On 2014-05-13 5:44 PM, Jeßus wrote:

>> This is true and accents here can change drastically within a few miles.
>> There really is no such thing as a 'British' accent.
>
> Same for Aus as well, maybe to a lesser degree, but there are also
> regional differences here.
>

It is the same for Canada. There is a definite accent in Newfoundland, a
slightly less pronounced on for other Maritime provinces. Northern
Ontario English is different than southern Ontario.

On 2014-05-13 6:30 PM, Michel Boucher wrote:

yep.
> We have a joke in French.
>
> Q. What do you call a person who speaks three languages?
> A. Trilingual
>
> Q. What do you call a person who speaks two languages?
> A. Bilingual
>
> Q. What do you call a person who speaks one language?
> A. English
>
> It's that old British Empah mentality where other lesser cultures
> must subsume their identities when in their august presence.
>
> :-,)
>

Yep, and only the French would see humour in it. When you travel around
Europe, or most other places in the world, you stand a mcu better chance
of finding someone who speaks English than French. I have been in
European restaurants where there were people from various parts of the
world, and the common language they used was English.

FwIW, my son is bilingual and he recently was hired into a bilingual
position. I had stressed the importance of having a second language and
pointed out that there are lots of good government jobs for bilingual
people, and that didn't mean they were just for French Canadians.
Curiously, the tests for bilingual candidates have higher standards for
Anglos with French than francophones with English.

When we was working for a French owned microbrewery his brewer was
French and used to laugh at the language used by the French Canadians.

On 5/13/2014 3:48 PM, Ophelia wrote:
>
>
> "Yellow" > wrote in message
> T...
>>
>> I mean there really is no such thing as a "British Accent". It simply
>> does not exist and no one from the UK would ever ever describe their
>> accent as "British". But when someone English/Irish/Scottish/Welsh/
>> Australian appears in an American Sitcom they always say "I love your
>> British accent".
>
> This is true and accents here can change drastically within a few miles.
> There really is no such thing as a 'British' accent.
>
There's no such thing as an 'American' accent, either. There are too
many dialects (in the UK and the US) for there to be any one accent.

Jill

On Tuesday, May 13, 2014 11:47:12 AM UTC-7, sf wrote:
> On Tue, 13 May 2014 19:33:22 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
>
>
>
> > In article >,
> > says...
>

> > > On Sun, 11 May 2014 19:38:53 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
>

> > > > In article >,
> > > > says...
>

> > > > > On 5/11/2014 8:13 AM, Yellow wrote:
>

> > > > > > Ale is beer, strong or otherwise.
>

> > > > > Purists would argue that. Different types of yeast are used.
> > > > > Ales use a top fermenting yeast at room temperature. Lager uses a
> > > > > bottom fermenting yeast at cooler temperatures.
>

> > > > But lager isn't beer!
>

> > > Since when?
>

> > LOL! You've obviously never been to a real ale pub.

>
>
> Not a beer drinker.
>
>

Toronado in the Lower Haight has five or more ales on handpump. Don't know
for sure if they qualify as "real ale" though.

On Tue, 13 May 2014 20:34:32 +0100, Yellow > wrote:

> In article >,
> says...
> >
> > On Tue, 13 May 2014 19:33:22 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
> >
> > > In article >,
> > > says...
> > > >
> > > > On Sun, 11 May 2014 19:38:53 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > But lager isn't beer!
> > > >
> > > > Since when?
> > >
> > > LOL! You've obviously never been to a real ale pub.
> > >
> >
> > Not a beer drinker.
>
> Me neither, although I have been known to drink the odd lager. :-)

Yes, every now and then - but definitely not multiple times per year.
Lager is the blond stuff isn't it? That's the one, I like the least.
My favorite is the reddish brown type. I like wheat beer too.


--

Good Food.
Good Friends.
Good Memories.

