COLD DARK ROOM

[Kristoff]

Yes...i saw that storm that hit California, you, and is now on its’ way to the East Coast. That rainstorm is predicted to bring acton of snow to the South of us - North Carolina, Tennessee, parts of southern Virginia, tips of southern Maryland then across the pond to our Euro friends.

But Euro friends have enough of their own rain! [emoji24][emoji24]

 

[Kristoff]

Now here in the UK, pants are underwear. Jeans are a form of trousers.

I have not considered leather underwear, nor have I considered leather trousers. I am really too old and the wrong shape to carry off leather trousers successfully

Leather underwear! That’s a thought!! [emoji33][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

 

[Kristoff]

Do you think it might be useful or helpful to start a thread on English Language topics, in the Everything Else section of the TFO? What do you think?

I'm thinking maybe it would give members, regardless if their proficiency with English, someplace to ask questions and sort out what words to use... or even to help figure out what word someone was intending to use when they posted a message.

Especially with voice-to-text applications and chronic autocorrect frustrations (that's putting it mildly)... Then there's also different flavors (flavours) of English, depending on where you live or where you learned the language. Different words have different meanings, spellings, pronunciations, etc.

We've had some interesting conversations here in the CDR about sayings and idioms, or traditions like crossing thumbs and crossing fingers.

Do you think a thread for that would be a good thing? What would be a good title for it?

I might use a thread like that occasionally, but mostly we’ve been getting lessons in UK English from Linda. [emoji85][emoji23]

 

[Kristoff]

Other things that get lost in translation between different English speakers...

Counting to 2 on your fingers. Americans are used to making a V with the forefinger (pointer or index finger) and middle fingers, but it's as offensive and jarring in the UK as it would be for someone in the U.S. to count to 1 using only their middle finger.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a number of countries start counting with 1 being the thumb, and 2 is the thumb and forefinger (pointer or index finger).

In Russian culture as I know it, index is 1, index and middle is 2; thumb only comes in as 5. That’s when you show the numbers by unfolding the fingers. When you count for yourself, you fold them starting with the thumb.

 

[Kristoff]

Back on the subject of Christmas
View attachment 259030

I remember this one from last year! Brilliant! [emoji23]

 

[Kristoff]

Another one is with periods and commas for denoting amounts, especially of money. This is more relevant with other countries like Germany. 1,00 is not not necessarily a typo.

In Russian too. 2.75 in English will be 2,75 in Russian. 100,000, on the other hand, will be 100.000!

 

[Pastel Tortie]

I might use a thread like that occasionally, but mostly we’ve been getting lessons in UK English from Linda. [emoji85][emoji23]

I enjoy being in the CDR. It reminds me of the differences between languages and flavors of English. As a result, I have started crafting my TFO posts to be more easily understood by international members and those whose first language is not English.

 

[JoesMum]

pocket book?

Books are things with pages that you read. To us a pocket book is a book that fits in your pocket, but only because we don't use that at all.

I am not entirely sure what it is. Google suggests it might be a handbag?

 

[DE42]

Leather underwear! That’s a thought!! [emoji33][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

LOL I quit wearing underwear years ago [emoji6]

 

[Bee62]

I think you can use leather to “shape yourself” LMAO... I certainly am not brave enough to try it but I would be most interested in your results should you decide to play fashion model!!![emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]. It might start a new trend for us all[emoji6]

Here is a original Bavarian ( men ) leather trouser

 

[DE42]

I have coats if that counts. Probably not loo

 

[Yvonne G]

Books are things with pages that you read. To us a pocket book is a book that fits in your pocket, but only because we don't use that at all.

I am not entirely sure what it is. Google suggests it might be a handbag?

I think it's an old fashioned term for purse (LOL!, purse!!)

 

[Yvonne G]

LOL I quit wearing underwear years ago [emoji6]

TMI!!!!

 

[DE42]

TMI!!!!

I think that's why the wool spider make me some. Lol

 

[JoesMum]

. Probably not looView attachment 259033

Loo - that's another one. In the UK another word for the toilet or WC.

What is it with Americans and Rest Rooms? Or worse still Comfort Station? Is the word for the thing you sit on to pee or poop rude?

 

[Bee62]

I understand that, on both counts. No Grammar Police... although I would like to make assistance available if needed or desired by members whose first language isn't English.

No bad idea, but ...
When I write ( chat ) I use to think and write at the same time. It would cost too much time to ask somebody for a special word or expression. That would kill the lovelyness of a chat to my opinion and I am one whose first language is not English.

 

[DE42]

Loo - that's another one. In the UK another word for the toilet or WC.

What is it with Americans and Rest Rooms? Or worse still Comfort Station? Is the word for the thing you sit on rude?

Y'all now listen up here in the country we don't have rest-rooomms. We have the shitter lol

 

[Yvonne G]

Y'all now listen up here in the country we don't have rest-rooomms. We have the shitter lol

outhouse, sand box, but mainly we call it the bathroom, even those small rooms that only have a toilet, and those are usually called the guest bath. Realtors list houses as 3 br, 2 bath. even though some of those "bathrooms" don't have a bath.

 

[Kristoff]

pocket book?

Books are things with pages that you read. To us a pocket book is a book that fits in your pocket, but only because we don't use that at all.

I am not entirely sure what it is. Google suggests it might be a handbag?

That's a novel idea...

 

[Bee62]

LOL I quit wearing underwear years ago [emoji6]