Comments on REAL ENGLISH IS SOMETHING THEY STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND.

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muser

'Pissed in the whiskey': oh dear, my dear, this does not sound at all like the cultured person described to me by Talion. And, even more worrying, I see you drink Irish whiskey - or possibly that awful concoction you produce over there - which, quite obviously, puts a huge question mark over your parentage.

No matter, as an English gentleman I apologize profusely for my rudeness in not realizing that you are, indeed, a Southern Lady - albeit one with an earthy vocabulary.

I will read your posts with renewed interest.

posted by Limey on June 1, 2005 at 9:00 AM | link to this | reply

Limey

You have to keep in mind that while you (or ya'll, since we're on the subject) get a lot of American programming, we get very little of yours. So except for news stories or bumping into the occasional tourist, we seldom get the opportunity to hear various accents, definitely not enough to distinguish differences. As far as James Bond goes, it's not just the accent that implies cultured, but the whole on her majesty's secret service mystique about him, the tuxedoes, the fancy cars and amazing gadgets, the women, etc.  

posted by Talion on June 1, 2005 at 8:42 AM | link to this | reply

well bless your heart, you have jus gone and pissed in the whiskey, darlin.

I am definitely not a "him"...but I will not get myself all in a pout over it. It's jus' too early in the mornin for that. Beides, you didn't know, so I'll jus' give you the benefit of the doubt that you really are a gentleman...and I'll be gracious and jus' accept your apologies in advance.

posted by muser on June 1, 2005 at 6:33 AM | link to this | reply

Talion

So muser is the gold standard: I'll read him very carefully from now on.

Meanwhile, I was interested to note that you consider James Bond to becultured.

Well, although Ian Fleming, an upper middle class Englishman who wrote the books could be accurately described in that way, Sean Connery, a rather down-market Scot, certainly can't.

When told that Connery had been chosen to play his hero, Fleming was said to have been absolutely horrified.f\

However, Connery is meant to have told him: "But you love all the money I bring in for you" - or words to that effect. Fleming didn't reply.

posted by Limey on June 1, 2005 at 3:40 AM | link to this | reply

WELL! I JUS' CANNOT BELIEVE THAT Y'ALL HAD THIS CONVERSATION

WITHOUT ME. I THINK I MIGHT JUS' HAVE MY FEELINGS HURT A LITTLE BIT. ANYWAY, MAX HAD TO CARRY ME TO THE GROCERY STORE THIS EVENIN' B'CAUSE I'M GOIN TO HAVE TO FIX A B'NANA PUDDIN' FOR A LADIES' LUNCHEON TOMORROW. IT'S A RIGHT FAR PIECE INTO TOWN, AND THE TRAFFIC DOWN HERE IS NOTHIN' LESS THAN ATROCIOUS. THAT'S WHY I WAS GONE SO LONG. LORD HAVE MERCY! I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT IN MY LIFE! THANK GOODNESS, WE ALL GOT BACK HOME SAFE AND SOUND. WELL, DARLINS, IT LOOKS LIKE Y'ALL DID JUS' FINE WITHOUT ME, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN EVER HELP Y'ALL WITH, JUS' LET ME KNOW, HEAR?

I HAVE BEEN MEANIN' TO DROP BY AND SEE YOU, LIMEY. I HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW WHY YOU WRITE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU DO. I AM GOIN' TO TAKE IT UPON MYSELF TO READ YOUR BLOGS. NOW DON'T TAKE THIS WRONG, BUT SOME OF YOUR SUBJECT LINES MAKE ME AS MAD AS AN OL' WET HEN...I REALIZE, OF COURSE, THAT MIGHT JUS' BE THE THE VERY REASON YOU WROTE IT THAT WAY. ANYWAY, I REALIZE THAT IF WE'RE GOIN' TO ENTERTAIN ANY POLITE CONVERSATION WITH ONE ANOTHER, I NEED TO READ YOUR BLOGS IN ADDITION TO THOSE SHOCKIN' SUBJECT LINES.

ALRIGHT, DARLINS. I NEED MY BEAUTY SLEEP, SO I'LL JUS' SAY GOODNIGHT FOR NOW. REMEMBER NOW: DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR ANGER, DON'T FORGET TO SAY YOUR PRAYERS, AND ALWAYS REMEMBER TO TELL THE ONES YOU LOVE...THAT YOU DO!

posted by muser on May 31, 2005 at 11:21 PM | link to this | reply

Hi Limey!

