Thursday, January 21, 2021

Speaking English Outside England and Undertanding Americanism - the challenge



George Bernard Shaw, the great British writer, wrote that England and America are two countries divided by a common language. 

I was walking along the street after an American who told me, "Follow me. Don't walk on the pavement." I was a bit puzzled because he stepped briefly into the road to avoid a pothole and then back onto the pavement.

He turned around and said, "I warned you not to walk on the pavement."

I replied, "I'm doing what you said. I'm in the road."

He shouted, "Get out of the road!"

I frowned, "but you said off the pavment. This is the pavement."

"No, he said, "that's the sidewalk, He pointed to the road, "Thtat' the pavement." I scratched my chin. I scratched my ear. I shook my head. I sighed.

UK - USA

bonnet (if a car) - hood

boot ( of a car) - trunk

call in - drop by

lorry -truck

math - maths

nappy - diaper

pavement - sidewalk

porter - bellhop

roadway/tarmac - pavement

Rubber - eraser

Tip or trick - hack

tap - faucet


USA - UK

bellhop - porter

diaper - nappy

eraser - rubber

faucet - tap

hood (of a car) - bonnet

Maths - math 

drop by - call in

hack - tip or trick

pavement - road/roadway/tarmac

sidewalk - pavement

truck - lorry

trunk (of a car) - boot

Useful Websites

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-14201796

About the Author

Angela Lansbury teacher of English (advanced and English as a Second Language or English as a Foreign Language, French and other languages, aspiring polyglot.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Member of many toastmasters  speaker training clubs and speaking contest judge.

Angela Lansbury, the author of 20 books including Wedding Speeches & Toasts, and Quick Quotations, has lived in the USA, Spain and Singapore. 
She  has several blogs and writes daily on at least two of the following:
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