MJ's little flock

[rjohns39]

I was invited to a class of Catalan students who were due to take their advanced English exams.
The idea was to hear what 'common' English sounded like. Okay, I did lay it on a bit thick by doing a bit of a sketch/monologue of trying to buy a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea at an East End Cafe. It was hilarious and went a long way to illustrate the shortcomings of learning English from English teachers. Hardly any of the students managed to get what they were trying to order.

English is way too broad a category. I've enjoyed following the evolution of the language in different cultures for years. But it get's even more fun when being translated from different languages.

 

[Ribh]

I was invited to a class of Catalan students who were due to take their advanced English exams.
The idea was to hear what 'common' English sounded like. Okay, I did lay it on a bit thick by doing a bit of a sketch/monologue of trying to buy a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea at an East End Cafe. It was hilarious and went a long way to illustrate the shortcomings of learning English from English teachers. Hardly any of the students managed to get what they were trying to order.

I'm sorry I missed that. I get it. My failing is I have a smattering of several languages but don't speak any of them particularly well. I can work out some things but not get the full picture. A classic was *lait* ~ or a version of it in any number of languages. I know lait is milk so buying milk @ the swedish border chose a carton @ random. I ended up with what looked like rabbit droppings floating in my coffee... Yep. I got a yoghurt product. You can't be too careful!

 

[Shadrach]

English is way too broad a category. I've enjoyed following the evolution of the language in different cultures for years. But it get's even more fun when being translated from different languages.

The monologue went something like this.

Awrite darlin? What can I do you for? Cuppa sweet tea for you is it sweetheart? How about your sproggy? She won’t be wanting tea now will she? You’ll have to wait a bit for the sarnie. Will that be on brown or white sweetheart? etc etc.

 

[Ribh]

The monologue went something like this.

Awrite darlin? What can I do you for? Cuppa sweet tea for you is it sweetheart? How about your sproggy? She won’t be wanting tea now will she? You’ll have to wait a bit for the sarnie. Will that be on brown or white sweetheart? etc etc.

Oh, no. That's hilarious!

 

[Shadrach]

Oh, no. That's hilarious!

I have to fez up to having the worst type of English accent and speech habits in the UK. My accent is a cross between North London and South Gloucester. We, those of us with the same affliction don't really speak as such. What you get is a series of phrases that appear to eminate from a closed mouth. It's the laziest, sloppiest speach imaginable. You can imagine my distress on finding I had to actually open my mouth and make shapes with it to speak Catalan!

 

[rjohns39]

As I've traveled the world, I've been amazed at how many variations of the English language exist. Add culture, foreign language and interpretation and WOW that can change everything.

A long long time ago I was in Germany and talking with my young waitress' father. My German was poor at best. The conversation turned and even though I understood it, I couldn't believe I understood it correctly. I asked a female friend of mine to translate, because I must have misunderstood. She promptly explained that women aren't allowed in this conversation. I was puzzled and still needed help, so I asked her to find me a man who spoke English well enough to translate for me, because I was convinced I had it wrong. She found a man who not only was familiar with both languages but both cultures. It turns out that I understood correctly, but culturally couldn't fathom the request. one which my wife would never ever accept or understand. So language and culture all play into our daily interactions.

 

[MaryJanet]

As I've traveled the world, I've been amazed at how many variations of the English language exist. Add culture, foreign language and interpretation and WOW that can change everything.

A long long time ago I was in Germany and talking with my young waitress' father. My German was poor at best. The conversation turned and even though I understood it, I couldn't believe I understood it correctly. I asked a female friend of mine to translate, because I must have misunderstood. She promptly explained that women aren't allowed in this conversation. I was puzzled and still needed help, so I asked her to find me a man who spoke English well enough to translate for me, because I was convinced I had it wrong. She found a man who not only was familiar with both languages but both cultures. It turns out that I understood correctly, but culturally couldn't fathom the request. one which my wife would never ever accept or understand. So language and culture all play into our daily interactions.

That's a twist I wasn't expecting.

 

[MaryJanet]

I'm sorry I missed that. I get it. My failing is I have a smattering of several languages but don't speak any of them particularly well. I can work out some things but not get the full picture. A classic was *lait* ~ or a version of it in any number of languages. I know lait is milk so buying milk @ the swedish border chose a carton @ random. I ended up with what looked like rabbit droppings floating in my coffee... Yep. I got a yoghurt product. You can't be too careful!

Were the droppings blueberries?

 

[MaryJanet]

Good evening everyone


so sweet ❤

She's gradually building trust in me

She's become an expert at eating dinner separately-together. I call her and she runs into the henhouse and waits at a safe distance while I put her plate down and shoo interlopers out. As soon as I turn to leave, she pounces on her dinner.

 

[MaryJanet]

I feel like I should apologize. I'm not sure why.

It's not so much American influence as Australia being an attractive market for American cultural exports like tv and movies. We need to make and appreciate more of our cultural products. But there's a huge cultural cringe, even I can't consume some of the Australian television shows although our films are amazing these days and mostly universal in the narrartive.