However, take a look at the different types of English and you'll soon come to realise that things aren't as simple as they appear.
The differences between British and American English are well noted: the Americans generally being too stupid or lazy to be bothered to spell things properly, with an obsession for omitting Us and replacing Ss with Zs. It's not just spelling though and we have different words for the same things: car parks; mobile phones; lifts; shopping centres; bonnets and boots, to name just a few.
It's easy to seemingly pick on the Americans, simply because the most notable differences exist between British and American English. However, even within the UK, there are regional dialects that mean it's often difficult to know what people are saying in certain parts of the country. Then again, you probably wouldn't want to bother visiting such areas or conversing with the inhabitants anyway, so it doesn't really matter.
Interlude: Norton is doing its weekly hard drive scan and it's slowing things up to such an extent that as I'm typing, I'm seeing one character every 5 seconds. Time for a brew...
Anyway, one of the North Americans who endure this blog was interested in knowing more about the colloquialisms that I use. In other words, "Tina, your English is terrible, you use too much slang, please can you translate?"
Of course I can, although it's difficult to recognise what's slang from proper. If there's any I miss out, let me know.
- Numpty (sl) n: I think it comes from "empty headed" and that's exactly what it means, somebody who's completely dim.
- Minger (sl) n: The g is hard in the pronunciation of this one. A person, usually a woman, who is very unattractive, not only in terms of looks, but in terms of dress, the way they act, everything.
- Mingin' (sl) adj: When something is horrible, it is "minging". This can be a food, or it can be used to describe how you feel about yourself or somebody who is "mingin'", for example, if you feel manky after the gym or getting dirty somehow.
- Manky (sl) adj: Something a bit nasty in the sense of it being a bit grubby or grimy. Dirty, but not quite disgusting.
- Mither (sl) v, n: Fuss. Also: faff and fart.
- Librarian (sl) n: Gay woman.
- Slapper (sl) n: A promiscuous woman, often a minger.
- Fandabidozy (sl) adj: Excellent, fantastic!
- Fuckin' delish (sl) adj: Fuckin' delish!
Enough of that, I can't think of any others.
Cryptic fare-thee-wells: Cakesniffer in offline horror?
My PC is getting a new hard drive and operating system installed over the weekend so there's a possibility that it'll be out of action for a bit. I'm not sure how easy it is to pick up the internet again when you upgrade your PC or whether I'll have configuration problems and that.
And that
I ADORE the way Herge uses "and that" when compiling a list, constructing an argument and that. Makes me laugh every time I see it.
Messages from beyond the grave
Anybody got any messages for dearly departed Trillion? I'm seeing her on Sunday. Should I try to persuade her to start blogging again?
Current sounds
Una paloma bianca sung by Beniamino Gigli, lovely.
The Mystical Celtic Cross Stone (courtesy of Coldcoldearth
Ok Happy Bidding Bloggers. Auction starts at midnight. Good luck
eBay.co.uk: The Mystical Celtic Cross Stone (item 6223682975 end time 15-Nov-05 00:00:00 GMT)
And may it bring you all good luck
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