early dinner
lift = elevator
tobaconnist = the convenience store
Wellies = Wellington-brand heavy-duty boots
"Cheers!" = a toast, but also colloquial for "Thanks!"
to ring = to telephone someone
to call = to show up on someone's doorstep
solicitor = attorney
rubbish = trash/garbage
garden = yard
aubergine = eggplant (also the color)
aerial = antennae
boot (ref. to autos) = trunk
bonnet (ref. to autos) = hood
crisps = potato chips
"chips" = French fries (That's right--not FREEDOM, but FRENCH, fries.)

Amna could probably help us with more here, but then again, how is she to know when anything is called something different across the Atlantic?

I, too, picked up on a few English expressions that I use to this day: "Cheers!" for "Thanks!" and use of "wanker" around my friends who were in England with me, when we want to curse someone on the down-low in the States.

Oh, and the Canadians also use "serviette" and many other Queen's English expressions. For some reason, it drives me up the wall when they do. (Sorry, Canadians.)

[Me in restaurant, other patron comes in.]

Other patron (to counterman): May I have a serviette?

Me: [squeezes a bottle of ketchup until it explodes]

P.S. To our Canadian Friends: Lest I be flamed to a crisp, I once lived and worked in Canada, and I like your country and love its people.

phat32 · 03-30-2003, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hazyshadeof
If that was the case phat, then I'm amazed you've ever had any luck with women period.

But...but...

Bah! A pox on your house!

StevieM · 03-30-2003, 12:27 PM

hehheh
Ok
the one that cracks me up the most is SHAG
I'd really never heard it til about 6 years ago.
that one kills me.
(thinking Austin Powers will forever be affiliated with that term)

Eden · 03-30-2003, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by StevieM
hehheh
Ok
the one that cracks me up the most is SHAG
I'd really never heard it til about 6 years ago.
that one kills me.
(thinking Austin Powers will forever be affiliated with that term)

And don't forget SNOG (french kiss).

USMCmum · 03-30-2003, 12:52 PM

I was born in the US, but my family is from England & Ireland. Needless to say, I grew up talking waaaaaay funny and couldn't understand why until my first trip to the U.K. Plus, my kids call me "mum" or mumsie", which is unusual in CA.

Living in California - the usual slang words are "dude" & "yo".

One of my favorite experiences was explaining "Austin Powers and the spy who shagged me" to my teenage son. And, why he shouldn't use the term "patting someone on the fanny".

Wolf · 03-30-2003, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by firegirl
so is the term " do what?" when you want someone to repeat something or you weren't sure you heard them right, for example:

I didn't think the term "Do what?" was a southern term. I thought everybody used it.

I actually say "Do what now?"

I also use: ya'll, coke, fixin
and I've heard many Texas use the word "yonder" which means Over there I think.

03-30-2003, 11:43 AM	#43
StevieM get it off! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: inside my computer silly Posts: 916	Amna, I wrote about meeting a guy on-line (while back) he was from Blackpool England. We spoke for over a year before he came here (Massachusetts) to meet me and my friends & family. So, I understood him fine. My friends and family - I had to be a translater for the 3 weeks he was here. They couldn't understand half the stuff he said. I loved his accent! It wasn't as strong as the guys from say the movie "The Full Monty" but, they couldn't understand everything he said. I can't remember all the different terms and words that were different but, there were so many. And he said I was the one with the strong accent .. : ) __________________ So, where's the Cannes Film Festival being held this year? ~ Christina Aguilera

03-30-2003, 12:01 PM	#45
phat32 Countin' Words Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Drinking another gallon of coffee Posts: 2,285	Eden, All right, luv? Lurvly to run into someone else from Blighty, eh? I am also endlessly fascinated by the differences in American English and The Queen's English. Some of my favorites: tea = the beverage, but also an early dinner lift = elevator tobaconnist = the convenience store Wellies = Wellington-brand heavy-duty boots "Cheers!" = a toast, but also colloquial for "Thanks!" to ring = to telephone someone to call = to show up on someone's doorstep solicitor = attorney rubbish = trash/garbage garden = yard aubergine = eggplant (also the color) aerial = antennae boot (ref. to autos) = trunk bonnet (ref. to autos) = hood crisps = potato chips "chips" = French fries (That's right--not FREEDOM, but FRENCH, fries.) Amna could probably help us with more here, but then again, how is she to know when anything is called something different across the Atlantic? I, too, picked up on a few English expressions that I use to this day: "Cheers!" for "Thanks!" and use of "wanker" around my friends who were in England with me, when we want to curse someone on the down-low in the States. Oh, and the Canadians also use "serviette" and many other Queen's English expressions. For some reason, it drives me up the wall when they do. (Sorry, Canadians.) [Me in restaurant, other patron comes in.] Other patron (to counterman): May I have a serviette? Me: [squeezes a bottle of ketchup until it explodes] P.S. To our Canadian Friends: Lest I be flamed to a crisp, I once lived and worked in Canada, and I like your country and love its people. __________________ "'Oh, I say, poor show…. These chaps are in fact allowed to use their hands, are they not? Because you certainly could not tell by watching them.'" - The Onion on the Buccaneers' 35-7 loss to the Patriots at London's Wembley Stadium Last edited by phat32; 03-30-2003 at 12:13 PM.

03-30-2003, 12:27 PM	#47
StevieM get it off! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: inside my computer silly Posts: 916	hehheh Ok the one that cracks me up the most is SHAG I'd really never heard it til about 6 years ago. that one kills me. (thinking Austin Powers will forever be affiliated with that term) __________________ So, where's the Cannes Film Festival being held this year? ~ Christina Aguilera

03-30-2003, 12:52 PM	#49
USMCmum Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Beach, Southern California Posts: 314	I was born in the US, but my family is from England & Ireland. Needless to say, I grew up talking waaaaaay funny and couldn't understand why until my first trip to the U.K. Plus, my kids call me "mum" or mumsie", which is unusual in CA. Living in California - the usual slang words are "dude" & "yo". One of my favorite experiences was explaining "Austin Powers and the spy who shagged me" to my teenage son. And, why he shouldn't use the term "patting someone on the fanny". __________________ Why doesn't it make sense? Because we're on the wrong side of the tapestry...

03-30-2003, 11:20 AM	#42
Eden Sleeping with George W Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Dallas Posts: 869	I went to school in the UK for a while and the differences in words amazed me. Someone, somewhere once said that America and England are "two countries, divided by a single language," and they were so right! Words I remember from there are: ladder = run in your stockings jumper = sweater nappie = diaper serviette = napkin cleaner = maid martini = vermouth roundabout = traffic circle lorry = truck ploughman's = bread, cheese and a pint pint = glass of beer nick = steal fancy = like I picked up a little bit of an accent while there, and to this day I pronounce mascara (mas-care-ah) as mas-car-ah.