On Tue, 13 May 2014 17:33:21 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

> On Tuesday, May 13, 2014 11:47:12 AM UTC-7, sf wrote:
> > On Tue, 13 May 2014 19:33:22 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > > In article >,
> > > says...
> >
>
> > > > On Sun, 11 May 2014 19:38:53 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
> >
>
> > > > > In article >,
> > > > > says...
> >
>
> > > > > > On 5/11/2014 8:13 AM, Yellow wrote:
> >
>
> > > > > > > Ale is beer, strong or otherwise.
> >
>
> > > > > > Purists would argue that. Different types of yeast are used.
> > > > > > Ales use a top fermenting yeast at room temperature. Lager uses a
> > > > > > bottom fermenting yeast at cooler temperatures.
> >
>
> > > > > But lager isn't beer!
> >
>
> > > > Since when?
> >
>
> > > LOL! You've obviously never been to a real ale pub.
>
> >
> >
> > Not a beer drinker.
> >
> >
>
> Toronado in the Lower Haight has five or more ales on handpump. Don't know
> for sure if they qualify as "real ale" though.

That's nice, I'll add it to the list of beer focused bars I haven't
been to: The Monk's Kettle, Zeitgeist, Biergarten...


--

Good Food.
Good Friends.
Good Memories.

On Tue, 13 May 2014 20:44:43 +0100, Yellow > wrote:

> In article >,
> says...
> >
> > On Tue, 13 May 2014 19:35:32 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
> >
> > > In article >,
> > > says...
> > > >
> > > > On Sun, 11 May 2014 19:48:23 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Personally, I have no idea what this "British" English is.
> > > > >
> > > > > We speak English and Americans speak American English.
> > > > >
> > > > So, now you know what British English is.
> > >
> > > Yes, its a made up language, invented by Americans. Like a "British
> > > accent" as that doesn't exist either except in American SitComs.
> >
> > Now you know what you sound like to us.
>
> No no! I don't mean someone doing a Dick Van Dyke.
>
> "Core blimey Mary Poppins!"

Oh, okay.
>
> Gosh I struggle here sometimes! My attempts at humour is taken to be
> sensible statements and my attempts to explain myself when I am being
> sensible are generally misunderstood.

Don't worry about it. Keep plugging away and eventually we'll get it
all sorted out.
>
> I mean there really is no such thing as a "British Accent". It simply
> does not exist and no one from the UK would ever ever describe their
> accent as "British".

Of course not, why would you? We have lots of accents over here too
but foreigners lump them all together into what they call an
"American" accent. I haven't heard of anyone being offended by that,
no offense meant and none taken.

> But when someone English/Irish/Scottish/Welsh/
> Australian appears in an American Sitcom they always say "I love your
> British accent".

If it's a sitcom, I guess the line is there to tell the audience the
character isn't Australian.

Did you see the tour of regional accents across the British Isles that
was posted recently to the UK Facebook group? It was very interesting
to listen to! I'd love to see something like that about regional
accents in the USA.
http://twentytwowords.com/tour-accen...unedited-take/


--

Good Food.
Good Friends.
Good Memories.

On Tue, 13 May 2014 17:30:08 -0500, Michel Boucher
> wrote:

> We have a joke in French.
>
> Q. What do you call a person who speaks three languages?
> A. Trilingual
>
> Q. What do you call a person who speaks two languages?
> A. Bilingual
>
> Q. What do you call a person who speaks one language?
> A. English
>
> It's that old British Empah mentality where other lesser cultures
> must subsume their identities when in their august presence.

It also has to do with being in North America and not able to practice
a second language. One person I worked with was German, but had been
here 10-15 years speaking nothing but English. She said she had to
relearn the language when she finally went home for a visit. Use it
or lose it.



--

Good Food.
Good Friends.
Good Memories.

On Tue, 13 May 2014 19:37:18 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

> Yep, and only the French would see humour in it. When you travel around
> Europe, or most other places in the world, you stand a mcu better chance
> of finding someone who speaks English than French. I have been in
> European restaurants where there were people from various parts of the
> world, and the common language they used was English.

That has been the case for me too. Find a young person who looks like
a college student or in business attire and you have an excellent
chance of finding someone who speaks English. If they want to get
ahead, they learn English. When I toured China and went places very
few white people go - there were always people eager to practice their
English skills on us.
>
> FwIW, my son is bilingual and he recently was hired into a bilingual
> position. I had stressed the importance of having a second language and
> pointed out that there are lots of good government jobs for bilingual
> people, and that didn't mean they were just for French Canadians.
> Curiously, the tests for bilingual candidates have higher standards for
> Anglos with French than francophones with English.

It figures.
>
> When we was working for a French owned microbrewery his brewer was
> French and used to laugh at the language used by the French Canadians.

