A cup of ... what???
Jun 8th 2006, 7:00 pm
#91
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Posts: 8,266
Re: A cup of ... what???
Originally Posted by snowbunny
Eh? We say STRAW-bear-ee here .... though granted Texas is its own country. 
however if I am in the UK I will say "strawb'ry" and "raz'b'ry" -- not really changing ACCENT but pronunciation.
And I ask for ice cubes.... failing that, frozen water, ice klontjes (it's something like that in Dutch!), hielo, glace, whatever.
however if I am in the UK I will say "strawb'ry" and "raz'b'ry" -- not really changing ACCENT but pronunciation.
And I ask for ice cubes.... failing that, frozen water, ice klontjes (it's something like that in Dutch!), hielo, glace, whatever.
Many southern folk don't understand my accent, so I go native with them. Easy enough after nearly a decade here...
Jun 9th 2006, 12:45 am
#92
Blondie22
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,738
Re: A cup of ... what???
Originally Posted by TouristTrap
Ah, recall my first visit back to Africa after being here 8 months. Asked the waiter for ice in my drink and he brought it back to me with ice alright...one cubeful!...ha!ha!
Many southern folk don't understand my accent, so I go native with them. Easy enough after nearly a decade here...
Many southern folk don't understand my accent, so I go native with them. Easy enough after nearly a decade here...
I asked for a baked potato in a cafe in Wales once, my friend immediately jumped in and said "she means a jacket potato!". She was worried that I would be misunderstood. If someone in Britain doesn't know that they are the same thing then there is no help for them IMO. I could understand and American not knowing what a jacket potato was though, that may need some explaining!
(I understand that this is not a pronunciation thing, I just wanted to share! )
Jun 9th 2006, 3:34 am
#93
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Re: A cup of ... what???
Originally Posted by Crispyuk88
Ever had cheese in a can? Bloody 'ell stuffs god awful.
ROFL at Waderburger
ROFL at Waderburger
Jun 9th 2006, 5:36 am
#94
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Re: A cup of ... what???
Originally Posted by blaze
I asked for a baked potato in a cafe in Wales once, my friend immediately jumped in and said "she means a jacket potato!". She was worried that I would be misunderstood. If someone in Britain doesn't know that they are the same thing then there is no help for them IMO. I could understand and American not knowing what a jacket potato was though, that may need some explaining! (I understand that this is not a pronunciation thing, I just wanted to share! )
(I understand that this is not a pronunciation thing, I just wanted to share! ) *let go, I'll make my own way out the door thankyouverymuch
*
Jun 9th 2006, 6:51 am
#95
Blondie22
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,738
Re: A cup of ... what???
Originally Posted by TouristTrap
Well, they do dress more formally in Europe
*let go, I'll make my own way out the door thankyouverymuch *
*let go, I'll make my own way out the door thankyouverymuch
*
Jun 12th 2006, 6:32 pm
#96
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Posts: 387
Re: A cup of ... what???
I'm more amazed that you got the croissant without a problem. I find it hard not to pronounce it with a French accent, especially the final syllable, but here they have a weird pronunciation that I can't even mimic. Sounds something like 'cwassant' Needless to say I usually end up pointing (or choosing a cookie)...
I've found Hispanics have trouble understanding me, especially the nearer to Mehiho one gets, but to be fair they're not expecting an English accent. Sometimes having an English accent comes in useful. Recently I've been looking for cars and furniture. Given that ALL Hollywood baddies are British, I put on my best don't-mess-with-me Gary Oldman accent when hassled by 'sales associates'... It says 'bugger off and leave me alone' without actually saying it and, once they've stopped gushing about Jamie Cullen or something, usually works well. Failing that I turn on the Geordie and suddenly they find other customers to harrasse....
Was it nice fruit salad?
I've found Hispanics have trouble understanding me, especially the nearer to Mehiho one gets, but to be fair they're not expecting an English accent. Sometimes having an English accent comes in useful. Recently I've been looking for cars and furniture. Given that ALL Hollywood baddies are British, I put on my best don't-mess-with-me Gary Oldman accent when hassled by 'sales associates'... It says 'bugger off and leave me alone' without actually saying it and, once they've stopped gushing about Jamie Cullen or something, usually works well. Failing that I turn on the Geordie and suddenly they find other customers to harrasse....
Was it nice fruit salad?
Originally Posted by Elvira
Just paid another visit to the friendly guys at our local CIS to enquire about my son's AOS and hand in his AP application.
Went into the coffeeshop next door to get my parking validated. This is what I said:
"Can I have a croissant, a small coffee and a cup of water, please"
This is what I got:
- a croissant
- a cup for the coffee
- a plastic cup of...
FRUIT SALAD!!!
Went into the coffeeshop next door to get my parking validated. This is what I said:
"Can I have a croissant, a small coffee and a cup of water, please"
This is what I got:
- a croissant
- a cup for the coffee
- a plastic cup of...
FRUIT SALAD!!!
Jun 13th 2006, 1:51 am
#97
Homebody
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Posts: 23,182
Re: A cup of ... what???
Originally Posted by gsnichol
I'm more amazed that you got the croissant without a problem. I find it hard not to pronounce it with a French accent, especially the final syllable, but here they have a weird pronunciation that I can't even mimic. Sounds something like 'cwassant' Needless to say I usually end up pointing (or choosing a cookie)...
I've found Hispanics have trouble understanding me, especially the nearer to Mehiho one gets, but to be fair they're not expecting an English accent. Sometimes having an English accent comes in useful. Recently I've been looking for cars and furniture. Given that ALL Hollywood baddies are British, I put on my best don't-mess-with-me Gary Oldman accent when hassled by 'sales associates'... It says 'bugger off and leave me alone' without actually saying it and, once they've stopped gushing about Jamie Cullen or something, usually works well. Failing that I turn on the Geordie and suddenly they find other customers to harrasse....
