I know the British are supposed to speak English... but we have a serious language barrier. I'm really quite sick of being corrected on what a say. So here is just a taste of what I'm into.
About clothes...
Pants mean underwear to them, so if you ask them if they women wear pants to church, it is quite embarrassing!!! A sweater is a jumper.
A rug is a blanket to them.
About Food...
A bun is a sweet baked item, a bap is a bun, and a biscuit is a cookie. A scone is a biscuit w/ sugar and/or fruit. A cracker is a toy at Christmas. And the words sweet, pudding, or after can all mean dessert. Luckily chocolate is still chocolate, although theirs is quite a bit sweeter. Candy is called a sweet. A pop is a fizzy drink. A soda is a special kind of bread. A filled soda is a sandwhich made w/ soda bread.
Carry out is called take-away. Frys are called chips. Chips are called crisps.
Lunch is lunch or dinner. Supper is called tea, and your snack before bed or after church is called supper.
About the bathroom...
Oh, and a bathroom is called a toilet. They are not so discreet to say ladies room or restroom. Just toilet or loo. So gross. Toilet paper is called toilet roll. Paper towels are called Kitchen roll. A wash rag is a cloth.
About pronounciation...
If you watch a video they also call them films. But this word is pronounced (filim).
If spelling a word with a Z they say Zed.
This is just the beginning of my soap box....
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
De,
I hope to spare you a horrible situation. Years ago in the dorm, I was speaking to a Brit who went to University with me. I was talking about a game of vollyball and mentioned that I was bonked on the head. She nearly fell over laughing. After nearly wetting herself she explained that in British English a bonk is not a jostle or bump but sexual intercourse. So, if you should fall off your new matching bike don't announce to anyone at church that you got a bonk on the noggin or a bonk the knee.
If it makes you feel any better, when my mom was a missionary she switched the word for urine and sweetener and invited several locals to drink Iced Tea laced with urine. There were no takers and someone figured out what the crazy missionary lady was trying to say and corrected her.
-deb
Oh De. You're hilarious. I was sitting here in my cubicle at school, crying my eyes out and decided to visit you. Next thing I know, I'm laughing my head off. I miss you more than I can say. Great. Now I'm crying again.
You're a good writer. It's so nice to get to see part of your world. What I wouldn't have given to see you ride 4 miles in the rain on your matching bike.
Thanks Deb for the laugh. I was laughing so hard I could hardly read it.
Deanna - I really enjoy your posts. It is really interesting to get a little more insight to your new life. Today was our anniversary. 8 years. I was thinking about the 10 year plan. Ireland, here we come, (I hope)!
Tamara, let me introduce you to Deb Buller. She lives in NM and is a wife, mother of a handsome son, a member of MENSA, and a strong, practical and Godly woman with may I add, a grand sense of humor. We have been friends since we were, as they say here, "wee ones".
Hi,Friend! I was laughing out loud! I would be so confused that I would likely become a mute. Ha ha ha. Yeah, right.
Great post. You will have to email my mother-in-law to hear some of the "English" things that she confused when she lived in England. It sure makes for great stories!!!!
Deb, thanks for the laugh!!!
Post a Comment