Some of the things which cause the most difficulty for us are those things which use the same name, but are actually quite different. Biscuits? Those would be cookies to us. Bowling? That would be something done on a wooden floor, but here is something done outside, on a lawn (a.k.a. “Garden”), with a series of wooden balls. The rules, as far as we can discern from a cursory look, resemble something like snooker or billiards (we don’t know which one, because we don’t know enough about either to know which one it resembles, really).
Another thing which causes some dissonance are the presence / absence of various accents. For example, in the U.S. we’re accustomed to people of Southeast Asian descent speaking with either an “American” accent or to them speaking with something close to a British accent. Thus, to hear the librarian at the Hillhead Library speak with a thick Glaswegian accent causes us a bit of pause. The same thing is true, actually, with Caucasians, as the various regional accents are present in such quantity, and we don’t know the regions! In any conversation, the interpretive skills called upon vary radically, and this causes quite a strain.
We’re getting there, though, and are growing accustomed to the varieties of accent. Soon we’ll be able to understand anyone, we imagine. We are not acquiring Glaswegian accents, however much we alter our vocabulary so as to be understood.
– D & T
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I could write a book about these differences in dialect. After having lived here for two years, I started forgetting and offering American guests ‘biscuits.’ They turned me down, picturing a savory snack, until I realized the confusion and hastily informed them that I was offering cookies.
Then there’s ‘tea’ for a meal, ‘bonnet’ for the hood of a car and ‘boot’ for the trunk, ‘knickers’ for pants, and so on. Sometimes I imagine differences where there aren’t any: a man was once telling us about his new car pits, and I pictured a subterranean garage. It turned out I’d misunderstood: he meant ‘carpets.’
How about “jumper” for sweater? I always liked that one. Anyhoo, just dropping by to say hello! Or, more appropriately, Cheers!
accents are fun and entertaining, especially regional accents. you never know what you may end up with! have fun.
I remember a few times just smiling and nodding and hoping beyond hope that what had just been said was a comment and not a question that needed a response 🙂