I had to listen to some tapes to work on Latin pronunciation a few years ago. The scholar would say something like "'a' is pronounced like 'a' in father", things like that. Well, he was from some part of New England and I couldn't understand some of the English words he was using at all ! The sounds he was making were utterly foreign to my mouth. One I never did figure out was "o" as in poawht, or something like that. I think maybe the word was "port". Sadly, it didn't really help my pronunciation since I couldn't say the English words his way either.
Diligentia maximum etiam mediocris ingeni subsidium. ~ Diligence is a very great help even to a mediocre intelligence.----Seneca
Cynth wrote:Well, he was from some part of New England and I couldn't understand some of the English words he was using at all ! The sounds he was making were utterly foreign to my mouth. One I never did figure out was "o" as in poawht, or something like that. I think maybe the word was "port".
I've got an elderly friend from England who came to Chicago to teach a music workshop to school aged children.
She said she was being very careful not to call the Whole notes a semibreve, the Half notes a minim, the Quarter notes a crochet, and the Eighth notes a quaver.
Appearenty the children here in Chicago were just as confused by her British pronunciation of American music terms.
She said there were many puzzeled expressions on the kids faces and at some point a little boy raised his hand and asked what a "haaf note" was.
Cynth wrote:Well, he was from some part of New England and I couldn't understand some of the English words he was using at all ! The sounds he was making were utterly foreign to my mouth. One I never did figure out was "o" as in poawht, or something like that. I think maybe the word was "port".
I've got an elderly friend from England who came to Chicago to teach a music workshop to school aged children.
She said she was being very careful not to call the Whole notes a semibreve, the Half notes a minim, the Quarter notes a crochet, and the Eighth notes a quaver.
Appearenty the children here in Chicago were just as confused by her British pronunciation of American music terms.
She said there were many puzzeled expressions on the kids faces and at some point a little boy raised his hand and asked what a "haaf note" was.
I can sympathize with the poor little dude! And also with the teacher who was trying hard to communicate.
Diligentia maximum etiam mediocris ingeni subsidium. ~ Diligence is a very great help even to a mediocre intelligence.----Seneca
I wrote:I've always liked "Katie, bar the door!", but I don't know anyone who really uses it anymore.
My Mom.
Lambchop wrote:The lady who sits next to me at work uses it.
Good to know. In what context do they use it? I've used it to express
an impending brouhaha, but I'm not sure if that's universal.
Impending brouhaha is a good description. Talking about what would happen if she had gotten into trouble in school, "One phone call from the principal and it was 'Katie, bar the door!'"
Takes deep breath and prepares to create his first post.
Been lurking for a while but I've finally gotten enough courage to post for the first time. I got 44% Dixie, but you Americans have some funny words for things so I couldn't pick yabbie for for a fresh water crayfish.
ICohen wrote:Takes deep breath and prepares to create his first post.
Been lurking for a while but I've finally gotten enough courage to post for the first time. I got 44% Dixie, but you Americans have some funny words for things so I couldn't pick yabbie for for a fresh water crayfish.
Anyway, two of my favourite sayings:
Flat out like a lizard drinking.
Off like a bucket of prawns in the sun.
Ian
Oooh! "Off like a bucket of prawns in the sun." Thank you for reminding me . . . tomorrow is shrimp day in the food court at work. I'll need to bring my lunch.
That one reminds me of an expression used in Maine, where you're only considered a true Maine native if your family has been there for at least several generations. When outsiders move in and have kids there, their kids will never be considered Mainers. The expression used to describe this philosphy is: "Just 'cause your cat has kittens in the oven don't make them biscuits."
Another great one, which I've only heard from Cathal McConnell, is "cosy as two mice in a shot glass."
Tell us something.: This is the first sentence. This is the second of the recommended sentences intended to thwart spam its. This is a third, bonus sentence!
ICohen wrote:Takes deep breath and prepares to create his first post.
Been lurking for a while but I've finally gotten enough courage to post for the first time. I got 44% Dixie, but you Americans have some funny words for things so I couldn't pick yabbie for for a fresh water crayfish.
Anyway, two of my favourite sayings:
Flat out like a lizard drinking.
Off like a bucket of prawns in the sun.
Ian
Welcome Ian.
According to some author or another Ceasar Augustus used to say, "Quicker than boiled asparagus"
Flyingcursor wrote:According to some author or another Ceasar Augustus used to say, "Quicker than boiled asparagus"
That would be Mr Robert Graves. I remember it as "as quick as boiled asparagus." He also attributes "As easily as a dog squats" to the same source.
Cowtime wrote:"Running around like a chicken with its head cut off"
We had "running around like headless chickens". (in Ulster. Plenty of that, there.)
One of my favourites was "Ach, away and get your head felt."
When I was reading Mr Damon Runyon, it intruiged me to learn that New York has rhyming slang, along similar lines to London's. According to him, anyway.
! The sounds he was making were utterly foreign to my mouth. One I never did figure out was "o" as in poawht, or something like that. I think maybe the word was "port". Sadly, it didn't really help my pronunciation since I couldn't say the English words his way either.
