In Europe, when you say Paris, everybody assumes you mean Paris, France. But in the USA, especially
You are going to Paris? In Europe many people would assume you mean, Paris, France.
However, in the USA, especially in Texas, many people would assume you meant Paris, Texas.
Hicksville, USA
In the USA I met a man who said, "I am from Hicksville."
I had always heard of Hicksville as meaning a place which the Brits might also call 'the back of beyond'. I didn't know it was a real place.
But I could tell by his glum expression, it was not a joke - unless he was depressed about where he lived. When I raised my eyebrows in query, he quickly said, "I don't live in Hicksville. I only work there."
In the USA I met a man who said, "I am from Hicksville."
I had always heard of Hicksville as meaning a place which the Brits might also call 'the back of beyond'. I didn't know it was a real place.
But I could tell by his glum expression, it was not a joke - unless he was depressed about where he lived. When I raised my eyebrows in query, he quickly said, "I don't live in Hicksville. I only work there."
Do people ever make amusing mistakes, misdirections, and mis-spellings of your name, workplace or home? I live in London, England, and have done so since childhood, on an off.
UK
In London, England, I lived in a Hillview Road and received a letter addressed to Millview Road. Another came to Illview Road. We had no mill. I was not ill. And our view was quite good. So I was able to laugh.
You might notice that in my blog posts I always specify London, England.
UK
In London, England, I lived in a Hillview Road and received a letter addressed to Millview Road. Another came to Illview Road. We had no mill. I was not ill. And our view was quite good. So I was able to laugh.
You might notice that in my blog posts I always specify London, England.
I once had a letter from the USA addressed to me in London, without specifying England. It reached me via another country. Which one?
Canada.
That's because there's another London in Canada. After I left America and went back to London, I received post months later, mailed from the USA with London as the last line of the address. The envelope had been delivered to Canada and redirected to the UK. Canada also has a river Thames. And a Shakespeare festival.
Lots of names from the UK have spread around the world. From York to New York. As far as Australia. Perth is in Scotland. Also the city in Western Australia.
Australia
Alliterative place names in Australia can provide hours of amusement. They did yesterday. They do today. They will tomorrow.
B
For example, a couple of place names in Australia: Bet Bet. Brit Brit. I bet people misunderstand or makes jokes about these.
M
I have a friend in Singapore called Mi Mi. I thought she said me me.
Do people get your name or place name wrong? Or make jokes? Which other funny names and place names do you know or have fun making jokes about?
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
I and my family have lived in the UK, Spain, the USA and Singapore. I am a travel writer and photographer and teacher of English A level and English as a foreign language.
Please come to a Toastmasters International Club where the English clubs have a language evaluator or grammarian. We also have French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil and other language clubs based in Singapore and many more online around the world which because of Covid-19 are now meeting online.
I am President of Braddell Heights Advanced, meeting every Wednesday, on zoom the first Wednesday of the month but the other Wednesdays are workshops on app
Or quicker to type and easier to remember:
Useful Websites
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/04/how-to-say-thank-you-in-several.html
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/05/introducing-yourself-in-english-spanish.html
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2020/01/second-set-of-portuguese-words.html Please share links to your favourite posts
https://www.toastmasters.org/find-a-club
translate.google.com
duolingo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment