Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[oldtimer]

Tenuously perhaps but realistically still linked to transport but I saw, on a number of occasions the frustration and bewilderment of strangers due to a lack of an awareness of local phraseology.
This was relevant in Dundee before the road bridge was built.There were
a number of vessels to transport vehicles and people across the Tay to Fife and thus locals called this "The Fifie" and only that.
The reason it was not referred to as "The Ferry"was because Broughty Ferry,an area of the town some 5 miles to the east, was invariably referred to by this title.
So ,some unsuspecting tourist, probably only a few hundred yards from
the vessel to take him to Fife,would ask a local to direct him to the "Ferry"and would find himself 5 miles away being lectured by another
local to return from whence he came but only ask for the way to "THE
FIFIE" if he wished to get across the river in the forseeable future

oldtimer

[peter scott]

Being well aware of how to pronounce Bo'ness in West Lothian I once had a bit of a problem making my request for directions to Bowness (on Windermere) until the gentleman with a beautiful Cumbrian accent said "Oh Bonus" the name having no stressed syllable.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[buzzy bee]

Accents is my issue!

Wow, at work we have students from all over the country and world coming in asking for all manner of tools, and parts, I just look at them saying sorry, feel like the woman on little britain! hehe

Wonder why accents came about in the first place, wouldn't it be weird if there was no accents, we all spoke the same.

Right this is going a little off topic now, so I will stop! hehe

Cheers

Dave

[SV8Predator]

[Keith D]

Can't agree with you SV Predator.

We have Oz accents, Pom accents (North and South!), we have Middle East accents, all different European accents, Asian accents, Indian/Sri Lankan accents! And we have Kiwi accents!

When I visit the UK I always think how easy it is !!!!!

Keith D

[oldtimer]

An Australian friend of my daughter once said he couldnt tell where a person came from by his accent but rather by words or phrases they used. I dont remember which city/area he gave as an example but they say portmanteau when most people would say bag or case, presumably.
Although I haven't heard it for a while the phrase"keep your pecker up"was used to encourage someone who was a bit down hearted but I understand it would be viewed differently in the U.S.A.
Similarly an English girl in the States got a mild electric shock from the switch in a lift and , meaning to warn others when she got out, she declared loudly "I just got a bang in that lift" which didn't translate as an electric shock to the startled Yanks,apparently!
oldtimer

[Greeney in France]

As a Greshams schoolboy we were taught to speak proper but I have found it a curse, people immediately label you as a "nob" and don't see beyond it so have spent many years trying to talk like everyone else, quite easy as I am married to a "Bermondsey South London gal"
I spent a lot of time in the States and found the Yanks love the English accent especially the "ladies"
Now I spend most of my time speaking French, I have been told by them they cant tell the difference if someone is from North or south of England which always surprises me because I can always tell even if the person is speaking excellent French
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www.OldFrenchCars.com

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