The French are very snobby and look down on the Montreal accent,
that's a fact. As a high school student, I learned French from
someone who vacationed in Montreal so when I changed schools, it took
some time to understand the accent of the new French teacher who
vacationed in Paris. After college, I heard the Marseille accent was
the one to have. I can't tell regional accents apart, so it's all
just one big French accent to me. I've even lost my restaurant
French. Now that's sad.


--

Good Food.
Good Friends.
Good Memories.

"The Other Guy" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 13 May 2014 20:44:43 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
>
>>I mean there really is no such thing as a "British Accent". It simply
>>does not exist and no one from the UK would ever ever describe their
>>accent as "British".
>
> You clearly have NO IDEA just how stupid that statement is.

After that remark neither do you!
--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"Jeßus" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 13 May 2014 20:48:19 +0100, "Ophelia"
> > wrote:
>
>>"Yellow" > wrote in message
. NET...
>>> Gosh I struggle here sometimes! My attempts at humour is taken to be
>>> sensible statements and my attempts to explain myself when I am being
>>> sensible are generally misunderstood.
>>>
>>> I mean there really is no such thing as a "British Accent". It simply
>>> does not exist and no one from the UK would ever ever describe their
>>> accent as "British". But when someone English/Irish/Scottish/Welsh/
>>> Australian appears in an American Sitcom they always say "I love your
>>> British accent".
>>
>>This is true and accents here can change drastically within a few miles.
>>There really is no such thing as a 'British' accent.
>
> Same for Aus as well, maybe to a lesser degree, but there are also
> regional differences here.

I guess it is more apparent here because UK is so much smaller.

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"Michel Boucher" > wrote in message
...

> We have a joke in French.
>
> Q. What do you call a person who speaks three languages?
> A. Trilingual
>
> Q. What do you call a person who speaks two languages?
> A. Bilingual
>
> Q. What do you call a person who speaks one language?
> A. English
>
> It's that old British Empah mentality where other lesser cultures
> must subsume their identities when in their august presence.
>
> :-,)

LOL yes we are very lazy I always think it is because most other
Countries are taught English in School and so we don't necessarily need to
know another language. Superior mentality? There are always those in every
culture who think that way (we see them in the groups - those who know
everything) but not those I know nor am I interested in such.

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
...
> On 2014-05-13 6:30 PM, Michel Boucher wrote:
>
> yep.
>> We have a joke in French.
>>
>> Q. What do you call a person who speaks three languages?
>> A. Trilingual
>>
>> Q. What do you call a person who speaks two languages?
>> A. Bilingual
>>
>> Q. What do you call a person who speaks one language?
>> A. English
>>
>> It's that old British Empah mentality where other lesser cultures
>> must subsume their identities when in their august presence.
>>
>> :-,)
>>
>
> Yep, and only the French would see humour in it.

Absolutely Not! See my previous post. That is your prejudice speaking.


--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> On 5/13/2014 3:48 PM, Ophelia wrote:
>>
>>
>> "Yellow" > wrote in message
>> T...
>>>
>>> I mean there really is no such thing as a "British Accent". It simply
>>> does not exist and no one from the UK would ever ever describe their
>>> accent as "British". But when someone English/Irish/Scottish/Welsh/
>>> Australian appears in an American Sitcom they always say "I love your
>>> British accent".
>>
>> This is true and accents here can change drastically within a few miles.
>> There really is no such thing as a 'British' accent.
>>
> There's no such thing as an 'American' accent, either. There are too many
> dialects (in the UK and the US) for there to be any one accent.

Oh I do believe you. I do think it is more pronounced here though because
we are so much smaller. Where I live one dialect is used and 10 miles down
the road it is different. That is common throughout Britain.


--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 13 May 2014 20:34:32 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
>
>> In article >,
>> says...
>> >
>> > On Tue, 13 May 2014 19:33:22 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
>> >
>> > > In article >,
>> > >
>> > > says...
>> > > >
>> > > > On Sun, 11 May 2014 19:38:53 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > > But lager isn't beer!
>> > > >
>> > > > Since when?
>> > >
>> > > LOL! You've obviously never been to a real ale pub.
>> > >
>> >
>> > Not a beer drinker.
>>
>> Me neither, although I have been known to drink the odd lager. :-)
>
> Yes, every now and then - but definitely not multiple times per year.
> Lager is the blond stuff isn't it? That's the one, I like the least.
> My favorite is the reddish brown type. I like wheat beer too.

