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Subject:Re: International English From:Chris Hulin <chrish -at- SPIDERNET -dot- COM -dot- CY> Date:Fri, 29 Mar 1996 10:32:37 +0200
It seems that telephone terminology is particularly difficult.
Some years ago I was talking to a visiting Fulbrighter here in Cyprus. She
was waiting to to get a phone installed, and after some days I remarked to
another American: "I wonder if X is on the phone now" and got a baffled
look. In Britspeak (=myspeak) "on the phone" can mean to be actually
speaking now, or to have a line/number installed, according to context.
Apparently not im Amspeak.
Of course there are other differences between UK and US english - perhaps
the hoariest is to "knock up", which in the UK means to wake someone up in
the morning!
If anyone wants to send some more, I'll compile a list in my copious free
time and distribute it (privately) to interested parties.
Have a nice weekend - April Fool's day is independence day here!
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+ Chris Hulin Tel: + 357 2 376671 +
+ Head of Documentation Fax: + 357 2 377123 +
+ Card Tech Limited chrish -at- spidernet -dot- com -dot- cy +
+ P.O. Box 552 +
+ Nicosia, Cyprus (unrepentant Ventura user) +
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