Local and regional expressions

[Pennyrick]

Rattigan Roger's recent thread about next and next generated some back and forths from folks about the way people interpret communications.

Reminds me of an embarrassing day in 1980. I was raised in Canada but moved to Michigan in '73 and then Ohio in '78. In 1980 the company promoted me to head up their operations in East Tennessee.

On my first week on the job I was in the production department reviewing some procedures with the staff and I told one staffer that I thought one job could be performed in a different, but more efficient manner.

"I don't care to do that", she replied.

I repeated my thoughts on the job and once more I got the "I don't care to do that", response.

Later, I took her aside and told her I didn't like her attitude. She broke into tears and couldn't seem to understand why I was so upset with her.

Then, one of her co-workers explained to me that in the vernacular of the mountains of East Tennessee she was telling me that things were fine and she agreed to do as I asked. "When she says she has 'no care' that is the same as 'no objection' in her mind."

It wasn't the first time I was tripped up on the special language of the mountains but I was very careful after that.

[Bob Denman]

That; would have stumped me, as well...
My Brother in Law is from Brooklyn; he's been up here over 40 years now, and there are STILL some times that I just can't figure out what the heck he is saying to m!

[cuznjohn]

That; would have stumped me, as well...
My Brother in Law is from Brooklyn; he's been up here over 40 years now, and there are STILL some times that I just can't figure out what the heck he is saying to m!

brooklyn is a different breed of people, it is only one Borough away from me and it seems like a whole new world if i go there

[Bob Denman]

[Chupaca]

you should see the mess you can get into in the spanish language traveling from country to country. happens in the english speaking countries as well...

[Cruzr Joe]

brooklyn is a different breed of people, it is only one Borough away from me and it seems like a whole new world if i go there

I agree, i grew up in Brooklyn and sometimes i don't understand the voices in my head talking to me.


Cruzr Joe

[Bob Denman]

You too?

Maybe we should try swapping voices...

[Cruzr Joe]

You too?

Maybe we should try swapping voices...

Bob, we are confused enough.

Cruzr Joe

[Bob Denman]

I know... Ain't it GREAT?!?

[ARtraveler]

Regional differences are very interesting. Are we going to list some things we find here?

[Bob Denman]

Since I've only been blessed by one very local viewpoint; I'll have to see what those who have sampled the language from around our Country; can report...

[garb55]

We had a new employee from Australia
He asked one of the female workers if she had a rubber
she was very upset and went to the manager [me]
I called him in my office
He said all he wanted was an eraser [he said the thing on the other end of a pencil to remove what you right]
I explained what a rubber was in the USA
He was embarrassed and apologized to the young lady
Also he called tennis shoes "runners"
True story

[vided]

What is a 6/12" sandwich called?
1- a hero

[cuznjohn]

only expression that is given in brooklyn is the bird

[ARtraveler]

When the "outsiders" come to visit Alaska, I will buy them a "soda."

[spydaman60]

What is a 6/12" sandwich called?
1- a hero

grinder, sub, hoagy, hero, depending where you live!!!

[JerryB]

Hi Don,

In England, getting knocked up in the morning means to wake you up.



Jerry Baumchen

[Bob Denman]

grinder, sub, hoagy, hero, depending where you live!!!

Or even a "Po' Boy"
Never heard of "Hoagies", until I ended up serving my Collegiate Sentence in Nu Joisey! Up here; you can call them Heroes or Subs...

[mowin]

When the "outsiders" come to visit Alaska, I will buy them a "soda."

Its "soda" here in NY, when I lived in Ohio, it was "pop". When my brother comes to visit, he still calls it pop.

[Bob Denman]

We call it "Beer"...

[ARtraveler]

Its "soda" here in NY, when I lived in Ohio, it was "pop". When my brother comes to visit, he still calls it pop.

Pop also in MN and WI.

[Yazz]

We had a new employee from Australia
He asked one of the female workers if she had a rubber
she was very upset and went to the manager [me]
I called him in my office
He said all he wanted was an eraser [he said the thing on the other end of a pencil to remove what you right]
I explained what a rubber was in the USA
He was embarrassed and apologized to the young lady
Also he called tennis shoes "runners"
True story

Lived in Australia for two years. When we first arrived, Son got a school list of required items. (It was a private school with uniforms for all different weather.) On the list was a rubber (took me a while to figure that one out), a jumper (sweater) and a speedo. Poor guy had to take swimming classes.

Yup, they may speak english, but sometimes the same word has a TOTALLY different meaning.

The good thing is some strong Aussie swear words are quaint over here. Only Hubby realizes how pissed/angry I am.

When the "outsiders" come to visit Alaska, I will buy them a "soda."

Down here it's coke. As in "What type of coke to you want?"

[Oldmanzues]

This could be fun.
Carry me to the store...I would like a ride
Lower the radio ... turn it down
British a whole diferent langauge, I say, please check the boot for a new tyre and replace it. I had a wing dinger and ruined one.
or brew up a billy.
Spent a lot time in England TDT during my serrvice career. Knock me up made for a lot interesting moments.
Oldmanzues

[Pennyrick]

I'm sure our Canadian members could contribute to this list.

When I was growing up....

A napkin was called a serviette
A couch was called a chesterfield
Pants were trousers
Suspenders were braces
A vacation was a holiday
French fries were chips
Chips were crispers
Electricity was Hydro
A wrench was a spanner
An eraser was a rubber

[Oldmanzues]

I'm sure our Canadian members could contribute to this list.

When I was growing up....

A napkin was called a serviette
A couch was called a chesterfield
Pants were trousers
Suspenders were braces
A vacation was a holiday
French fries were chips
Chips were crispers
Electricity was Hydro
A wrench was a spanner
An eraser was a rubber

I think most of these are also British. My wife was told by her langauge instutor to bring rubber for their field tip, whil stationed in German, Brit insstructor.
A person asking for a napkin in a restuirant over in England would really get a strange look when I was there 30 years ago. How to say this nicely. A napkin is something a man does not need, but a lady might.
Our150 year old + house in German had a bathroom nwith a tub and a water closet. Our German friends said to make sure to ask for a water closet if we needed to use the tiolet. Asking to use a person Bathroom would be a serious breach of conduct
Someboyd mentioned getting in trouble in spanish between different countries. Try Chinesse, mis pronouning the tone can change the meaning from Good Morning to @$%^ you
Oldmanzues