RE: "warm" discussions

Dave's story is a good demonstration of the difference in exposure to
different cultures between countries.
If it had been a group of Australians his faux-pas  wouldn't have even
raised a giggle let alone an eyebrow.

Not that Australians are any more broadminded but they are exposed to a lot
more cultures and slang than any other group I can think of.

I had dinner last week with four Americans (a hawaiian, a californian, and a
couple from Maryland), three New Zealanders a South African an Israeli and
several other aussies from several other states.  

It was a lot of fun, but we (the aussies that is) had to keep explaining our
slang and even explaining the slang from other countries to those that had a
hard time keeping up with the conversation.  It is rather amazing to find so
many everyday terms or expressions  that are either misunderstood or totally
meaningless and all considered to be 'english language'.

Funnily enough when I was in Rome recently the only person there who had
problems understanding me was an English girl who needed help from the South
Africans to translate my 'australian'. She still sends me cheeky emails
ribbing me of my abuses of the 'english language'

Worth considering how diverse in this one language when reading emails.

rod

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Rod Randall
Weed Risk Assessment
Weed Science Group, Agriculture Western Australia

                 "I weed..." 

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http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/plants/weeds/weedsci2.htm

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> ----------
> From: 	dave-poole@ilsham.demon.co.uk
> Reply To: 	dave-poole@ilsham.demon.co.uk
> Sent: 	Monday, 22 February 1999 2:38 PM
> To: 	medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
> Subject: 	Re: "warm" discussions - tangential and irrelevant but...
> 
> Tony wrote:
> 
> >I think it /so/ essential to remember that - in what is an international
> >and public forum - that /some/ misunderstandings must inevitably arise,
> >because of local differences in the way the language is used. A word
> >that is completely correct and acceptable in one country, may be very
> >suspect, or even downright rude in another. The classic example for me,
> >as between British English and American English, is the use of the word
> >"bitch". In British English, this is the technically correct word for a
> >female dog, and is so used by every speaker.
> 
> Oh you are so right.  I remember back in the late '60's, working my
> first summer as a councilor on a UK based, USAF summer camp for the
> children of overseas personnel.  Little did I realise the yawning gap
> between American and British English.  When at breakfast one day,
> someone called across the mess-hall asking where Jack, one of the
> leaders was.  I yelled back he must be still asleep and added
> helpfully - 
> 
> "I'll go and knock him up shall I?"  
> 
> Barely stifled giggles from the 350 or so kids, rapidly dissolved into
> uncontrolled hysteria, but the shocked expression of the director - a
> very dour Texan, told me all was not well.  It became patently obvious
> my suggestion that I should go and knock on the door to wake Jack up,
> had taken on a totally different meaning.  I was taken aside after
> breakfast and the director suggested that before I cause a total
> outrage, I test the more common English colloquialisms on one of the
> more broad minded Americans working there.  His assistant came up to
> discuss something and offered cigarettes all round.  Without thinking,
> I said 
> 
> "Cor thanks -  after that little episode, I'm desperate for a fag"
> 
> Faux-pas no. 2.  The dour Texan spluttered violently, nearly bust a
> blood vessel and hurried off shaking his head in total despair.  I was
> later told that 'fag' had absolutely nothing to do with Marlboro or
> Winston on the 'other side of the pond'.  
> 
> Dave Poole
> TORQUAY  UK
>
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