Divided by a common language

**angelize** · 17 February 2012, 06:24 PM

There can be differences between the US and Canada too what below the 49th parallel is called Big Foot we call Sasquatch and if I say I am a Canuck I am not claiming to be a hockey player(of the Vancouver Canucks), but simply stating that I am Canadian. There can be many localized slang words too. For instance if I spoke about the "Gumboot Nation" I doubt if anyone here would know that I am referring to a local community not far from here. There are also terms that are used in the US that are considered not nice here, for example indigenous peoples who live in the far north in Canada would not be happy at all if you called them eskimos! and we do not use the term Indian unless you mean someone who comes from India. Here we use the term First nations.

I also remember many years ago hearing someone who was from the UK say that they were quite astonished that people here would name their sons Randy, apparently it means something very different there! Here it is simply a boy's name.

**wizard509** · 18 February 2012, 01:17 AM

Actually I get a kick out of hearing some of the differences.
For instance I am told there are no cookies in the UK, they call them biscuits, and there is no equivalent to what we call biscuits.
I enjoy hearing the term bralle (spelling ?),or bumberchute for what we call umbrella.

**angelize** · 18 February 2012, 03:23 AM

we sometimes hear the term brolly here for umbrella here in Canada. we also call our dollar coins loonies and our 2 dollar coins toonies. The dollar coins came first and have a picture of a loon on one side hence the term loonie, then when the 2 dollar bills were replaced with a coin that coin just kind of became known as a toonie. And a cash register drawer for toonies is sometimes called a bear bin because toonies have an image of polar bears on them.

Some US and British terms we use interchangeably here like the piece of furniture in which you keep your clothes can be either a bureau or a dresser.

**zaphodeist** · 18 February 2012, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by wizard509

...I enjoy hearing the term bralle (spelling ?),or bumberchute for what we call umbrella...

Do you mean Braille? Embossed characters for the blind. Never heard of the second one

I think the obvious confusing one is 'chips' [fries to you] and 'crisps' [chips to you I think], though perhaps jam/jelly

**ankhor** · 18 February 2012, 01:14 PM

Hmmm names can be a tricky thing, a common name here is 'Dik' , and a cook is 'kok'.
So, if he chooses a career in the catering business, he would be, kok Dik.
In English that would be hilarius and unexceptable.

And some other thing is dictionaries.As an atheist (no god or gods belief, the correct definition.)
I see many annoying examples.

'atheist - someone who denies the existence of god'

I can only deny if the existance is established. So not a good definition.

'disbeliever, nonbeliever, unbeliever - someone who refuses to believe (as in a divinity)'

The word 'refuse', is ridiculous in this, also impying that there is such a thing.

'atheism Disbelief in, or denial of, the existence of a god.'

Sentence also implies the excistance already.

'a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings'

Supreme can be anything, doesn`t have to be a God.

'the doctrine or belief that there is no God.'

I have no doctrine.

'A person who lacks belief in a god or gods'

I don`t have a believe in a God, and it is not a choice.
And 'lack'? I don`t think I 'lack'(shortage off) a believe.
Just like Christians don`t lack a believe in Zeus, they just don`t believe it.

Ah well, this is one of my hangups, never mind

**Big Frank** · 18 February 2012, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by ankhor

Just like Christians don`t lack a believe in Zeus, they just don`t believe it.

i can't quite believe you just said that

**gwpriester** · 18 February 2012, 04:31 PM

Denis - How did this topic turn into a commentary on atheism?

Grace's idea is English words that mean different things in England than they do in the USA.

For example, we say Saran Wrap for a clear plastic that is used to wrap food and keep it from spoiling. The British call it "cling film".

**handrawn** · 18 February 2012, 06:03 PM

Denis, the english word you are maybe looking for is 'agnostic' - an atheist has a belief, as you say, even if it is a 'denial belief', but an agnostic simply does not know, and is happy to admit it

good philosophic point about 'not believing' not being the same as 'lacking a belief' - 'lacking a belief' being the viewpoint of someone who believes, which someone who does not believe doesn't have.

but maybe lost a bit of impact and clarity due to english not being your first language .... [and difficult to get clear even when it is

]

and possibly not what Grace intended

**angelize** · 18 February 2012, 06:05 PM

Here in Canada we call it plastic wrap.

What handrawn called a dresser we call a sideboard

**handrawn** · 18 February 2012, 06:26 PM

ah a sideboard is what you put kelt [junk, old books, unwanted gifts, frank's clothes] in, unless the other half puts their foot down and insists its used for storing 'useful' stuff - in fact all the stuff that does not quite fit in the cupboard [built in storage area own door] under the stairs...

my other half tells me that 'dresser' [not to be confused with 'dressing table' which is a bedroom item with mirror] is really 'welsh dresser' and I am too lazy to say it in full [I blame my gran]