Regional Dialects/Odd Sayings - Page 50

psucashcow · 05-31-2005, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Critical

You know how sometimes, when you get up to go do something and you forget where you're going on the way there and then you just stand there trying to remember why you got up in the first place? In my family, we call that "waiting for the bus." (i.e. "What are you doing just standing there?" "Ohhhhh, just waiting for the bus.")

I call that a brain fart.

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Gutmutter · 05-31-2005, 08:31 AM

Around here it's called a Senior Moment.

Nemeses · 05-31-2005, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliGirl

A weird thing about Californians is that we have no regional accents.

I so many friends from California who have said this when the subject comes up... "Californians have no accent"... and then everyone in the room who is not from California proceeds to do their version of the California accent, lol

I can spot a native Californian almost every time, even to the region almost. Californians do have their accents

And Californians almost always are surprised when they do realize they have accents.

Nemeses · 05-31-2005, 09:08 AM

My husband grew up in Singapore, went to university in Australia, and is now here in the US with me. Some of our funniest moments came when we were first getting to know each other, and especially when we'd talk on international long distance on the phone each evening, or chat on ICQ online while he was out of the country. Most of our moments were caused by same words/different pronunciations or same word/different meanings.

I'm originally from the south, and I love biscuits and gravy.

I remember when he used to ask me what I had to eat that day, and I'd occasionally tell him I had biscuits and gravy for breakfast, and he used to tell me how odd it sounded. I'd tell him how good it was, how lots of southern Americans loved them and how I'd make him some next time he came over, and he'd politely decline the offer. And other times he'd tell me he bought some biscuits at the market and was eating them as we were talking. I finally found out once we were married that to him, biscuits are cookies -- like Oreos, Chips Ahoy, etc. And he couldn't fathom how a person could stand eating Oreos or other cookies with gravy poured over them.

One thing I found that was basically the same in all three countries involved in our courtship -- tomato soup was always Campbell's Classic tomato soup.

Like most Singaporeans or ex-Singaporeans, he lives with a cell phone attached to him, although he and all his family and friends I've met in Singapore call them simply "mobiles", pronounced "mow bile". He says he's never heard them called "handphones" very commonly, although I'm sure there may be some who do.

And the hardest I've ever laughed in my life was listening to him talk about one of his university courses. His minor at the time was in Economics, and when talking about some of his classes and what he'd learned, he'd tell me about something being "economical". I simply could not understand for the longest time what he was saying when he said that word, and I finally had to make him spell it for me. His Singaporean way of pronouncing it was true Queen's English, and he pronounced it as in "eek on eh mickle", or "economee call", always with the emphasis on the 2nd syllable. If you hear in your mind "eek comical", then you'll pretty much hear how he pronounced it, and after I knew what he meant, I laughed hysterically every time I heard it. I thought perhaps that was just how he pronounced it, but when I visited Singapore and Australia, I saw that it was a common pronunciation in both countries. And they explained it quite logically: "it's based on the word economy, and you just add "cal" on the end".

We also had a lot of "huh?"'s figuring out that a car park is the same as a parking lot. And I love the difference regarding going to a hospital -- in American we say "going to the hospital", but there it's "going to hospital" (as in most places once ruled or influenced by British schools and language).

But as a general rule, I love the way he pronounces words. Singaporeans don't have British accents, and there are some who speak in heavily accented Singlish, but I think the majority speak as my husband does -- English is the primary language, after all, but he pronounces a great many words with a slight bow to a distant British heritage... pronounced in Queen's English, as he calls it. Such as the difference in "mobile" -- we pronounce it with emphasis on 1st syllable barely hitting the 2nd syllable -- they pronounce it with emphasis on 2nd syllable, drawing out that 2nd syllable. It's an elegant and exotic accent, imho, and I love to listen to it.

And btw, I do have him calling all soft drinks 'Coke', now, so he's been baptized into southernisms

And even though Singaporeans have very educated palates, he even enjoys southern biscuits and gravy now and then.

Yellow Apple · 05-31-2005, 02:24 PM

I have a bit of a hybrid American-Australian accent going now, thanks to an Aussie buddy of mine who was in country for 6 months as an exchange student. It's kinda cool because people will ask me where I'm from now and they don't believe me when I tell them I'm from Alabama. Makes it easier to try and pick up girls too when I decide I want to.

Igotalife · 06-01-2005, 12:07 AM

I have discovered one in recent months...I am aghast to know people do not know what a foldover is!

A "foldover" is simply a piece of bread folded over to make a half sandwich....

Matt64 · 06-01-2005, 12:17 AM

Never heard of it..

Vonna · 06-02-2005, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemeses

I so many friends from California who have said this when the subject comes up... "Californians have no accent"... and then everyone in the room who is not from California proceeds to do their version of the California accent, lol

I can spot a native Californian almost every time, even to the region almost. Californians do have their accents

And Californians almost always are surprised when they do realize they have accents.

Many rural Californians are second, third generation transplants from Arkansas and Oklahoma.......so do you think we escaped our southern heritage? No way......my relatives from Florida always remind us of our accents LOL

Vonna · 06-02-2005, 12:50 AM

Okay
Here's what the young people are saying for really good or great here in central California:
"sick" can you believe it?

phat32 · 06-02-2005, 12:54 AM

Hi, Vonna, as a native Californian myself from roughly the same area, I'm always glad to hear news from home, even if it's what the "kids" are saying.

Just a reminder, though: Please don't double-post. (That is, don't post one after another; if you would like to respond to different users' posts, then please include your comments in the same post.)

If you are not familiar with our rules, please do remember to review them here:
http://www.fansofrealitytv.com/forum...aq_board_rules

Thanks! Lecture over, have fun!