I hate beer. The most I have ever managed is a shandy (beer and lemonade
mixed) and I haven't had one of those for many years.
--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"sf" > wrote in message
...

> Did you see the tour of regional accents across the British Isles that
> was posted recently to the UK Facebook group? It was very interesting
> to listen to! I'd love to see something like that about regional
> accents in the USA.
> http://twentytwowords.com/tour-accen...unedited-take/

LOL wonderful)) I loved it! Pity he didn't go into the variants in each
area too but I guess that would make it very long))

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 13 May 2014 19:37:18 -0400, Dave Smith
> > wrote:
>
>> Yep, and only the French would see humour in it. When you travel around
>> Europe, or most other places in the world, you stand a mcu better chance
>> of finding someone who speaks English than French. I have been in
>> European restaurants where there were people from various parts of the
>> world, and the common language they used was English.
>
> That has been the case for me too. Find a young person who looks like
> a college student or in business attire and you have an excellent
> chance of finding someone who speaks English. If they want to get
> ahead, they learn English. When I toured China and went places very
> few white people go - there were always people eager to practice their
> English skills on us.
>>
>> FwIW, my son is bilingual and he recently was hired into a bilingual
>> position. I had stressed the importance of having a second language and
>> pointed out that there are lots of good government jobs for bilingual
>> people, and that didn't mean they were just for French Canadians.
>> Curiously, the tests for bilingual candidates have higher standards for
>> Anglos with French than francophones with English.
>
> It figures.
>>
>> When we was working for a French owned microbrewery his brewer was
>> French and used to laugh at the language used by the French Canadians.
>
> The French are very snobby and look down on the Montreal accent,
> that's a fact. As a high school student, I learned French from
> someone who vacationed in Montreal so when I changed schools, it took
> some time to understand the accent of the new French teacher who
> vacationed in Paris. After college, I heard the Marseille accent was
> the one to have. I can't tell regional accents apart, so it's all
> just one big French accent to me. I've even lost my restaurant
> French. Now that's sad.

It is When I was young I was reasonably proficient in Spanish but now I
can only recognise a few words

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On 5/14/2014 5:48 AM, Ophelia wrote:

> Oh I do believe you. I do think it is more pronounced here though
> because we are so much smaller. Where I live one dialect is used and 10
> miles down the road it is different. That is common throughout Britain.

Maybe that's why Brits are such excellent mimics? Actors, anyway,
I don't think any other country produces actors who can pull off
other accents better.

A couple of weeks ago, I watched an episode of Sherlock, then
immediately started watching the first episode of Fargo. I was
astonished to see Watson, seconds ago with a British accent (oh
yeah, no such thing) and now he's a guy from the midwest. I had
to look it up, that can't really be Martin Freeman!

nancy, gobsmacked

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
> On 5/14/2014 5:48 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
>> Oh I do believe you. I do think it is more pronounced here though
>> because we are so much smaller. Where I live one dialect is used and 10
>> miles down the road it is different. That is common throughout Britain.
>
> Maybe that's why Brits are such excellent mimics? Actors, anyway,
> I don't think any other country produces actors who can pull off
> other accents better.
>
> A couple of weeks ago, I watched an episode of Sherlock, then
> immediately started watching the first episode of Fargo. I was
> astonished to see Watson, seconds ago with a British accent (oh
> yeah, no such thing) and now he's a guy from the midwest. I had
> to look it up, that can't really be Martin Freeman!
>
> nancy, gobsmacked

You could have the answer)

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On 5/14/2014 7:52 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
> On 5/14/2014 5:48 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
>> Oh I do believe you. I do think it is more pronounced here though
>> because we are so much smaller. Where I live one dialect is used and 10
>> miles down the road it is different. That is common throughout Britain.
>
> Maybe that's why Brits are such excellent mimics? Actors, anyway,
> I don't think any other country produces actors who can pull off
> other accents better.
>
> A couple of weeks ago, I watched an episode of Sherlock, then
> immediately started watching the first episode of Fargo. I was
> astonished to see Watson, seconds ago with a British accent (oh
> yeah, no such thing) and now he's a guy from the midwest. I had
> to look it up, that can't really be Martin Freeman!
>
> nancy, gobsmacked
>
Do you remember the sitcom 'Still Standing'? Mark Addy. Could have
knocked me over with a feather when I found out he was English. Hugh
Laurie is another one. I knew he was English but if you didn't know
you'd have sworn he was born and raised in the USA.

