International Differences

[MemoryHunter]

This is an attempt to reduce confusion due to international differences.

Although English is the language used on this forum, many members come from other countries, with different cultures, and slang. Inevitably, there will be times when you see something that makes no sense, such as in jokes that rely on a play on words for the punchline. I hope this thread remedies that.

So, for anyone out there who is confused by UK slang I offer this website as a tool to help it make sense;http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/index.htm

As an Englishman I can only say that this site is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate for UK slang. Obviously, I could not do the same for slang websites for other countries.

If anyone else from any other countries wants to do the same, please check the website before you post a link to make sure what is stated looks accurate.

Include a link to the site and a thumb of your national flag if you can, just to make your entry easier to find, because if it's easier to find you'll get more 'Thanks'

It should be easier for most of you than it was for me for the flag request as I don't think your flag will be a composite of four countries.

These images are in alphabetical order. No political bias is inferred or implied.
English Flag of St George.
Irish Flag of St Patrick
Scottish Flag of St Andrew
The Combination that makes the union flag (The term Union Jack only applies when this flag is flown at sea.)
The Welsh Flag, the coolest of the lot and it never got got a look in for the amalgamation But this is not the place for politics. If you want to talk about that, please start another thread

[billybunter]

Well this is the flag of Ireland. Not green white and gold, but green white and orange. The white meaning peace.




The union flag is foreign to me.

[Brecht]

I took a look at the slang link you posted and learned that AC/DC is a slang for bisexual.

[blondifan]

Originally Posted by Norbert84

I learned that AC/DC is a slang for bisexual.

Same in some circles in Aus. Please don't try and tell it to the legions of acca dacca fans though...

Lets see "Map of Tasmania"... wrong

"Flag of Tasmania"

Of course the big island has something similar, only they have the Southern Cross instead of the little kitty.

and a large white seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star.

There are a few other small differences between us and the Australian mainland. (Don't laugh )
A couple that spring to mind are what they call "Fresh Water Crayfish" we call 'Lobsters', although wiki seems to doing a gross generalisation?? and if you ask for a 'pot' in a pub you are liable to be, or may not be offered something else entirely. http://www.aussiepubs.com.au/talk/
Since we were the first Aussie state to introduce 'no smoking in pubs' many of us tend to order our beer in 'slabs', as the barmaids rarely get off before closing time and some would prefer to hang around the pie cart anyway. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eThl2OayKRw

[tygrkhat40]

Originally Posted by Norbert84

I took a look at the slang link you posted and learned that AC/DC is a slang for bisexual.

Some one once asked Bon Scott if he was AC or DC. He said he was the lightning flash in the middle.

As for the fresh-water crustaceans, I've heard them called crawdads, crawdaddys, crawfish, crayfish and when Les Stroud, "Survivorman" was in the Outback, he called them yabbis. Any way you call it, it's still good eating.

[MaxJoker]

Please excuse me if i miss the point of this thread as i am quite drunk , not to say the idea isn`t a good and valid one. Merely i`m too close to being comatose to properly take it in.

Ah our differences.

What are they ?

Linguistic , cosmetic as in physical appearances and , that`s probably more or less all.

As aren`t we all the same ,genetically brothers and sisters of the one race called human, stuck on a spinning ball of molten lava surrounded by mud in the vast cold emptiness of the universe ?

I wish we could celebrate all our similarities rather than diversities.
But then i am a sentimentalist.

What are those similarities i don`t hear you ask.

Well we all want to belong , we all want the feeling of security and the knowledge that we`re loved.

If i`m right , if that is so , then congratulations. As you chose a forum where it`s encouraged for you to join in , safe in the security that all decent members look out for each other , and yes , even , dare i say it , in a non-gay way (Not that there`s anything wrong with that ) us few , us happy few, us billions of one breed , us fellow forum friends , we do , in a hands above the waist way , dare i type it ?, i dare , i dare, sort of kind of love each other.

Hey i know what i mean , and if you had drunk as much as me you`d know it to.

Mind you if you had drunk as much as me and we still able to type i`d say you had the kidneys and liver of a God

Oh heck , it`s not even half four and i`m already almost drifting above my own body

Either way , and whatever i am trying to say.

Just know where there`s life there`s hope .

Plus if you live on my street also a friendly Rastafarian named Keith ,who`ll be more than willing to run a tab and supply you with dope

[billybunter]

Strangely i've always called AC/DC "Acca Dacca" because a few mates at school were big fans and they used that name. Then one day I found out they were called AC/DC after I borrowed a few LPs.