Yep it's a tiny book but a good one! While Steve tends to 'talk the same talk' as the Americans now, he still isn't always understood.. though people tend to find his colloquialisms funny. He was teaching a course once, using a horn to time things. He told the class he'd 'squeeze the hooter' to signal time was up...they all burst out laughing..he had no idea why they laughed! And when his kids came home from school saying they needed a 'fanny pack' for a school trip, his face dropped!

posted by ginnieb on May 31, 2005 at 9:06 PM | link to this | reply

Limey

It all depends on your definition of "pure." Take muser's dialect. That's a more cultured brand, the almost stereotypical version you hear badly imitated in movies and TV. The sipping mint julep kind that reflects high society and such. This is comparable to the James Bond type of English accent we're most familiar with. The farther you stray from metropolitian areas and deeper into the small towns, you'll hear the southern accents most associated with the "hick," "redneck," Li'l Abner ignorant and uneducated stereotype. You can possibly compare this to a cockney accent.    

posted by Talion on May 31, 2005 at 5:14 PM | link to this | reply

Tanoo

Same here. Sometimes I think I can hear some of you without the phone!

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 3:06 PM | link to this | reply

Actually we still call it a phone call LOL ... without using any specific terms, we just yell ITS OVERSEAS! hahaha

posted by Tanoolicious on May 31, 2005 at 2:44 PM | link to this | reply

Talion

Thank you very much: that's really interesting. But, tell me, where can the most 'pure' sound of the South still be heard?

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 2:32 PM | link to this | reply

Limey

It's hard to find a good example of what a real southern accent sounds like. Too often in movies, the actors don't come close. Southern accents are slightly different depending on the region. Where I live in Memphis, a nexus of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas, there's a tendency to pronouce all "i" sounds long. For instance, let's say we're playing chess. If you moved the white knight to the right, it would sound like the whiite kniight to the riight. Another southern expression is "fixing to" used to describe plans to perform some near-future action. I'm fixing to go to the store. You need anything? We could go on for days with this stuff.  

posted by Talion on May 31, 2005 at 2:24 PM | link to this | reply

Talion

I've taken a swift look at some of muser's work but I'm having difficulty 'hearing'the Southern sound. However, I'll persevere.
PS My late father used to read Brer Rabbit to me when I was a child. We all had great fun trying to perfect a Southern drawl. Being English, I don't think we got very close.

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 1:55 PM | link to this | reply

Tanoo

I believe you say a phone call is "collect" when you place and pay for it. We say "reverse the charges."

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 1:49 PM | link to this | reply

Ginnieb

That's the same little book from which I obtained a number of the words I listed. The price,I think, was a little over a $1 in your money. Great value.

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 1:46 PM | link to this | reply

Never heard these before in your language Limey, but now I know... thanks

saloon (carf) - sedan

trunk call- long distance

 

posted by Tanoolicious on May 31, 2005 at 1:30 PM | link to this | reply

Limey

I love ya, keep it going!!

posted by Burly on May 31, 2005 at 12:58 PM | link to this | reply

Limey

I love ya, keep it going!!

posted by Burly on May 31, 2005 at 12:57 PM | link to this | reply

Hey Limey..

..it's just a little handbook called American English.English American published by Abson Books London. As for your other question: I'll ask 'im when 'e gets home. I'm sure he could write a book about it! ;)

posted by ginnieb on May 31, 2005 at 12:29 PM | link to this | reply

Limey

If you want a good dose of what a southern accent sounds like (or in this case reads like), check out the blogger muser. We're talking "Gone With the Wind." It's great.

posted by Talion on May 31, 2005 at 11:52 AM | link to this | reply

Talion

Well, how ya'll gettin'on down thar?

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 11:27 AM | link to this | reply

Michael

Thank you. You have obviously devoted a great deal of thought to your comment, and I appreciate it.

I would just say this to you. There are millions upon millions of people throughout the world who hate America and Americans. And there are millions of Americans who cannot accept that this is the case.

I am here to confirm that, indeed, it so and wherever possible, to provide you with some of the reasons.

I don't for a moment expect that many of you will like what you hear.

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 11:23 AM | link to this | reply

Wordwizard

Better understanding.

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 11:10 AM | link to this | reply

Limey

The most well-known southern colloquialism is "ya'll," a contraction for "you all." Those north of the Mason-Dixon line don't say it.

posted by Talion on May 31, 2005 at 11:08 AM | link to this | reply

Northern Yankee

You're right, it is a long post. If you don't mind, I'll read it and come back to you a little later.

Peace, indeed.

