Dragon

We have had the conversation at work, Just how do you spell pussy (meaning filled with pus). It turns out the word to use is actually purulent. So now you know.

And thanks Login for filling us in on Eliza's accent. As I remember it did sound a little overdone (not to be taken as an insult to Audrey Hepburn, she's one of my favorite actresses). I have heard of Cockney rhyming slang, as I understand it evolved from the prisons where the prisoners made up rhymes so the guards and cops wouldn't catch on to what they were saying.

marius

Thanks for answers about Eliza Doolittle, Login. Had no clue where she came from. Very interesting. And the rhyming slang sounds funny - as if the people who made them are were being clever AND humorous. Yes?

Am wondering if other languages use many colloquialisms (think that's what they are called). Nadia? Polenta? And, hey - even Dragon and Login? It has often charmed and confused me when someone from another country says something like, "What does he mean when he calls her, honey?"

Have heard one problem learning American English is the frequent use of little expressions (again, not sure if there is a name for these) that are confusing to those from other countries. Is this true?

Examples off the top of my head:
There's more than one way to skin a cat.
One in the hand is better than two in the bush.
He looks rode hard and put away wet.
I'm no rocket scientist.

Dragon

I have a friend who likes to say "He's no Rocket Surgeon" just to see if anybody catches on. The funny thing is I think he thinks those who don't catch on are not very bright, but I think some people do catch it but don't say anything because they think he's not very bright.

Dragon

Here's a few of the sayings I've gotten from my mom and find myself using regularly.

Cheaper than borscht
Darker than the inside of a cow
Useless as tits on a boar (My step-dad says Useless as tits on a nun - hope that doesn't get this censored I've always thought it was funny)

polenta

I remember the sentence "THE RAIN IN SPAIN FALLS MAINLY IN THE PLAINS" pronounced : the rine in spine falls minely in the plines.

polenta

All languages have PROVERBS or SAYINGS, which are fixed expressions with a certain philosophy included in them. Something like the mentioned "one in the hand is better than two in the bush".
COLOQUIAL VOCABULARY is something different. It refers to register. It's informal words or expressions instead of formal or at least neutral vocabulary.
KID and CHILD are an example. While the former is coloquial or informal, the latter is neutral.
Apart from that there are words that are part of jargons or professional language. OBESE is a term that is mostly used in a medical context and not so much in everyday language. Different regions can also create dialects and groups of people, such as teenagers or prisoners, can also create new vocabulary. The problem is: will this new vocabulary resist time?

matthew

I think the word you are looking for is a "quip"...

I would give you an example, but i've been as busy as a one legged man in a butt kicking contest...

Login

(Chuckle) polenta, "the rine in spine falls minely in the plines" is a good shot at Eliza's cockney accent.

I think 'new vocabulary' eventually becomes established in the language. Conversely, when new meanings are put on old words, the old meaning of the word is dropped. An example of this is 'gay' which used to mean 'cheerful / happy / lively'. Nowadays it means homosexual, the word having been adopted by homosexuals (collectively) within the last 50 years, to describe their sexuality. The old meaning of the word soon became obsolete ... people stopped using it to avoid being misunderstood.

matthew

Why is it that as soon as you make something idiot proof, someone goes out & makes a better idiot???

matthew

People also used to call cigarettes "fags"... That went out the window for the same reason...

Login

You're right, matthew ... LOL.

Login

Marius, you asked if 'received pronunciation' is 'universal English'. Yes, it is what some have referred to as BBC English. Incidentally, the south east accent (excluding London) is the nearest thing to BBC English.

Login

It's way, way past my bedtime. Goodnight all.

mouse

Hi
I have been reading this for awhile now and find the topic so interesting. Can I "chime in". The term I think you are looking for is "Idiom" when referring to unique phrases to a certain area. Example: as snug as a bug in a rug--means
very comfortable. I live near Pittsburgh Pa. and this area has what is called Pittsburghese, words & pharses unique to this area .

matthew

Yes... Idiom is the word we were looking for... Now i am happy as a clam...

marius

ha ha ha, Matthew! Have you ever wondered why clams are considered happy? I have no't, but just the other day read something that said the original saying (or idiom) was, "I'm as happy as a clam at high tide." Ah ... now it makes sense!

Polenta - you astound me. Think you know English better than most of us. Certainly you know it better than I do, or at least you know the words that describe parts of our langugae. You wrote about "register." Don't recall ever learning that word in regards to language. Remember something about something called a "gerand" (I think.) See what I mean? But, are there idioms peculiar to Uruguay?

marius

Dragon - regarding your post (#283)
............LMAO, rolling on the floor times 65 squared + 13 infinities - one!

VERY FUNNY!

Mouse, thanks for the word, idiom. And would you share some Pittsburghese?

marius

And since I can not slepl tonigth I am going to bde.

mouse

Some Pittsburghese

chipped ham = paper thin slices of ham.
younz = the plural of you --"Where younz going"
cmere or mere = come here
jagger = thorn
nuh uhh = no way
Hoagie = submarine sandwich ( sandwich on a very large bun)
putzie = go slowly
crick = creek
gum band = rubber band
Kennywoods open = zipper on pants is down
pop = soft drink like coca cola
gal a vant = going many places
jumbo = bologna lunch meat
church key = bottle opener
cubboard = closet or cabinet
nebby - curious
babuska = head scarf
red up = light cleaning
arn = iron
Heinz 57 = a mixture
sammitch = sandwich
worsh = wash
canipshun = get upset
city chicken = pork & beef cubes on a stick , breaded and fried.
( my cousin from Oklahoma once asked my mother the difference between a city chicken and a country chicken = she told him a city chicken had wooden legs)

marius

LOL mouse! Some of those are in Missouri too: cmere, nuh uhh, crick, pop, worsh. Here's a few Missouri ones used by folks of all education levels:
Muhzurrah = Missouri
mayzhure = measure
acrost = across
drouth = drought
talkin = talking (most g's are left off the 'ing' suffix)

Two favorites used by the Irish Grandmother:
buhdayduhs = potatoes
Gair' age = garage

And, is younz pronounced with one syllable or two? In south and east Missouri it's drawn out a bit, pronounced "you-nz." Never hear it in NW MO.