Jill

On 5/13/2014 9:01 PM, sf wrote:
>
> Did you see the tour of regional accents across the British Isles that
> was posted recently to the UK Facebook group? It was very interesting
> to listen to! I'd love to see something like that about regional
> accents in the USA.
> http://twentytwowords.com/tour-accen...unedited-take/
>
>
That was fun! Thanks

Jill

On 5/14/2014 9:10 AM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 5/13/2014 9:01 PM, sf wrote:
>>
>> Did you see the tour of regional accents across the British Isles that
>> was posted recently to the UK Facebook group? It was very interesting
>> to listen to! I'd love to see something like that about regional
>> accents in the USA.
>> http://twentytwowords.com/tour-accen...unedited-take/
>>
>>
>>
> That was fun! Thanks
>

An impressive performance indeed!


--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not." in Reply To.

On 5/14/2014 9:10 AM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 5/13/2014 9:01 PM, sf wrote:
>>
>> Did you see the tour of regional accents across the British Isles that
>> was posted recently to the UK Facebook group? It was very interesting
>> to listen to! I'd love to see something like that about regional
>> accents in the USA.
>> http://twentytwowords.com/tour-accen...unedited-take/
>>
>>
>>
> That was fun! Thanks

Case in point.

nancy

wrote in
:

>>When I was in Alberta, the education my daughter and my
>>stepson got in French was abysmal. Rather than getting them
>>used to the sound first, the teacher wrote it out on the
>>board. They were taught the national anthem by reading it
>>phonetically so you can imagine how that turned out.
>
> You cannot judge by Alberta. Here in NS we have French
> schools for Acadians (both parents have to be French) as well
> as French Immersion Schools. It is costly but it has been
> done.

I said most Provincial governments. You cite one that in your
estimation isn't.

> On the other side of the coin, if I were in Quebec and wanted
> my child educated in English, I'd be waiting a long time.

Really? Have you tried?

--

Socialism never took root in America because the
poor there see themselves not as an exploited
proletariat but as temporarily embarassed
millionaires. - John Steinbeck

wrote in
:

> The Quebec French is really a patois.

So is every other spoken language when you come right down to it.
It's not saying much that it is a patois.

--

Socialism never took root in America because the
poor there see themselves not as an exploited
proletariat but as temporarily embarassed
millionaires. - John Steinbeck

On 5/14/2014 9:29 AM, James Silverton wrote:
> On 5/14/2014 9:10 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>> On 5/13/2014 9:01 PM, sf wrote:
>>>
>>> Did you see the tour of regional accents across the British Isles that
>>> was posted recently to the UK Facebook group? It was very interesting
>>> to listen to! I'd love to see something like that about regional
>>> accents in the USA.
>>> http://twentytwowords.com/tour-accen...unedited-take/
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> That was fun! Thanks
>>
>
> An impressive performance indeed!
>
>
My maternal grandparents were from southern Scotland. Kirkintilloch and
Twechar. I'd say they sounded like Glaswegians. Loved the glottal
stops.

Jill

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> On 5/14/2014 9:29 AM, James Silverton wrote:
>> On 5/14/2014 9:10 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>>> On 5/13/2014 9:01 PM, sf wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Did you see the tour of regional accents across the British Isles that
>>>> was posted recently to the UK Facebook group? It was very interesting
>>>> to listen to! I'd love to see something like that about regional
>>>> accents in the USA.
>>>> http://twentytwowords.com/tour-accen...unedited-take/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> That was fun! Thanks
>>>
>>
>> An impressive performance indeed!
>>
>>
> My maternal grandparents were from southern Scotland. Kirkintilloch and
> Twechar. I'd say they sounded like Glaswegians. Loved the glottal
> stops.

The Central Belt actually) Southern is the Borders)) I know
Kirkintilloch well btw I used to live in Lenzie which runs into Kirky
Twechar is just up the road)



--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

In article >,
says...
> My maternal grandparents were from southern Scotland. Kirkintilloch and
> Twechar. I'd say they sounded like Glaswegians.