Was it nice fruit salad?
I've found Hispanics have trouble understanding me, especially the nearer to Mehiho one gets, but to be fair they're not expecting an English accent. Sometimes having an English accent comes in useful. Recently I've been looking for cars and furniture. Given that ALL Hollywood baddies are British, I put on my best don't-mess-with-me Gary Oldman accent when hassled by 'sales associates'... It says 'bugger off and leave me alone' without actually saying it and, once they've stopped gushing about Jamie Cullen or something, usually works well. Failing that I turn on the Geordie and suddenly they find other customers to harrasse....
Was it nice fruit salad?
Oh the croissant was comparatively easy because I got THAT confusion out of the way first. The only ones they had on display were 'fancy' ones, so I asked whether they had any "plain croissants". She did puzzle for a moment and asked "sorry, what?", and I did repeat it with some sort of imitation of 'cwassaaaaant'. Doesn't work with "woadder" though - I simply cannot say it!
I take your point with Mexicans (and 'Asians'). I always speak extra slowly to them... And an English accent definitely cen be useful. On the rare occasions when I need to complain about something, I can easily go up the scale from Helen Mirren to Judi Dench and - if things get desperate
Margot Leadbetter... 
Jun 13th 2006, 2:00 am
#98
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Joined: May 2006
Location: Norfolk,UK ->Memphis,TN
Posts: 1,158
Re: A cup of ... what???
Originally Posted by Elvira
Oh the croissant was comparatively easy because I got THAT confusion out of the way first. The only ones they had on display were 'fancy' ones, so I asked whether they had any "plain croissants". She did puzzle for a moment and asked "sorry, what?", and I did repeat it with some sort of imitation of 'cwassaaaaant'.
Jun 13th 2006, 3:30 am
#99
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Location: Melbourne, Oz to Banbury, England to El Mirage, AZ & now back to England!
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Re: A cup of ... what???
Originally Posted by gsnichol
I'm more amazed that you got the croissant without a problem. I find it hard not to pronounce it with a French accent, especially the final syllable, but here they have a weird pronunciation that I can't even mimic. Sounds something like 'cwassant' Needless to say I usually end up pointing (or choosing a cookie)...
I've found Hispanics have trouble understanding me, especially the nearer to Mehiho one gets, but to be fair they're not expecting an English accent. Sometimes having an English accent comes in useful. Recently I've been looking for cars and furniture. Given that ALL Hollywood baddies are British, I put on my best don't-mess-with-me Gary Oldman accent when hassled by 'sales associates'... It says 'bugger off and leave me alone' without actually saying it and, once they've stopped gushing about Jamie Cullen or something, usually works well. Failing that I turn on the Geordie and suddenly they find other customers to harrasse....
Was it nice fruit salad?
I've found Hispanics have trouble understanding me, especially the nearer to Mehiho one gets, but to be fair they're not expecting an English accent. Sometimes having an English accent comes in useful. Recently I've been looking for cars and furniture. Given that ALL Hollywood baddies are British, I put on my best don't-mess-with-me Gary Oldman accent when hassled by 'sales associates'... It says 'bugger off and leave me alone' without actually saying it and, once they've stopped gushing about Jamie Cullen or something, usually works well. Failing that I turn on the Geordie and suddenly they find other customers to harrasse....
Was it nice fruit salad?
Jun 13th 2006, 3:31 am
#100
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Re: A cup of ... what???
Originally Posted by dan_alford
I just get an image of you doing a pseudo-budweiser commercial. Cwassssssssssssssssant?
I look a lot better than them toads though...
Jun 13th 2006, 3:42 am
#101
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Joined: Apr 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 387
Re: A cup of ... what???
Originally Posted by Elvira
I take your point with Mexicans (and 'Asians'). I always speak extra slowly to them... And an English accent definitely cen be useful. On the rare occasions when I need to complain about something, I can easily go up the scale from Helen Mirren to Judi Dench and - if things get desperate Margot Leadbetter...
Margot Leadbetter... 
Jun 19th 2006, 7:34 am
#102
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Joined: May 2006
Location: Norfolk,UK ->Memphis,TN
Posts: 1,158
Re: A cup of ... what???
Had a new one this week. We have a local walmart with a McDonalds inside and they serve salted pretzels.
Me: Can I get two Salted Pretzels please?
Cashier: You want two sausages with eggs in shell?
Me: Can I get two Salted Pretzels please?
Cashier: You want two sausages with eggs in shell?
Jun 19th 2006, 7:44 am
#103
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Location: Melbourne, Oz to Banbury, England to El Mirage, AZ & now back to England!
Posts: 5,989
Re: A cup of ... what???
Originally Posted by dan_alford
Had a new one this week. We have a local walmart with a McDonalds inside and they serve salted pretzels.
Me: Can I get two Salted Pretzels please?
Cashier: You want two sausages with eggs in shell?
Me: Can I get two Salted Pretzels please?
Cashier: You want two sausages with eggs in shell?
Jun 19th 2006, 7:50 am
#104
Captain Caaaaaaveeemaaaan
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Nash Vegas ! ! !
Posts: 750
Re: A cup of ... what???
Originally Posted by Partystar
Hahaha, that actually made me laugh out loud!
Someone came into my office the other day and spoke to my colleague and asked for me... When they asked for a description of me (as I'm not the only male in my offiec), they replied with "I spoke to that Asian Guy the other day".... How I sound and look Asian is beyond me... but oh well ! LMAO
