WATER
May 13th 2016, 9:54 am
#61
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,678
Re: WATER
Agree.
I have no problem using American words instead of the normal English word; trunk, pants, sidewalk etc., but I take exception to speaking with an American accent to be understood. First 2 yrs here I was angry with how they use the English language, now I'm far more relaxed about it
(and that's how they get you!) Not to worry anymore, we are returning to England this summer, but I will miss this place dearly (all bar the snow!)
I have no problem using American words instead of the normal English word; trunk, pants, sidewalk etc., but I take exception to speaking with an American accent to be understood. First 2 yrs here I was angry with how they use the English language, now I'm far more relaxed about it
(and that's how they get you!) Not to worry anymore, we are returning to England this summer, but I will miss this place dearly (all bar the snow!)
May 13th 2016, 10:34 am
#62
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Watford
Posts: 1,147
Re: WATER
The thing at the back of your car you put groceries in?
May 13th 2016, 11:52 am
#63
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,678
May 13th 2016, 12:27 pm
#64
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 0
Re: WATER
May 13th 2016, 1:03 pm
#65
NM, not new, not Mexico!
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: Socorro, NM
Posts: 3,573
May 13th 2016, 5:13 pm
#67
Banned
Joined: Dec 2015
Location: california
Posts: 6,035
Re: WATER
It's not us Tykes who have a problem with the Yanks. it's the southerners, especially the Londoners.
Who could understand anyone who asks for a "glarss of wo'ah"
Who could understand anyone who asks for a "glarss of wo'ah"
May 14th 2016, 12:19 am
#68
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,678
Re: WATER
I was in a college class yesterday, we were talking about Shakespeare plays quoted in Return to the Forbidden Planet. Various people offered King Lear, Julius Caesar, etc. I decided to chance it, and speak up. I raised my hand, and speaking slowly and clearly, enunciated "Merchant of Venice."
Teacher looked confused. I repeated my observation. She still had no idea what I was saying. One other person repeated my contribution, so the teacher, looking relieved, was able to say "Ah, Merchant of Venice."
I kept quiet for the rest of the class...
May 14th 2016, 8:50 am
#69
Banned
Joined: Dec 2015
Location: california
Posts: 6,035
Re: WATER
Having lived in the U.S. for half my life, I sometimes feel like giving up, and just keeping quiet, confining my communication to email etc.
I was in a college class yesterday, we were talking about Shakespeare plays quoted in Return to the Forbidden Planet. Various people offered King Lear, Julius Caesar, etc. I decided to chance it, and speak up. I raised my hand, and speaking slowly and clearly, enunciated "Merchant of Venice."
Teacher looked confused. I repeated my observation. She still had no idea what I was saying. One other person repeated my contribution, so the teacher, looking relieved, was able to say "Ah, Merchant of Venice."
I kept quiet for the rest of the class...
I was in a college class yesterday, we were talking about Shakespeare plays quoted in Return to the Forbidden Planet. Various people offered King Lear, Julius Caesar, etc. I decided to chance it, and speak up. I raised my hand, and speaking slowly and clearly, enunciated "Merchant of Venice."
Teacher looked confused. I repeated my observation. She still had no idea what I was saying. One other person repeated my contribution, so the teacher, looking relieved, was able to say "Ah, Merchant of Venice."
I kept quiet for the rest of the class...
I had a couple of friends from France when I lived in Quebec, Canada. They couldn't understand about 3 words out of five the French spoken in that Province mainly due to pronunciation, They speak the dialect of that spoken in Normandy and Brittany back in the 17th century.
Much the same with Spanish. The Spanish spoken in Mexico sounds nothing like the lispy sounding Spanish of Spain,
Nations divided by a common language
May 14th 2016, 9:54 am
#70
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2015
Location: Near Lynchburg Tennessee, home of Jack Daniels
Posts: 1,395
Re: WATER
I still have a British midlands accent but haven't had any problem making people understand me. I use American expressions which helps. I did cause some amusement by calling a flashlight a torch and a sling shot a catapult,
I had a couple of friends from France when I lived in Quebec, Canada. They couldn't understand about 3 words out of five the French spoken in that Province mainly due to pronunciation, They speak the dialect of that spoken in Normandy and Brittany back in the 17th century.
Much the same with Spanish. The Spanish spoken in Mexico sounds nothing like the lispy sounding Spanish of Spain,
Nations divided by a common language
I had a couple of friends from France when I lived in Quebec, Canada. They couldn't understand about 3 words out of five the French spoken in that Province mainly due to pronunciation, They speak the dialect of that spoken in Normandy and Brittany back in the 17th century.
Much the same with Spanish. The Spanish spoken in Mexico sounds nothing like the lispy sounding Spanish of Spain,
Nations divided by a common language
May 14th 2016, 11:04 am
#71
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2016
Location: Northern California
Posts: 2,277
Re: WATER
a large, sturdy box or chest for holding or transporting clothes, personal effects, or other articles.
Last edited by johnwoo; May 14th 2016 at 11:07 am.
May 14th 2016, 11:10 am
#72
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,678
Re: WATER
Steamer trunk, cabin trunk? I think that's the origin of the American word for the storage area at the rear of a car. In early cars, it was actually a steamer trunk or similar, attached to the car...
Why the British call it a boot, I don't know.
DO the British call it a boot? I'm now starting to doubt my distant memory...
Why the British call it a boot, I don't know.
DO the British call it a boot? I'm now starting to doubt my distant memory...
May 14th 2016, 11:15 am
#73
He/him
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: WA
Posts: 18,931
Re: WATER
Steamer trunk, cabin trunk? I think that's the origin of the American word for the storage area at the rear of a car. In early cars, it was actually a steamer trunk or similar, attached to the car...
Why the British call it a boot, I don't know.
DO the British call it a boot? I'm now starting to doubt my distant memory...
Why the British call it a boot, I don't know.
DO the British call it a boot? I'm now starting to doubt my distant memory...
May 14th 2016, 11:17 am
#74
NM, not new, not Mexico!
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: Socorro, NM
Posts: 3,573
Re: WATER
Steamer trunk, cabin trunk? I think that's the origin of the American word for the storage area at the rear of a car. In early cars, it was actually a steamer trunk or similar, attached to the car...
Why the British call it a boot, I don't know.
DO the British call it a boot? I'm now starting to doubt my distant memory...
Why the British call it a boot, I don't know.
DO the British call it a boot? I'm now starting to doubt my distant memory...
May 14th 2016, 11:22 am
#75
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2016
Location: Northern California
Posts: 2,277