That's because Twechar and Kirkintilloch are not in Southern
Scotland, they are just north of Glasgow, only a dozen miles or so away
from it :-).


Janet UK (in Scotland)

In article >,
says...

> Always puzzled me that Brits used the French names (courgettes, aubergines)
> for what I think of as Italian vegetables (zucchini, eggplant).

Because France is only 20 miles away from mainland Britain, and Italy
is 600 miles away. French was (at various times) the language of
Monarchs and the royal courts of both England and Scotland.

Janet UK

On Wed, 14 May 2014 10:49:47 +0100, "Ophelia"
> wrote:

>
>
> "sf" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Tue, 13 May 2014 20:34:32 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
> >
> >> In article >,
> >> says...
> >> >
> >> > On Tue, 13 May 2014 19:33:22 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
> >> >
> >> > > In article >,
> >> > >
> >> > > says...
> >> > > >
> >> > > > On Sun, 11 May 2014 19:38:53 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
> >> > > >
> >> > > > >
> >> > > > > But lager isn't beer!
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Since when?
> >> > >
> >> > > LOL! You've obviously never been to a real ale pub.
> >> > >
> >> >
> >> > Not a beer drinker.
> >>
> >> Me neither, although I have been known to drink the odd lager. :-)
> >
> > Yes, every now and then - but definitely not multiple times per year.
> > Lager is the blond stuff isn't it? That's the one, I like the least.
> > My favorite is the reddish brown type. I like wheat beer too.
>
> I hate beer.

You must dislike it a lot then, because I thought most of the beer I
tried in England was pretty good. What I liked about the pubs was the
bartender gives you tastes of what's on tap and educates you a bit
about them. Brews seem to be local, what's on tap has very little
redundancy - so it's interesting.

> The most I have ever managed is a shandy (beer and lemonade
> mixed) and I haven't had one of those for many years.

I've never heard of that one. Must be how Arnold Palmer got his idea
to mix tea and lemonade.
http://www.needcaffeine.com/wp-conte...OLD-PALMER.png

I'm still scratching my head over the "lager isn't beer" comment. Was
it another joke I didn't understand?
http://video.about.com/beer/What-Is-a-Lager-.htm There's also a
transcript to read for those on dial up or those (like me) who don't
watch videos unless it's absolutely necessary.


--

Good Food.
Good Friends.
Good Memories.

On Wed, 14 May 2014 07:16:00 -0300, wrote:

> Me too, although I also like it mixed with ginger beer. Nice cooler
> on a hot day.

I still haven't tried ginger beer. Found a recipe where one of the
comments was the person had mixed it with raspberry or strawberry beer
(I forget which) and said it was very good. Said s/he didn't like the
beer on its own, but would buy it again just to make a Shandy.


--

Good Food.
Good Friends.
Good Memories.

On Wed, 14 May 2014 10:46:25 +0100, "Ophelia"
> wrote:

>
>
> "Dave Smith" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On 2014-05-13 6:30 PM, Michel Boucher wrote:
> >
> > yep.
> >> We have a joke in French.
> >>
> >> Q. What do you call a person who speaks three languages?
> >> A. Trilingual
> >>
> >> Q. What do you call a person who speaks two languages?
> >> A. Bilingual
> >>
> >> Q. What do you call a person who speaks one language?
> >> A. English
> >>
> >> It's that old British Empah mentality where other lesser cultures
> >> must subsume their identities when in their august presence.
> >>
> >> :-,)
> >>
> >
> > Yep, and only the French would see humour in it.
>
> Absolutely Not! See my previous post. That is your prejudice speaking.

On this side of the Pond, the punch line is "American" - but I don't
take it as derision, because it's a fact. As Janet pointed out
previously, it's only 250 miles between London and Paris, which is
nothing in American, Canadian (unless your name is Michel) and
Australian terms. That's the distance between NYC and Syracuse in the
state of New York. New York is just one mediocre sized state and yet
it's still bigger than the entire country of England!


--

Good Food.
Good Friends.
Good Memories.

In article >,
says...
>
> Yellow > wrote in
> T:
>
> > In article >,
> > says...
> >>

> >> They are
> >> considered two distinct spoken languages, one intelligible,
> >> one not (or I'm assuming that is why they divided them). The
> >> written differences are less pronounced.
> >
> > I dunno - try using Word with the wrong language plug-in. I
> > promise you, it will drive your nuts.
>
> I use Word with various language plug-ins and I'm not confused.
> I also use two (at one time three) keyboard layouts.