05-31-2005, 08:31 AM	#492
Gutmutter awkward Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: winners' circle Posts: 6,170	Around here it's called a Senior Moment. __________________ Count your blessings!

05-31-2005, 09:08 AM	#494
Nemeses Kanai Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In my own world Posts: 3,835	My husband grew up in Singapore, went to university in Australia, and is now here in the US with me. Some of our funniest moments came when we were first getting to know each other, and especially when we'd talk on international long distance on the phone each evening, or chat on ICQ online while he was out of the country. Most of our moments were caused by same words/different pronunciations or same word/different meanings. I'm originally from the south, and I love biscuits and gravy. I remember when he used to ask me what I had to eat that day, and I'd occasionally tell him I had biscuits and gravy for breakfast, and he used to tell me how odd it sounded. I'd tell him how good it was, how lots of southern Americans loved them and how I'd make him some next time he came over, and he'd politely decline the offer. And other times he'd tell me he bought some biscuits at the market and was eating them as we were talking. I finally found out once we were married that to him, biscuits are cookies -- like Oreos, Chips Ahoy, etc. And he couldn't fathom how a person could stand eating Oreos or other cookies with gravy poured over them. One thing I found that was basically the same in all three countries involved in our courtship -- tomato soup was always Campbell's Classic tomato soup. Like most Singaporeans or ex-Singaporeans, he lives with a cell phone attached to him, although he and all his family and friends I've met in Singapore call them simply "mobiles", pronounced "mow bile". He says he's never heard them called "handphones" very commonly, although I'm sure there may be some who do. And the hardest I've ever laughed in my life was listening to him talk about one of his university courses. His minor at the time was in Economics, and when talking about some of his classes and what he'd learned, he'd tell me about something being "economical". I simply could not understand for the longest time what he was saying when he said that word, and I finally had to make him spell it for me. His Singaporean way of pronouncing it was true Queen's English, and he pronounced it as in "eek on eh mickle", or "economee call", always with the emphasis on the 2nd syllable. If you hear in your mind "eek comical", then you'll pretty much hear how he pronounced it, and after I knew what he meant, I laughed hysterically every time I heard it. I thought perhaps that was just how he pronounced it, but when I visited Singapore and Australia, I saw that it was a common pronunciation in both countries. And they explained it quite logically: "it's based on the word economy, and you just add "cal" on the end". We also had a lot of "huh?"'s figuring out that a car park is the same as a parking lot. And I love the difference regarding going to a hospital -- in American we say "going to the hospital", but there it's "going to hospital" (as in most places once ruled or influenced by British schools and language). But as a general rule, I love the way he pronounces words. Singaporeans don't have British accents, and there are some who speak in heavily accented Singlish, but I think the majority speak as my husband does -- English is the primary language, after all, but he pronounces a great many words with a slight bow to a distant British heritage... pronounced in Queen's English, as he calls it. Such as the difference in "mobile" -- we pronounce it with emphasis on 1st syllable barely hitting the 2nd syllable -- they pronounce it with emphasis on 2nd syllable, drawing out that 2nd syllable. It's an elegant and exotic accent, imho, and I love to listen to it. And btw, I do have him calling all soft drinks 'Coke', now, so he's been baptized into southernisms And even though Singaporeans have very educated palates, he even enjoys southern biscuits and gravy now and then. __________________ I live in my own world. But it's ok, they know me there. Kid Nation... a sad day for society when the exploitation of children becomes acceptable entertainment for television viewers. "Online communities, like the Fort, are very snarky and borderline cynical when it comes to celebrities and their shenanigans." -- Leo, FoRT Writer

05-31-2005, 02:24 PM	#495
Yellow Apple So Far Away Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: She'll be there when I'm gone... won't she? Posts: 2,427	I have a bit of a hybrid American-Australian accent going now, thanks to an Aussie buddy of mine who was in country for 6 months as an exchange student. It's kinda cool because people will ask me where I'm from now and they don't believe me when I tell them I'm from Alabama. Makes it easier to try and pick up girls too when I decide I want to. __________________ R.I.P Willie Dog (?/?/1989-12/17/2004). Gone but never forgotten. Welcome Zelda (and a hot of other names)! (Born 08/08/2005, adopted 10/08/2005) Also welcome Shasta! (Born ?/?/2004, Adopted 03/??/07)

06-01-2005, 12:07 AM	#496
Igotalife MIA, RIP, or Busy... Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,909	I have discovered one in recent months...I am aghast to know people do not know what a foldover is! A "foldover" is simply a piece of bread folded over to make a half sandwich.... __________________ A Bachelor fan til it dies a slow death and oddly enough, A Rock of Love fan...finest hair extensions from Europe and all. ;-)

06-02-2005, 12:50 AM	#499
Vonna She CAN Dance Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central California Posts: 2,643	Okay Here's what the young people are saying for really good or great here in central California: "sick" can you believe it? __________________

06-01-2005, 12:17 AM	#497
Matt64 Not caring is fun! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Toronto Age: 28 Posts: 1,198	Never heard of it..

06-02-2005, 12:54 AM	#500
phat32 Countin' Words Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Drinking another gallon of coffee Posts: 2,285	Hi, Vonna, as a native Californian myself from roughly the same area, I'm always glad to hear news from home, even if it's what the "kids" are saying. Just a reminder, though: Please don't double-post. (That is, don't post one after another; if you would like to respond to different users' posts, then please include your comments in the same post.) If you are not familiar with our rules, please do remember to review them here: http://www.fansofrealitytv.com/forum...aq_board_rules Thanks! Lecture over, have fun! __________________ "'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