Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site tymix.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!hplabs!oliveb!tymix!kanner From: kanner@tymix.UUCP (Herb Kanner) Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: The Queen's English Message-ID: <395@tymix.UUCP> Date: Tue, 16-Apr-85 13:12:07 EST Article-I.D.: tymix.395 Posted: Tue Apr 16 13:12:07 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 21-Apr-85 06:15:40 EST Organization: Tymnet Inc., Cupertino CA Lines: 50 The recent flurry of articles on distinctions between UK and US use of "the" inspires me to recollect some vivid reactions to UK English that I had early in my seven-year sojurn there. When I commented to a Scottish friend about the "the" phenomenon, he pointed out an inverse: claimed that "Joe is in jail" would be said in Scotland as "Joe is in the jail"--(spelled gaol, of course). He also came up with another interesting one. Said that there were parts of Yorkshire where the word "while" was understood to mean "until." This tended to cause fatalities at RR crossings, e.g. "Do not cross while the lights are flashing." It was interesting to look for UK equivalents to common US phrases and slang words. "Stop on a dime" became "Stop on sixpence". "A dime a dozen" became "Ten a penny." The language was full of good epithets: nerd, twit, etc., but I tried many times to find a UK equivalent for the phrase "He's all wet" and it just does not seem to exist. I particularly enjoyed the various degrees of "go away": buzz off, piss off, and fuck off. There is also "sod off," but I am not sure just where it nests in the previous sequence. Getting around now to stronger language and obscene gestures (I think gestures come under net.nlang), the epithet "prick" is never applied to a male in the UK. The proper word is "cunt." This now introduces my obscene gesture anecdote. One morning I observed the (American) manager of all systems programming at International Computers Ltd. (Kidsgrove) arguing with a plant security guard. Some of these guards believed that their sole purpose in life was to keep us out of the nearby parking lot. This manager was planning to drive to the Bracknell site some 150 miles south that morning, but wanted to stop off first at his office. Frusrated with his problem with the guard, he gave the latter the "finger," and drove away. I made a point of seeing him the next day and explaining that if you are going to aim an obscene gesture at a Brit, you better use one he will understand. Take your right hand. Make a V for victory sign. Now, bend your forefinger and third finger slightly and turn your hand so that the back of your hand faces the recipient of the gesture. My final item is interesting because it is a difference in grammar rather than in vocabulary. The word "agree" can be used as a transitive verb in the UK. The first few times I heard it, I thought I was hearing jargon, akin to "progressing a project." Then, I saw the usage in books and newspapers and checked it in the OED. Examples are: "The committee is meeting to agree the language definition," "two chess players agreed a draw." Herb Kanner Tymnet, Inc. -- Herb Kanner Tymnet, Inc.