It is not a case of confusion but one of huge difference in the written
word between English and American English.

You will get picked up on what seems like every third word if you
inadvertently go for the default, USA English, dictionary which rather
defeats the purpose of a spell checker.


> >> Europeans think Canadians are Americans,
> >
> > While of course I cannot really talk for all the people of an
> > entire continent, but I assure you that as a generalisation,
> > "Europeans" do very much know that Canada is not the USA
>
> But hearing us, they can't tell the difference. Hence the
> obligatory wearing of Canadian flags on backpacks and clothing.

<snip as I want to comment on both these paragraphs together>
>
> > We do generally have great difficultly in separating the
> > accents though so perhaps that is what has lead to your
> > confusion.
>
> As I was saying...

Not knowing if a given person is from the USA or from Canada is not the
same as not knowing Canada is not in the USA.

You do know that, right?

>
> >> Educated Canadians who speak English fluently sound like
> >> Peter Jennings did, and he didn't sound anything like
> >> Laurence Olivier.
> >
> > Don't most Canadians speak French?
>
> Sadly, no, and it's not like opportunities were not offered. But

<tome snipped>


I cannot figure out if you cannot figure out when I am simply making a
fairly obvious humourous, light hearted comment or if you are joshing me
by going all haughty and straight-laced.

On balance, I think you are probably taking the ****.

In article >, lid
says...
>
> "Michel Boucher" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > We have a joke in French.
> >
> > Q. What do you call a person who speaks three languages?
> > A. Trilingual
> >
> > Q. What do you call a person who speaks two languages?
> > A. Bilingual
> >
> > Q. What do you call a person who speaks one language?
> > A. English
> >
> > It's that old British Empah mentality where other lesser cultures
> > must subsume their identities when in their august presence.
> >
> > :-,)
>
> LOL yes we are very lazy I always think it is because most other
> Countries are taught English in School and so we don't necessarily need to
> know another language. Superior mentality? There are always those in every
> culture who think that way (we see them in the groups - those who know
> everything) but not those I know nor am I interested in such.
>

We are indeed lucky to have been born into an English speaking country
and to have it as a first language but I do firmly believe that not
learning a second fluently has nothing to do with laziness and has
everything to do with it being completely pointless unless you have a
real, particular requirement or interest in that language.

As a generalisation, people do not learn English because they want to or
because they are less lazy but because they have to for school or work
or because it opens up a whole world of English language material that
they wish to access.

So I spend my time on stuff that interests me and grows my interests
rather than doing something that is a total waste of my time but is
often encouraged just to make English speakers feel less guilty about
their accident of birth.

In article >,
says...
>
> On Tue, 13 May 2014 20:34:32 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
>
> >In article >,
> >says...
> >>
> >> On Tue, 13 May 2014 19:33:22 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
> >>
> >> > In article >,
> >> > says...
> >> > >
> >> > > On Sun, 11 May 2014 19:38:53 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > > > In article >,
> >> > > > says...
> >> > > > >
> >> > > > > On 5/11/2014 8:13 AM, Yellow wrote:
> >> > > > >
> >> > > > > > Ale is beer, strong or otherwise.
> >> > > > >
> >> > > > > Purists would argue that. Different types of yeast are used.
> >> > > > > Ales use a top fermenting yeast at room temperature. Lager uses a
> >> > > > > bottom fermenting yeast at cooler temperatures.
> >> > > >
> >> > > > But lager isn't beer!
> >> > >
> >> > > Since when?
> >> >
> >> > LOL! You've obviously never been to a real ale pub.
> >> >
> >>
> >> Not a beer drinker.
> >
> >Me neither, although I have been known to drink the odd lager. :-)
>
> What was odd about it?

