Literature The British English vs American English thread!
- Thread starter Muggle
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kazyeeqen
Superb Owl
FortyTwo
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SummerRain
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.
I think you mean "bodmin". I always thought it meant crazy/nuts but that's not what urban dictionary says. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=going bodmin
I've never heard the word "totey" before, haven't noticed it in the TV program, but sounds like it's meant to mean total.
Probably worth noting that Doc Martin is set in a Cornish village, the way they speak is meant to be somewhat comical. People do speak like that in the West Country but it's usually perceived as a comical accent, and since it's meant to be a village the words being used are pretty localised. Most places in the UK use words that other places have no idea what it means!
lucky_charm
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In Scotland "totey" is occasionally used to mean small, although it's sometimes combined with "wee" to mean very small, as in:
Mr Mcglumphy "Where's my bottle of whisky?"
Mrs Mcglumphy "It's over there on the table."
Mr Mcglumphy "Aw whit there's only a totey bit left."
Or
Mr Mcglumphy "You better get packed."
Mrs Mcglumphy "What size suitcase can I take?"
Mr Mcglumphy "The cabin size one"
Mrs Mcglumphy "How can I fit my clothes in that totey wee thing!"
I have not heard it used very often though, and it may even be regional within Scotland, I'm not sure.
Mr Mcglumphy "Where's my bottle of whisky?"
Mrs Mcglumphy "It's over there on the table."
Mr Mcglumphy "Aw whit there's only a totey bit left."
Or
Mr Mcglumphy "You better get packed."
Mrs Mcglumphy "What size suitcase can I take?"
Mr Mcglumphy "The cabin size one"
Mrs Mcglumphy "How can I fit my clothes in that totey wee thing!"
I have not heard it used very often though, and it may even be regional within Scotland, I'm not sure.
I think you mean "bodmin". I always thought it meant crazy/nuts but that's not what urban dictionary says. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=going bodmin
I've never heard the word "totey" before, haven't noticed it in the TV program, but sounds like it's meant to mean total.
Probably worth noting that Doc Martin is set in a Cornish village, the way they speak is meant to be somewhat comical. People do speak like that in the West Country but it's usually perceived as a comical accent, and since it's meant to be a village the words being used are pretty localised. Most places in the UK use words that other places have no idea what it means!
Why aye like man. Proper reet this! Ganna git us a bit of scran and gan inta toon!
SummerRain
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.
Well yes fair lady, this is most correct, I am going to prepare myself some food and perhaps visit the local town centre.
SummerRain
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.
Ahhh that is better! I'm actually really rubbish at understanding accents/local words, or even working out where they come from.
SummerRain
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.
When I first got in Sheffield, I thought a bus driver said "Good Morning" so I said, all cheery "Good Morning " thinking: what a friendly guy! The he said "No... where do you want to go?".
I have no idea what he actually said. But it wasn't good morning.
" thinking: what a friendly guy! The he said "No... where do you want to go?".I have no idea what he actually said. But it wasn't good morning.
ledboots
Peace
Hahaha! I love all accents.When I first got in Sheffield, I thought a bus driver said "Good Morning" so I said, all cheery "Good Morning
I have no idea what he actually said. But it wasn't good morning.
When I first went to Georgia, USA, my sister and I went to the local breakfast place, and the huge waitress zooms over and says really loudly, "Swan die?" She burst out laughing at my expression and held up the sweetened iced tea pitcher. "Do you want some sweet tea?"="Swan die?" Same here. Because of the ethnic mix of the areas I have lived I am fine with African, Caribbean, Indian accents etc...but I find it really difficult to understand certain English regional accents.
Calliegirl
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I once met someone from Maine and he had the heaviest accent I've ever heard. I had to ask him what he said 3 or 4 times before just giving up.
One time he was asking if I was really 40 (I looked a lot younger). Unfortunately, what I heard was you're really farty. I looked at him very shocked and said excuse me, what did you say. After a few more tries he changed the way he said it and asked if 40 was really my age. After a few months I could understand most of what he said.
One time he was asking if I was really 40 (I looked a lot younger). Unfortunately, what I heard was you're really farty.
I looked at him very shocked and said excuse me, what did you say. After a few more tries he changed the way he said it and asked if 40 was really my age. After a few months I could understand most of what he said.
ledboots
Peace
Lmao they do say "farty" up in Maine! My cousins from boston say fawty. 44=fawty fowuh.I once met someone from Maine and he had the heaviest accent I've ever heard. I had to ask him what he said 3 or 4 times before just giving up.
One time he was asking if I was really 40 (I looked a lot younger). Unfortunately, what I heard was you're really farty.
Jen uses this expression "to shake your head 'yes'". Can you really shake your head in agreement with something? That seems so strange to me, as I would have thought you either nod your head when you agree or shake your head when you disagree. So is this exclusively an American thing, or do brits shake their heads when they agree as well?
Pickle Juice
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FortyTwo
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