[MemoryHunter]

Originally Posted by MaxJoker

Please excuse me if i miss the point of this thread as i am quite drunk , not to say the idea isn't a good and valid one. Merely i'm too close to being comatose to properly take it in.

Ah our differences.

What are they ?

Well Max, not knowing your slang abroad (especially when drunk) can have unwanted consequences I can't imagine what Amanda Seyfried thinks it means

I'd rather not be with you in the US if you decide you want a smoke and ask a local 'Can I bum a Fag?' If you survive that and anyone says to you; 'Shit on me!' It's not an invitation for a scat session

And when you're next in Oz, if a Sheila comes up to you and asks you to help her go shopping for thongs, get ready for the most boring day of your life. Unless you get off on feet, in which case you might be surprised what you get in a shop when you ask for 'Durex', and no, it's not some sort of Aussie DIY kit

Just a few examples of what could go wrong using the wrong phrase or not knowing the local slang abroad

It's not just slang though, I understand that in Turkey to show the soles of your feet is considered offensive. So if enjoying a beer outdoors don't kick off your flip flops and put your feet up on the table

I can't vouch for their accuracy but the following websites are worth a look Perhaps fellow members from the countries mentioned can confirm/deny the accuracy of the information stated

http://www.cracked.com/article_16335...-overseas.html

http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/world/r...-things-abroad

http://voices.yahoo.com/teaching-abr...17.html?cat=16

So you see, even keeping your mouth shut won't necessarily keep you safe

This might be a bad time to mention it, but it would seem it is now possible to 'Flame' just using a stock emoticon, if you see what I mean.

[arco35]

Originally Posted by MaxJoker

Please excuse me if i miss the point of this thread as i am quite drunk , not to say the idea isn`t a good and valid one. Merely i`m too close to being comatose to properly take it in.

Ah our differences.

What are they ?

Linguistic , cosmetic as in physical appearances and , that`s probably more or less all.

As aren`t we all the same ,genetically brothers and sisters of the one race called human, stuck on a spinning ball of molten lava surrounded by mud in the vast cold emptiness of the universe ?

I wish we could celebrate all our similarities rather than diversities.
But then i am a sentimentalist.

What are those similarities i don`t hear you ask.

Well we all want to belong , we all want the feeling of security and the knowledge that we`re loved.

If i`m right , if that is so , then congratulations. As you chose a forum where it`s encouraged for you to join in , safe in the security that all decent members look out for each other , and yes , even , dare i say it , in a non-gay way (Not that there`s anything wrong with that ) us few , us happy few, us billions of one breed , us fellow forum friends , we do , in a hands above the waist way , dare i type it ?, i dare , i dare, sort of kind of love each other.

Hey i know what i mean , and if you had drunk as much as me you`d know it to.

Mind you if you had drunk as much as me and we still able to type i`d say you had the kidneys and liver of a God

Oh heck , it`s not even half four and i`m already almost drifting above my own body

Either way , and whatever i am trying to say.

Just know where there`s life there`s hope .

Plus if you live on my street also a friendly Rastafarian named Keith ,who`ll be more than willing to run a tab and supply you with dope

Well Max, being not drunk (not at this time in the morning...), all I can say is that you are 100% right. At least, according to my book.

Of course big cultural differences might be a kind of interrelational barrier between people, but then again I said "might".

What really makes living this life interesting - methinks - is this kind of strange chemistry that is created between people, sometimes regardless of their nationality, particular tastes, social status or - even - level of education...

An university professor or the President of a country can very well be dumb and monolithic, whereas a simple earth laborer can have what we usually call "common sense" in spades. It all has to do IMHO on how each one of us translates the rather complex messages we are confronted to, each and every day. To cut a long story short, some people think in terms of black and white (very conforting, indeed!), while others tend to explore this infinite scale of grey. Creating - at the same time - a personal philosophy.

We all have relatives but - alas - we do not choose them. Hence the usual interrelational problems that usually exist in each and every family! On the contrary, intelligent and mature enough people do search, with an open mind, for their real "relatives". Who are always there, somewhere...At VEF, maybe?

[OtisOne]

Originally Posted by arco35

... a simple earth laborer can have what we usually call "common sense" in spades.

Unless, of course, he only wields a pickaxe!