:-)

In article >,
says...
>
> On 5/14/2014 5:48 AM, Ophelia wrote:
>
> > Oh I do believe you. I do think it is more pronounced here though
> > because we are so much smaller. Where I live one dialect is used and 10
> > miles down the road it is different. That is common throughout Britain.
>
> Maybe that's why Brits are such excellent mimics? Actors, anyway,
> I don't think any other country produces actors who can pull off
> other accents better.
>
> A couple of weeks ago, I watched an episode of Sherlock, then
> immediately started watching the first episode of Fargo. I was
> astonished to see Watson, seconds ago with a British accent (oh
> yeah, no such thing) and now he's a guy from the midwest. I had
> to look it up, that can't really be Martin Freeman!
>
> nancy, gobsmacked

Marin Freeman in Fargo is freaking me out but I hope I can get over it
as the show looks fun. Only seen the first episode so far.

Never could watch House though - that was just too wrong.

In article >,
says...
>
> On Tue, 13 May 2014 20:44:43 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > says...
> > >
> > > On Tue, 13 May 2014 19:35:32 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
> > >
> > > > In article >,
> > > > says...
> > > > >
> > > > > On Sun, 11 May 2014 19:48:23 +0100, Yellow > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Personally, I have no idea what this "British" English is.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > We speak English and Americans speak American English.
> > > > > >
> > > > > So, now you know what British English is.
> > > >
> > > > Yes, its a made up language, invented by Americans. Like a "British
> > > > accent" as that doesn't exist either except in American SitComs.
> > >
> > > Now you know what you sound like to us.
> >
> > No no! I don't mean someone doing a Dick Van Dyke.
> >
> > "Core blimey Mary Poppins!"
>
> Oh, okay.
> >
> > Gosh I struggle here sometimes! My attempts at humour is taken to be
> > sensible statements and my attempts to explain myself when I am being
> > sensible are generally misunderstood.
>
> Don't worry about it. Keep plugging away and eventually we'll get it
> all sorted out.
> >
> > I mean there really is no such thing as a "British Accent". It simply
> > does not exist and no one from the UK would ever ever describe their
> > accent as "British".
>
> Of course not, why would you? We have lots of accents over here too
> but foreigners lump them all together into what they call an
> "American" accent. I haven't heard of anyone being offended by that,
> no offense meant and none taken.
>
> > But when someone English/Irish/Scottish/Welsh/
> > Australian appears in an American Sitcom they always say "I love your
> > British accent".
>
> If it's a sitcom, I guess the line is there to tell the audience the
> character isn't Australian.
>
> Did you see the tour of regional accents across the British Isles that
> was posted recently to the UK Facebook group? It was very interesting
> to listen to! I'd love to see something like that about regional
> accents in the USA.
> http://twentytwowords.com/tour-accen...unedited-take/

Thanks - that look worth a look.

On 5/14/2014 12:19 PM, Janet wrote:
> In article >,
> says...
>
>> Always puzzled me that Brits used the French names (courgettes, aubergines)
>> for what I think of as Italian vegetables (zucchini, eggplant).
>
> Because France is only 20 miles away from mainland Britain, and Italy
> is 600 miles away. French was (at various times) the language of
> Monarchs and the royal courts of both England and Scotland.
>
> Janet UK
>
>
But Marie de Medici brought her own cooks from Italy to France.

--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not." in Reply To.

On 5/14/2014 1:26 PM, sf wrote:
> On Wed, 14 May 2014 07:16:00 -0300, wrote:
>
>> Me too, although I also like it mixed with ginger beer. Nice cooler
>> on a hot day.
>
> I still haven't tried ginger beer. Found a recipe where one of the
> comments was the person had mixed it with raspberry or strawberry beer
> (I forget which) and said it was very good. Said s/he didn't like the
> beer on its own, but would buy it again just to make a Shandy.
>
>
Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer from Scotland is available at the World
Market stores here and it is good!

--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not." in Reply To.

In article >,
says...
>
> On 5/13/2014 3:48 PM, Ophelia wrote:
> >
> >
> > "Yellow" > wrote in message
> > T...
> >>
> >> I mean there really is no such thing as a "British Accent". It simply
> >> does not exist and no one from the UK would ever ever describe their
> >> accent as "British". But when someone English/Irish/Scottish/Welsh/
> >> Australian appears in an American Sitcom they always say "I love your
> >> British accent".
> >
> > This is true and accents here can change drastically within a few miles.
> > There really is no such thing as a 'British' accent.
> >
> There's no such thing as an 'American' accent, either. There are too
> many dialects (in the UK and the US) for there to be any one accent.
>
> Jill

Fair point.

My sister-in-law is American and I class her accent as very fast and
very loud. :-)