Language lesson…
Skaggs | Monday, July 21st, 2008 @ in the early morning
Working with TOTO has not just been an education in Japanese bathroom equipment, but also a linguistic lesson in American English… a tap is a faucet, baths are tubs and sinks are lavatories. Also rocket is arugula, the hash key is the pound key, blades get dull not blunt, wellies are galoshes and try asking for a plaster; I could have bleed to death yesterday before someone figured out I meant a band-aid! …Fortunately, of course, I know most of this already from watching Sesame Street when I was wee!
To quote Oscar Wilde, “Americans are identical to the British in all respects except, of course, language.”
It takes a bit of getting used to! Don’t forget the pronunciation of the word “tomato.” Saying “tom-AH-to” is a dead giveaway when you’re ordering a sandwich.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ3fjQa5Hls
Comment by Elspeth | Friday, August 1st, 2008 @ 11:24