Aha! British English

petercharlesfagg · January 26, 2014, 09:09:55 AM

Having lived abroad, Scandinavia, for many years I have found this thread hilarious!

Peter.

Luke Piewalker · January 26, 2014, 09:40:57 AM

I once read a piece that suggested Parisienne waiters reputation is on account of the post revolution egalite, they don't consider themselves anyones 'servant'. So if they are treated as such they don't respond well...

BobB · January 26, 2014, 09:58:26 AM

I've not noticed any problems with French waiters but I've had a few funny looks ordering 'medium-rare' steaks in southern Africa where the default condition is 'well (and truly) done'.

I'ts great having English as a first language when you travel around, usually there is someone who can speak it better than you can !

I also think it's good that the language is flexible enough to accommodate all of the variations and that we can usually sort out what's actually being said. I have had some problems with the Indians living here - strange, not many problems with those actually living in India !

joe cassidy · January 26, 2014, 11:56:52 AM

I agree with EP about Indian English. Does anyone know what a "godown" is ?

As for Paris, if you need to ask directions wait for someone of Indian origin to come along - they'll probably speak English. Also, if you're not English or American, tell the person where you're from - they'll be more helpful.

Finally, as has been mentioned, the concept of equality does actually exist in France, so if you are used to treating waiters/drivers like dirt in your country don't try it in Paris.

Best regards,

Joe

Newportnobby · January 26, 2014, 04:19:59 PM

Quote from: joe cassidy on January 26, 2014, 11:56:52 AM
Does anyone know what a "godown" is ?

As this is a family forum, I couldn't possibly answer that

As for the French - sorry, but just don't get me started

Lawrence · January 26, 2014, 07:36:54 PM

Quote from: newportnobby on January 26, 2014, 04:19:59 PM
Quote from: joe cassidy on January 26, 2014, 11:56:52 AM
Does anyone know what a "godown" is ?

As this is a family forum, I couldn't possibly answer that

As for the French - sorry, but just don't get me started

Godown - a warehouse in a country of southern or eastern Asia, usually near a dock

joe cassidy · January 26, 2014, 07:41:10 PM

Well done Lawrence - you're right.

India has made it's own contibution to standard English with words like pukka, bungalow, khaki etc.

Best regards,

Joe

Kipper · January 26, 2014, 08:37:25 PM

Having had a (rural) grammar school education, and having been taught Latin (and learnt a bit!), I found finding the local R.C. priest and talking some Latin helped. Saved having to learn half a dozen european languages, but not much help in protestant areas!

Mark K · January 28, 2014, 03:44:23 PM

Quote from: EtchedPixels on January 25, 2014, 11:39:53 PM
Quote from: Mark K on January 25, 2014, 11:08:28 PM
Don't know about Wigan or Fife for that matter but have you noticed that not a single person in Paris speaks English, not one that I've ever found anyway. Now, some cynics say that many can, but won't out of spite. I cannot believe that, can you?

Lots of people in Paris speak English - especially if you try and speak French to them first. Not just a French thing.

Well, I once asked, in French, directions to the nearest Metro. The Frenchman looked at his wrist and replied 'Half past three!'

Mark K

Komata · January 28, 2014, 04:37:39 PM

As a language teacher one has some 'interesting' experiences.

As part of the 'integration process' we train individuals from immigrant groups in English language skills, so that they can in turn help others of their ethnic group to understand the 'oddities' that the English language presents. This is aimed especially at the school children. The training covers such things as adjectives, participles, verbs, nouns etc. The 'building blocks' of the language if you will.

As part of their training, these tyro teachers have to do a half-hour long presentation before a panel before they are 'passed out' as proficient.

Picture this: Beautiful, impeccably-dressed Asian lady (a resident for 20 years, a prominent busineswoman and proudly 'Kiwi'), conducting a class about 'Verbs' (ie, 'doing' words).

A wonderful presentation well researched, and well presented. A 'natural' teacher. The subject (which she had chosen)? Verbs and Adverbs

As noted, it was a wonderful presentation. The only problem (at least for some of us 'native speakers', for whom English is the first language) was that the lady simply could not pronounce the 'V' in verb and adVerb as a 'Vee', and didn't realise it!! Rather that unfortunate letter was presented as a 'W'....

It was a 'very serious' half-hour as the 'native speakers' did everything they could to 'remain calm' and not give-in to the giggles....

English!! Wot wud we do wif'-'art yuh?

Papyrus · January 28, 2014, 07:12:49 PM

This is a great thread!!

To add my own anecdote, my father was from the Durham/Yorkshire border. After the war he got a job in Cambridge. When he moved south, of course, he brought his northern vowels with him, rhyming 'glass' with 'mass'.

He had only moved into his first house a few weeks when he needed to do some DIY. He went down to the local ironmongers, as they were in those days, to pick up a few bits and pieces. He said to the assistant, in fluent Yorkshire, "I'd like a piece of glass, please." "What?" "A piece of glass, please." "Sorry, mate, never 'eard of it." "But, ye'v got a sign outside saying 'glass cut to size'." Slowly, comprehension dawned... "Oh, you mean glaaaaass!!"

Over the next 50 years my dad and Cambridge gradually learned to understand each other...

Chris

EtchedPixels · January 28, 2014, 08:18:21 PM

Quote from: joe cassidy on January 26, 2014, 07:41:10 PM
Well done Lawrence - you're right.

India has made it's own contibution to standard English with words like pukka, bungalow, khaki etc.

"English does not so much borrow words from other languages as mug them in dark alleys"

scottmitchell74 · January 28, 2014, 09:38:17 PM

Nice one, Papyrus!

Newportnobby · January 28, 2014, 10:06:15 PM

An ideal case in point is this prank call.
WARNING - foul language in last few seconds so I'll probably get told off or this will be deleted

Do You Deliver?

scottmitchell74 · January 28, 2014, 10:21:21 PM

Funny!

That just reminded me of when my wife and a whole bunch of "just off the boat" Bajans were ordering Mountain Dew at a Denny's here in the USA. Well, most Americans run the word mountain together so it sounds something like Mount'n and we have a hard D in Dew. Mount'n Dew.

Bajans want to stretch out Mount'n into Mount-tan and their De sound is more a J sound so you should have seen the look on the waitress' face when one of them tried to order Mount-Tan Jew. 12-15 seconds of confusion (that felt like 3 minutes) later, things were straightened out, but we have a story that's lasted 15 years and will likely live as long as we do.