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 11:06 AM | link to this | reply

Ms N Dependence

Sorry, I've just noticed that you query what a zee might be - and I thought that was what you always use to say z!

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 11:04 AM | link to this | reply

Ginnieb

What was your book called? I'm always keen to learn more about the differences between English and American words.

I suppose you husband is bilingual now? However, would you mind asking him what he found most difficult to understand in America?

Thanks.

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 11:03 AM | link to this | reply

Ms N Dependence

Isn't it strange - ginnieb is familiar with zed, and she's from just across the border in Canada?

In America, it seems, everyone calls z zee, not zed.

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 11:00 AM | link to this | reply

Ms N Dependence

Isn't it strange - gennieb is familiar with zed, and she's from just across the border in Canada?

In America, it seems, every calls z zee, not zed.

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 10:58 AM | link to this | reply

Ah yes. Equality, I presume ?

Imagine if you will for a single moment, (don't worry it won't hurt) that every person has an opinion, (much like the biological fact that every person has a an asshole) and you're duty in this one moment is to express your personal opinion for all the world to see and hear. Now think about the receiving end,(the readers) and how they will in turn ' judge ' your opinion. There are many sub division of classification much like the blogit method of organisation of posts and blogs, by catagory. Now if your opinion lasts a fraction of a second in the forefront of your mind and takes only a few moments to write in down and post it. Why oh why would you violate an opportunity to do good and inspire a race of people to perform art, and be charitable? Wouldn't you want to lift the world up, and lead by example? I say this because of my dissapointment with some bloggers seemingly boundless contempt for a foreign nation, (with particular respect to their vocabulary and usage of the ENGLISH language). My dissapointment stems mainly however, from the blatent dissregard of HUMILITY, and GRACIOUSNESS that and educated person should take pride in. Lording education, and articulate thought over the masses of trogledites, and ignorant baffoons, is just as ignorant, if not worse. A turtle, knows it's a slow moving animal, but he does his best, we hope. But for a superior animal to make light of the turtle, does not elevate him. It merely serves as the final blow to the populous of self aware and enlightened persons. this kind of contempt for cultural difference paints us all with the same corse and broken down brush.

" Never ascribe malfeasance to anything that can be more redily explained by stupidity ".

Michael

posted by Michael_Adamthwaite on May 31, 2005 at 10:54 AM | link to this | reply

Talion

I take it you mean the North and South of America? Could you provide a few examples, please? I'd love to see some.

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 10:54 AM | link to this | reply

Zenresistance

I shall never again be able to look at a lorry without thinking of your interpretation of the name - 'a truck with very sophisticated communication skills.' What a wonderful description.

posted by Limey on May 31, 2005 at 10:52 AM | link to this | reply

And your point is?

posted by Wordwizard on May 31, 2005 at 9:57 AM | link to this | reply

words

Snog, on the Pull, sofa, Shilas (Aussie), bloke, posh, connect (phone),

If you have sec, check out my post:  the harsh reality, What is anti-americanism and why does it exist? Im interest in your opinion, its a long one though.

Peace 

posted by NorthernYankee on May 31, 2005 at 9:41 AM | link to this | reply

Hey there Limey!

Just read your list to my "English" husband..he interpreted some for me..never ceases to amaze me that though I've known him for 7 years, there are still some British terms I haven't heard! You guys have a zillion of them! I even bought a book once that lists them all..still can't keep up! But..I'm Canadian and some terms..a few..are similar. And ya..zed is zed!

posted by ginnieb on May 30, 2005 at 8:54 PM | link to this | reply

Well good grief Limey!

Now you've stumped me - what the hell is a zed or a zee? Sounds like something from Dr. Suess.

posted by Transcendental_Child on May 30, 2005 at 6:38 PM | link to this | reply

Limey

This could be done with the things said in the north as opposed to the south.  

posted by Talion on May 30, 2005 at 4:54 PM | link to this | reply

good words/phrases

And I agree with the others from the US who say that "articulated lorry" sounds something like a medical condition or a truck with very sophisticated communication skills.

posted by zenresistance on May 30, 2005 at 4:50 PM | link to this | reply

Reni

I never thought of it like that, but you have a point. Usually, these lorries are simply known as artics.

posted by Limey on May 30, 2005 at 3:59 PM | link to this | reply

"Articluated lorry" sounds like a hideous medical condition involving

the rear nether-regions, if you ask me!   

posted by Renigade on May 30, 2005 at 3:57 PM | link to this | reply

Last word

We say zed for zee.

posted by Limey on May 30, 2005 at 3:04 PM | link to this | reply