OK, so the standard words of fuck, shit and c*** (apologies!) are pretty much universal, but around the margins the edges are blurred.
This morning I was having a bit of a chuckle at the 'Up and at 'em Morning Glory Muffin' at my local cafe. Now, to me, it is a celebration of an early morning erection. To them, it was a peachy keen baked goods label.
Or me inviting my daughter the other day to 'stroke the cat'. Apparently in Canada, stroke is definitely a rude word and I should use the word 'pet'. Now, I can see how it could be rude, but I'm pretty sure unless you said 'stroke the pussy' in the UK what I said is not particularly laughable.
Having lived in the UK for so long, there are so many many words and phrases that just aren't recognised. I asked where my handbag was the other day, queue lots of Canadian laughter. I should have said purse or pocketbook.
I asked what my daughter 'got up to at school', also laughter. God knows why.
Even new words like 'minger', 'chavvy' and 'Sat-nav' are met with a blank face. I need to use the word 'heffa', 'ghetto' and 'GPS'.
It can get exhausting trying to translate in your brain even simple phrases. How on earth do people cope with having English as a second language?
Anyway, I'm off now to enjoy my morning glory muffin. Sounds damn rude, doesn't it?
When I was in Canada I talked with my friends about having an afternoon mooching round the shops. I meant this as in the British window shopping way. Apparently it meant something more like shoplifting to them.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how "got up to at school" could be confusing! LOL!
Oh dear lord! You might as well be living somewhere that speaks Greek! Tell them they're wrong! lol!
ReplyDeleteCute post! I know nothing of Canadian slang, but learning about more about the naughty words in the UK, for I am an American expat ;)
ReplyDeleteLaura, HappyHomemakerUK.blogspot.com