[Author Prev][Author Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
[Author Index (this month)][Thread Index (this month)][Top of Archive]

Re: FRIDAY FUN: Snow day!

Subject: Re: FRIDAY FUN: Snow day!
From: "Bryan Sherman" <bsherm -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: "Sandy Nicholson" <sandy -at- ambertext -dot- co -dot- uk>
Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2006 13:19:01 -0500

Why do I have to keep re-learning that one must choose their words carefully
for an international audience... lol

My favorite communication story occurred around 1990. I was on a short-term
assignment in Japan for a company. Being a large US corporation, the
language in the office was English. I was working with a national, and we
were having difficulty understanding the situation. It was a complicated
situation.

When I finally understood what he was saying I exclaimed "Gotcha!" At which
point he looked very confused. I apologized, explained I was trying to be
good and not use slang, but that "gotcha" was short for "I got it" which is
slang for "I understand" at which point he started to laugh. Turns out that
in Nagoya (where he was from) there is a word that sounds dead-on to gotcha
that means broken glass and is slang for I don't understand...

So watch your slang... I won't even get started at some of the bizarre slang
stories that bridge the UK-US and US-Australia gap... :-)

On 12/3/06, Sandy Nicholson <sandy -at- ambertext -dot- co -dot- uk> wrote:


Bryan Sherman wrote:

>> ... When there was icy weather I would invariably pass a number of
>> vehicles in the median stuck.

Ed D' Souza asked the question that was on the tip of my tongue: what
is a `median stuck'? John Posada replied:

> A median is a divider between opposing traffic lanes, often a strip
> of grass or dirt.

Aha! That's what we in the UK would call a `central reservation'. Is
it traditional in the US when talking about a median to move the
nearest operative verb to the end (perhaps to confuse outsiders!), or
is Bryan actually a diminutive Jedi Knight? :o)

(The fact that I am responding to this post at all is indicative of
the fact that I am currently procrastinating!)

Oh, and what is the mean number of people, broken down by mode of
transport, who end up on the median at this time of year? :o)

Best wishes,
Sandy

Ambertext, 2/Gf Bruntsfield Crescent, Edinburgh EH10 4EZ, Scotland
+44 (0) 131 447 9257 http://www.ambertext.co.uk/ sandy -at- ambertext -dot- co -dot- uk
Sole proprietor: Alexander J Nicholson


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular Help file format or printed documentation. Learn more at http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot-
To unsubscribe send a blank email to techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.

Follow-Ups:

References:
Re: FRIDAY FUN: Snow day!: From: John Posada
Re: FRIDAY FUN: Snow day!: From: Sandy Nicholson

Previous by Author: Re: FRIDAY FUN: Snow day!
Next by Author: Re: Arrrghgh English
Previous by Thread: Re: FRIDAY FUN: Snow day!
Next by Thread: RE: FRIDAY FUN: Snow day!

[Top of Archive] | [Author Index (this month)] | [Thread Index (this month)]

What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:

Sponsored Ads