Lost in Translation...

[highlandtide]

I forgot to tell you one of the funniest (albiet embarrassing and somewhat crude) things to happen to me in Scotland a few weeks ago.

We were sitting around with my friends whole family and everyone was laughing and having a good time (the men folk were haveing a Scotch tasting...).

I was telling everyone about how hot is was here in Charletson when I got married (4 years ago on Thursday!). I was in my Trad 8 Yard Hannay Tartan Kilt. There were air vents on the floor of the church. So the natural thing to do was stand over these blessings from below.

Everyone was laughing. My mom then (bless her heart) proceeded to say in a loud voice, "He really had a nice poof up his kilt!"

Have you ever heard a record sctch noise when someone says something shocking? You know, and the whole room goes silent.

My friends sister yells at the top of her lungs, "HE HAD A WHAT!!!!"

Well for my American friends, the term "poof" is a not so nice term meaning "homosexual" in the UK.

I already knew this but my mom didnt. Needless to say, they said I went 6 shades of red. Everyone then got a good laugh at my expense. My mom then tried to explain that she meant a "puff of air", but it was too late. We laughed about that the rest of the trip.

[Graham]

Very funny Hank, I had a similar problem when I was younger, I found that words meant something different, like Durex in Australia is celotape or sticky tape, in England it's a brand of condom. I did find it difficult buying it in Woolworths.

English and Australian terms are not always so dissimilar, cockney and other terms have embedded themselves in the culture here, which is why I'm fairly at home here.

[Kiltedmusiclover]

I was telling everyone about how hot is was here in Charletson when I got married (4 years ago on Thursday!). I was in my Trad 8 Yard Hannay Tartan Kilt. There were air vents on the floor of the church. So the natural thing to do was stand over these blessings from below.

Everyone was laughing. My mom then (bless her heart) proceeded to say in a loud voice, "He really had a nice poof up his kilt!" ...

Well for my American friends, the term "poof" is a not so nice term meaning "homosexual" in the UK.

Not one the things I've commonly
heard of being discovered during a kilt check! HA! HAWWW!

[Rufus]

Bwwaaaahaaaaahaaaaa!!

My sister had the opposite experience when she took her family to England two years ago. They were standing at the Queen's Jubilee celebration festivities, when some guy walked up and asked if he could "bum a fag."

My niece, who was 13 at the time, proceeded to curse him out, "Get away from us, you pervert!"

My sister had to explain to her that the guy was asking for a cigarette, not soliciting sex with homosexual men. It's funny how the slang is turned completely around.

[Graham]

I guess the moral of this story is to ensure that we all use the Queens' English intelligently and in the proper manner, paying particular attention to diction and pronunciation.

I'm glad I learned to tork proper.

[GMan]

It seems that when I share anything with people I end up having to translate most of the time. Trying ro relate some of the things you guys do and over hear is becoming a great conversation at the coffee shop.

Happy anniversary early Hank. Hope you enjoy your celebrations and obsevrances.

[bubba]

Trying ro relate some of the things you guys do and over hear is becoming a great conversation at the coffee shop..

I'm sure they all wonder what kind of lunatics you associate with.

[GMan]

I wouldn't have it any other way Bubba!

[seamus]

haha, an excellent story. i love little language things like that.

[Robbie]

The main differences I've noticed appearing in this forum are:-

N American--------UK Meaning---------UK Equivalent
(and elsewhere)

Pants-------------Underwear----------------Trousers
Shorts------------Short trousers-----------Pants
Vest--------------Undershirt garment-----Waistcoat
BUT
Kilt----------------Kilt-------------------------Kilt