Your english is like greek to me
Shucks... I was wondering how often I've used South African lingo without realising it.
There are some really good stories about how local words can get you into trouble when you're not at home. Two come to mind.
A buddy of mine's sister was in the UK. She was staying in a commune and the places geyser started giving problems. So one night at the table she said to the rest of the people living there, "we should really get rid of that old geyser". They were horified. She then realised that they thought she was refering to the landlord. She was actually refering to the "boiler".
Another friend arrived in america and needed a trolley for her bags. So she kept asking everyone where the trolleys for the bags were. She just got confused blank stairs. It turns out they thought is was wanting a tram just for her bags. This strangely enough is a total opposite use of two words that (as far as I know) the rest of the english speaking world use the other way around.
So remember that in America a trolley is a tram and a tram is a trolley. I hope that I'm remembering the two correct words that she got mixed up with. Oh well... if not I'm sure some nice friendly person from America will correct me soon enough.
If you got any similiar stories then please add them on as comments.
ooh... just remembered another really good one. Some friends of mine (from America) where in South Africa for a year. They decided to buy a second hand car from James, mutual friend. James goes on to explain to John that the cars hooter is not on the steering wheel but a seperate button next to the radio. John then looks very confused. James then presses the hooter and John realises that he was talking about "blowing the horn" and not a complementary stripper been supplied with the car.
There are some really good stories about how local words can get you into trouble when you're not at home. Two come to mind.
A buddy of mine's sister was in the UK. She was staying in a commune and the places geyser started giving problems. So one night at the table she said to the rest of the people living there, "we should really get rid of that old geyser". They were horified. She then realised that they thought she was refering to the landlord. She was actually refering to the "boiler".
Another friend arrived in america and needed a trolley for her bags. So she kept asking everyone where the trolleys for the bags were. She just got confused blank stairs. It turns out they thought is was wanting a tram just for her bags. This strangely enough is a total opposite use of two words that (as far as I know) the rest of the english speaking world use the other way around.
So remember that in America a trolley is a tram and a tram is a trolley. I hope that I'm remembering the two correct words that she got mixed up with. Oh well... if not I'm sure some nice friendly person from America will correct me soon enough.
If you got any similiar stories then please add them on as comments.
ooh... just remembered another really good one. Some friends of mine (from America) where in South Africa for a year. They decided to buy a second hand car from James, mutual friend. James goes on to explain to John that the cars hooter is not on the steering wheel but a seperate button next to the radio. John then looks very confused. James then presses the hooter and John realises that he was talking about "blowing the horn" and not a complementary stripper been supplied with the car.
posted by Gareth at 5:19 PM
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