30 Sept 2010

I love that Geoff says "refrigerator" instead of "fridge", "television" instead of "TV" and "vehicle" instead of "car". 

The "vehicle" one especially melts my heart -- he is so proper, even when he curses.

Comments

[lauren]

aha! jeff oftens says vehicle as well; in fact, i know quite a few men who say "vehicle" instead of "car", and i don't think i've *EVER* heard a woman use that word in casual conversation. what's up with that??! (sorry, i don't have a point here...just musing...)

[Robyn]

Does he say alcohol or Liquor? Gas or Petrolium? Coke or Cokeacola? Movie theater or Cinema? :-)

Just wondering!

[Michelle]

I'd love to know some proper curse words LOL!

[Kate I]

Is Geoff from the UK?? My husband is and yes, it's vehicle, cinema, television "the lounge" (rather than the living room) and things are "a tip" when they're messy! I love it...so very endearing.

[Agnes]

@Kate: Yup, he's from England :-)

[Patti Murphy]

How about garden instead of yard? My in-laws are Brits and we used to have a mess of a yard and yet my mother-in-law always said she was going out into the garden. The garden was composed of mossy grass and a ragged hedge.

[Sidney]

A real gentleman... you deserve no less !

[jamminjammmmin]

In the Philippines, we say ref or refrigerator instead of fridge. And say soft drink for soda. Also we say comfort room instead of restroom.

I'd like to know how does one say "proper" curse words...hehehe

[Kate]

That is so sweet - my Dad was English so we grew up using lots of "proper" terms.

[Loree]

The difference between Brit English and American English can be quite amazing. I have gotten used to both but you will never hear me say 'soda' for example. It sounds weird to my ears. So like Bing, I say soft drink which makes my American husband giggle. Go figure.

[UmaS]

LOL !!! Really....these days we switch to short forms so easily...look at my LOL !!! ;)

[Reenie]

Aww... This was a wry sweet post, Agnes :)

[linda roth]

So loo is slang for comfort room? I used the word in a blog and wondered if I spelled it properly or if it even meant what I thought it meant. What are proper cuss words in the UK? Bugger may be a scoundrel?

[Andi]

Why do you think I've only ever fallen in love with foreigners????? Can't stay mad at them too long when they open their mouths. ;-)

[Agnes]

@above comments: I don't think it has much to do with being British. He's lived in America since he was 13. It's just that he says the full word instead of the shorter version which I find endlessly entertaining. And I don't know "proper" swear words but including both the F word and a 'please' in a polite attempt to road rage urging the driver next to us to move his "f....'ng vehicle please" never fails to put a smile on my face.

[Sylvia]

My language is completely confused. I have to think really hard to try to fit into a language and even then I mess it up. It's been a character flaw all my life, I try to hard to sound right and end up mixing everything into a stew of language, so I sound wrong to *everyone*. I end up saying things like "trash bin" and "rubbish can". My manuscript is in British English not because it is natural to me but because my best proof reader is English.

On the other hand, I don't think I have ever used "f..'ng" and "please" in the same sentence. That does sound endearing!

[Anastasia]

I'd say brilliant, amazing, fascinating instead of ...awesome and highway or motorway instead of freeway. I teach British English as a second language and find it so charming. Yet, there are some american words I like such as purse instead of handbag or downtown instead of city centre.

[Zhu]

English people always sound so proper... I love the accent! Lucky you ;-)

[Butterfly]

That is really endearing. The 'f...ing vehicle please' bit had me on the floor!