That is, if anyone of us can understand what the hell it is you are trying to say!
Yesterday I was enjoying a leisurely scroll (my God, where else are you going to get a quality pun like that one. Not since The Family Circle!) through the Blogosphere (normally wouldn't use that word but need it to keep the dazzling metaphor going) when I happened across a weblog called Whateva Sista that illustates my point about the British vocabulary exceptionally well. You should go check it out.
The whole language is practically porn.
1. "Feeling a bit peckish". Sounds dirty
2. "Toad in the Hole". Sounds really dirty and not particularly flattering to either the toad or the hole.
3. "Popped in". Again, dirty sounding.
4. "Sausage roll". As a noun, unappealing. As a verb, dirty!
Let's get it together, Brits!
* Suddenly angry English people who feel like commenting about what an idiot I am and how much I hate English people, let me tell you this. Of course I hate English people, but that is only because of Hugh Grant; and I already know I am an idiot because I have the English 121 paper about Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" in which I refer altogether too much to the "existential horror of man's existence" to prove it. So don't be thinking you're telling me something I don't know. And if you're still tempted to email me, I'm just kidding. Honest. But not about Hugh Grant.
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7 comments:
Sausage roll as a tasty snack? Sounds delightful!
There was discussion on "take the mick" and "have a poke about" over at Andrea's place recently too.
I thought Canadians were in with the English, what with them not being American and all?
Ms.Mac,
English in Canada is a blend of (let's face it, real English, you are after all the originators of the language) and American English, although I am loathe to use that term since it's the same language. Anyway...
We are with you on House of Parliament, but we have a senate, although, unlike the Americans', our senate is appointed. We are with you (mostly) on spelling except for kerb and realise. We do have sausage rolls here -- I have eaten way too many in my life. Plus Cadbury. We call them neither candy bars nor bars of chocolate, but our own, very canadian, chocolate bars. We call the C of E Anglican. We drive on the left. We have a universal health care system that we brag about, but unlike yours, ours doesn't include dentistry. Our beer has a more British level of alcohol. I could go on and on. We queue up, or at least we used to when I was a kid.
I use the expression take the mick (or the piss), and once again, "have a poke about" sounds dirty!
Thanks for commenting. And for the link to the discussion at Andrea's -- I will try to find it!
the english can't speak english, how ironic
More vocabulary = more expression!
a truly delightful rant! and a great way to start the day.
OK, I am the Andrea being mentioned :) Hi!
I am not going to complain to you! I know how dirty my launguage sounds as I speak it every day and get looks from people all the time.
But I can't help it.
Oh well.
Hi geekbird,
I think they speak the language as it was meant to be spoken.
Sista,
Your English is perfect and you know it!
Creatrix,
It seems wherever I go I see your positive, uplifting comments. It's lovely. Thank you!
Andrea,
I spent a bit of time in England, and I think the language and its many colourful expressions is charming
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