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Post by Margim on Jan 4, 2006 8:20:03 GMT -5
To most American forum members, your immediate reaction is probably something like 'What the...? or 'Eww gross.'
Aussies, however, will know that I am talking about footwear... what are known in the US as flip-flops.
This thread is about cultural assumptions, differences, miscommunications. Where have you experienced them? What part of the world has a funny or unusual name different to what you would use for a commonplace item?
Within Australia alone, for example, we have about three different slang terms for swimsuit - bathers, togs, swimmers - depending on which part of the country you are brought up in.
What others are out there?
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Post by Shazammm on Jan 4, 2006 11:55:47 GMT -5
well, Brits smoke "fags" all the time.......that's one that always makes me giggle like a schoolgirl.  |
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Post by dgan on Jan 4, 2006 12:01:09 GMT -5
Well, here in Wisconsin we say we are getting a drink from the bubbler. The rest of the world has no idea that we are referring to a drinking fountain. For me, when I travel to the southern states, I am always hopelessly confused by the use of the word "coke" to name every soda made...including Pepsi products. Strange.
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Post by Margim on Jan 4, 2006 12:11:11 GMT -5
Interesting... bubblers go right back to my Primary School lingo. On that note, I think Primary school is what you call elementary school.
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Post by Hinata on Jan 4, 2006 12:36:08 GMT -5
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Post by Shazammm on Jan 4, 2006 12:55:04 GMT -5
i always got a kick out of the differences between north and south US.....up here, we have Dr. Pepper, down there, it's mostly Mr. Pibb......here, we go to Wawa and 7-11 and they go to the Piggly Wiggly.  and Hinata, here's my results (kinda weird for a Philly boy).......if only they asked how i pronounce water (woo-der) 50% (Yankee). Barely in the Yankee category. |
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Post by pink3elephant on Jan 4, 2006 19:38:50 GMT -5
^ im from so cal and im prone to drink dr. pepper, and I think at restaruants and stuff that it depends if they have coke products or pepsi products on whether they have mr pibb or dr pepper. . .
and ive noticed that in cali they use Soda, and in Arizona and NM that they say pop. and in cali they say 1st period 2nd period for their classes and in AZ its 1st hour 2nd hour and so on. . .
Yup thats about it that ive noticed so far!
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Post by Hinata on Jan 5, 2006 1:28:19 GMT -5
NM actually uses the universal terminology of "Coke" for whatever reason. . .which I don't understand at all
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Post by Margim on Jan 5, 2006 7:36:53 GMT -5
Softdrinks are big differences. Here Coke is generally understood as being cola (ie, at a restaurant that serves pepsi, the natural thing to do is still ask for coke). Sprite, 7up etc is generally lumped into what we call Lemonade. What you guys call lemonade we call... well, we don't have it over here. We never call anything soda or pop. Root beer isn't heard of. We have ginger beer... is that basically the same thing?
A friend of mine drank something called mint julip on our visit to the states... dare I even ask what that is?
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Post by dreamer on Jan 5, 2006 9:01:39 GMT -5
I took the little dialect test and found that I'm 38% Yankee (definitely a Yankee) it said. I guess the lower score you have the more "Yankee" you are. My favorite culturalism would have to be the boot and bonnet of the car in the UK. Fun!!
And here we call carbonated drinks "pop" which I think makes the most sense because that's what they do!!
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Post by Hinata on Jan 5, 2006 11:22:56 GMT -5
Where did you guys find that? State and the restaurant. . .then we might be able to explain it. ..
And what is ginger beer? I don't know if it's close to root beer or not. . .
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Post by Shazammm on Jan 5, 2006 12:13:40 GMT -5
Mint Julip
1 ¼ oz. Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1 Tbsp. Simple syrup
10-15 large fresh mint leaves
Muddle mint leaves with simple syrup in bottom of chilled glass.
Fill glass with ice then add bourbon.
Garnish with mint leaves.
and ginger beer is almost like root beer but it has a ginger-like flavor to it.
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Post by llyd415 on Jan 5, 2006 16:45:17 GMT -5
The test thing said I was 52% so I was right on miidle
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Post by Dred on Jan 5, 2006 18:22:54 GMT -5
I'm gay.
That is happy to those of you who think otherwise. Yet another term that has been twisted around. Randy is another term relating to that type of feeling.
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Post by Margim on Jan 5, 2006 18:41:28 GMT -5
Where did you guys find that? State and the restaurant. . .then we might be able to explain it. .. And what is ginger beer? I don't know if it's close to root beer or not. . . Ah, that's the tricky thing... it was at a New Orleanes themed restaurant at Disneyland in LA |
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