The local lingo

johnnywalker · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Sydney, Australia

Although i've not travelled extensively, I think knowing some of the local lingo might keep people from embarrasment. As an example I earned some extra money many years ago in a Duty Free store in Sydney. A couple of lovely ladies from the US walked in and asked about some 'fanny packs' which brought amused looks to my colleague's face. Unbeknownst to them, a 'fanny' in Australia is another word for....ahem, v@gin@. It is also known as the Map of Tasmania (look up your favourite atlas; contours are roughly the same. Does not work if you're Brazilian, but that's another story).
That's one of the more colourful expressions but apart from that there's tame things like fries = chips and drugstore = chemist.

MadamSamba · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 4

Yes, JW, I can see how that phrase raised eyebrows. Another one is rubber. I remember visiting the US and asking one of my young, school-aged cousins for a rubber. You could have heard a pin drop. I hadn't reallised that Americans call condoms rubbers whereas we Aussies and Brits refer to erasers as rubbers! :)

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

It is DEFINITELY good etiquette to learn the language before you visit a foreign country. The people respect you so much for making the effort, no matter how pathetic you may appear with your pronunciation. I always learn how to at least say the following words or phrases wherever I go;

Thank you .
Please
Beer please.
Cheers!
Where is the restroom?
How much is it?
That's too expensive.
Give me a discount. (Gotta haggle where I go!)
I love you(to joke around when partying!)
Good morning, afternoon, etc.
Good-bye!

About British English- there are some wacky differenes(I'm not saying the Queen's English is wacky, just that the differences are!)
The 1st floor is the ground floor & the 2nd floor is the 1st floor, "pissed" means drunk, etc.
I'm going to London in June with my mom and I'm a bit nervous as she likes to use the word "fanny" for butt. Gotta look out for that one!

jenn · Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Posts: 10 Location: los angeles

madamsamba, johnnywalker...those stories are too funny! :lol:

Muchacho · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 27 Location: Newfoundland

This thread reminds me of a guy I met traveling. He was from Israel, and he was learning english. He told me that he was wandering the streets of New York and occasionally asking strangers for directions. Whenever he meant to say 'intersection', he'd say 'intercourse' :shock:

I laughed so hard when I heard this. Can you imaging asking a stranger to help you find the intercourse! :lol:

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

It wouldn't be too weird in a part of Pennsylvania -- there's a town called Intercourse in Pennsylvania :)

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Very rarely, but it does happen, a Japanese person, trying his best to be polite, will ask if he could have social intercourse with me. It was actually taught that that was proper English(it actually WAS, like in England in Victorian times!) :shock: . I try my best to refrain from making "safe sex" quips when this happens... :lol:

Muchacho · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 27 Location: Newfoundland

cocodrilo wrote: Very rarely, but it does happen, a Japanese person, trying his best to be polite, will ask if he could have social intercourse with me. It was actually taught that that was proper English(it actually WAS, like in England in Victorian times!) :shock: . I try my best to refrain from making "safe sex" quips when this happens... :lol:

That was funny! :lol: