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Universal Translator

Outdated said:
I find it funny when people come here believing that they speak English but they only speak American English. There's always lots of confusion and misunderstandings, most Aussies are fully aware of this of course and find it amusing.
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It is amusing to admit that even within the US there are countless people totally unaware of all the different regional dialects we speak here. ;)

But then I suspect in most cases, the only way Americans really understand the intricacies of the English language is to learn another completely different one.
 
Judge said:
It is amusing to admit that even within the US there are countless people totally unaware of all the different regional dialects we speak here. ;)
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The most common one here is one we're all waiting for, it's like a sport. They ask where they can buy a fanny pack and you keep a completely deadpan face as you direct them to the personal hygiene aisle. :)
 
Outdated said:
I'm the same, pedantic about language, but there's also some words that I have misspelt since I was a kid. 50 years later I still have to go back and correct myself every time. The brain likes to stick with what it learnt first.
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Yes!

I have to keep going back and see if I haven't spelled things like which as witch. Which apparently are two very different things 😆
 
Outdated said:
The most common one here is one we're all waiting for, it's like a sport. They ask where they can buy a fanny pack and you keep a completely deadpan face as you direct them to the personal hygiene aisle. :)
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Americans won't catch on. But Norn-Iron Americans...lol. Oh yeah.
 
Neia said:
I have to keep going back and see if I haven't spelled things like which as witch. Which apparently are two very different things 😆
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Names of things I grew up with stick with me too. I can't make myself say Peanut Butter, it just sounds wrong. When I was growing up it was called Peanut Paste. These days all the jars say peanut butter but I'm not saying it.
 
Judge said:
Americans won't catch on. But Norn-Iron Americans...lol. Oh yeah.
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Outdated said:
The most common one here is one we're all waiting for, it's like a sport. They ask where they can buy a fanny pack and you keep a completely deadpan face as you direct them to the personal hygiene aisle. :)
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Brazilians call everything a pocket 😑
A purse us a pocket, a handbag is a pocket, a pocket is a pocket.
🙈
 
Outdated said:
I'm the same, pedantic about language, but there's also some words that I have misspelt since I was a kid. 50 years later I still have to go back and correct myself every time. The brain likes to stick with what it learnt first.
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That's what I like....is to see posters use and spell certain words. Instant giveaway that they aren't bleedin' yanks.

(Takes a lot for me to even post the "y" word. Just don't ask me to capitalize it as a proper noun.)
 
Judge said:
That's what I like....is to see posters use and spell certain words. Instant giveaway that they aren't bleedin' yanks.
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It's just how we were taught to write. I think especially so in Adelaide, it was always a bit more British compared to the other cities.
 
Judge said:
That's what I like....is to see posters use and spell certain words. Instant giveaway that they aren't bleedin' yanks.
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Unless they're a weirdo like me, who learnt proper English so likes to use mostly proper spelling, but then slips with some words because she reads too many American authors 😆
 
Neia said:
Unless they're a weirdo like me, who learnt proper English so likes to use mostly proper spelling, but then slips with some words because she reads too many American authors 😆
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Ah yes, reminds me of how "Lulu" emphasized that which was "bleedin' proppa". :cool:

Your written English left me with no clue that you were from Portugal. Impressive. Is your spoken English the same? Just wondering.

I once had an Austrian girlfriend who used to love to make fun of my German. :eek:

In typical American fashion, unless I see a particular word used or spelled differently, I tend to assume they're one of us. Gets to be a sticky wicket if I ramble on about American law when it's British law that's at stake.
 
Neia said:
Unfortunately my spoken English sounds American 😆
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Back in the 90s a friend's son went to Japan for a couple of years, teaching English. He was picked up by an exclusive private school and paid really well because of his accent. Apparently there was a class distinction thing going on in Japan and the upper class spoke English with a British accent.

An Aussie was near enough for them and we're generally easy to get along with too. He came back 2 years later because he couldn't stand the built up urban lifestyle.
 
I always knew Draco Malfoy was a bastard. I mean, consider his accent versus his father's. Something not quite right there. Though his father could impersonate Americans quite well. Part of the "dark arts", no doubt. Then compare both of them to Hermoine Granger. And Ronald Weasley- bloody hell!

Makes me wonder how many people needed subtitles just to watch Harry Potter films. :rolleyes:
 
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Outdated said:
he couldn't stand the built up urban lifestyle.
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😬 I Think I'd agree with him on that.

My town used to be so quiet that, when I was 7 or 8, kids would sit by one of the main roads counting the cars that passed.

Now I hate it.

It's noisy, stinks of pollution, and there's too many people around!
 
Judge said:
I always knew Draco Malfoy was a bastard. I mean, consider his accent versus his father's. Something not quite right there. Though his father could impersonate Americans quite well. Part of the "dark arts", no doubt. Then compare both of them to Hermoine Granger. And Ronald Weasley- bloody hell!
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How many Hollywood movies cast someone with a British accent as the bad guy? There's obviously a cultural perception or stereotype thing going on there. :)
 
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