[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> How do you distinguise between the socket for the light bulb and the receptacle[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> for the plug?[/usenetquote2]
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I was thinking of nomenclature, but a wet finger will not fit into a duplex
receptacle, if you'd care to file that for future reference.

--
<http://www.worldtable.com> Food/Wine/Travel - The Fall 01-Spring 02
schedule for a cooking school in Gascony Links and notes on food, wine,
travel and France in particular Our auto rental and leasing suggestions and
proposal in Europe.

In message <[email protected]>, Robert Buxbaum
<[email protected]> writes
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The socket for a light bulb is a lampholder.
--
E. J. Jewell <mailto:[email protected]> <URL:http://apsc.free.fr/> Andorran Philatelic
Study Circle Personal page: <URL:http://ejewell.free.fr/

<snip>
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"power
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I did not say that the term socket is *better* or worse than receptacle or outlet.

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Er, yes!?

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I am regularly (almost daily) faced with the situation of either explaining orally
the difference between specific English and American terminology, or having to decide
whether to write the English or American term in a particular document.

For a great many people either participating or lurking in this ng, English language
is a second language, and the differences in meanings could sometimes cause a
problem. I recall a short, comedy sketch in UK radio which depicted the scene of an
American tourist, just arrived, who has a conversation with a London taxi driver.
Although I last heard it many years ago, I remember that problems included putting a
'trunk' in the 'boot', lifting the 'bonnet', looking under/dropping the 'hood' etc.

During my trips to the USA, I never had any serious problems with the different terms
used. On a business level, at most it has needed perhaps just a short elaboration. On
a private level it has often served an unintentional 'ice-breaker' which starts a
long conversation - and even to be served with free-beer for a whole evening! (viz.
'Do you all REALLY speak like that in England?)

I would suggest that a travel newsgroup is not really the place to quibble about
absolutely correct language use, grammar or spelling. On the contrary, if I were able
to speak and write the respective native languages of all persons who post in English
here, I would be very happy indeed!

The intention of my message was simply to clarify the terms used.

Nuff sed, guv'?

--
Simon
--------------------

in message

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[usenetquote2]>> Socket is no better than "receptacle." Nor is it as descriptive as[/usenetquote2]
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[usenetquote2]>> outlet."[/usenetquote2]
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[usenetquote2]>> Knowing exactly what is meant by any word, usually makes that word seem accurately[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> discriptive.[/usenetquote2]
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Sorry didn't mean to quibble, but I do find the subject interesting in terms of this
newsgroup for several reasons. Many Americans visit the UK and most of the messages
posted here, even by English as a second language users, are in English.

There was an interesting article in the NY Times recently about the development of
local Englishes in SE Asia. While in counties such as India and Singapore, English
appeared to be the most commonly spoken and understood language, the English that's
spoken and written is often splintering off into a separate local language. Lest
anyone quibble about the legitimacy of those languages, one might consider that
Spanish, Italian, French, Portugese, Catalan, Gallego and the like are but splinters
of Latin that have achieved full independence.

Anyway, apologies if it appeared that my pursuit of this thread was in anyway
argumentative. I rather enjoy the differences between English and American. As boring
as it will be not have to adjust the currency in my pocket as I move from France to
Spain, I still have the opportunity to adjust my vocabularly when going from here to
the UK.

--
<http://www.worldtable.com> Food/Wine/Travel - The Fall 01-Spring 02
schedule for a cooking school in Gascony Links and notes on food, wine,
travel and France in particular Our auto rental and leasing suggestions and
proposal in Europe.

Robert Buxbaum wrote:
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I have mentioned this in another news group but variants of English are discussed in
the book "Oxford English" by I.C.B. Dear (1992, ISBN: -19-282948-3) where it is
mentioned that India is the third largest English speaking nation after the USA and
UK. Dear indicates that Standard Indian English has interesting differences in
vocabulary and pronunciation although grammar seems to follow British norms.

Jim.

James V. Silverton Potomac, Maryland.

[email protected] (Robert Buxbaum) wrote in rec.travel.europe:

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I swear I heard my mother discussing with my uncle back in Malaysia the fact that my
cousin (in Malaysia) wants to learn Singlish, as he feels it will help his job
prospects.

Followups set somewhere vaguely more appropriate...

--
Chris Kuan, CSC (Australia) Concatenate for email: mr gazpacho @ hotmail . com

"Law is a repository for the aimlessly clever" - Tim Freedman

[usenetquote2]> >Since the "standard" in this example is based on the amperage requirements,[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >hopefully one would also make necessary adjustments to the circuit protection[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >and/or wiring, and not simply replace the receptacle.[/usenetquote2]
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This is the beauty of the Brit system, the wiring in a ring main system is capable
of carrying 30Amps and is fused at that rating, but the plug is fused at anything
between 3Amp and 13 Amp so enabling the user to match the fuse rating to the load
on the Plug.

Tom W

in rec.travel.europe:
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[usenetquote2]>>There was an interesting article in the NY Times recently about the development of[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>local Englishes in SE Asia. While in counties such as India and Singapore, English[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>appeared to be the most commonly spoken and understood language, the English that's[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>spoken and written is often splintering off into a separate local language.[/usenetquote2]
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Try also "The English Language" by David Crystal (Penguin Books) where regional
variations of English are discussed at length.

As far as British vs US English is concerned, the variations in vocabulary, grammar,
spelling and usage are almost negligible - the differences between (say) Swiss-German
and German-German, especially in terms of pronunciation, are much more distinct.

Keith Bristol UK
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Sir,
I would like to point out that unlike other
variants of English, the US variant is not
evolutionary in nature.
Most of the changes are artificial and
made for political reasons --well, the official
version is that it is to make it more consistent
and easier. Linguistically, it is not easier than standard English. Furthermore, it is not
consistent enough to warrant many of the
incompatable changes.

Thank You.
For Everyone
New Jersey, USA.

for_everyone <[email protected]> wrote:
    > I would like to point out that unlike other variants of English, the US variant is
    > not evolutionary in nature.
    > Most of the changes are artificial and made for political reasons --well, the
    > official version is that it is to make it more consistent and easier.

These changes are made by whom and promulgated how?

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world:
http://travel.u.nu New mini photo-feature: Life in
DC: http://travel.u.nu/dc/

I am not sure exactly by whom,
but Noah Webster might have been involved.

Although I do NOT believe that there
has been a conspiracy, it is the closest thing
I have for an explanation.
But keep in mind
that this explanation is oversimplified and
might convey erroneous meanings, so --as the
saying goes-- take it with a pinch of salt.

( I have already taken it far from the topic,
electricity, so let us leave it for another channel.
Thank you.)

For Everyone
New Jersey, USA.

for_everyone <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Originally posted by Miguel Cruz:
    >> for_everyone wrote:
    >>> I would like to point out that unlike other variants of English, the
    >>> US variant is
    >>> not evolutionary in nature.
    >>> Most of the changes are artificial and made for political reasons
    >>> --well, the
    >>> official version is that it is to make it more consistent and easier.
    >> These changes are made by whom and promulgated how?
    > I am not sure exactly by whom,
    > but Noah Webster might have been involved.

Certainly not. Noah Webster and his colleagues take great pains to be
descriptive and not prescriptive in their documentation of the language,
adding things to the dictionary only after they have become common usage,
and whether or not grammarians approve.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world:
http://travel.u.nu
New mini photo-feature: Life in DC:
http://travel.u.nu/dc/