Common English Language?

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Interesting examples of people talk/mean and are understood.</p>

<p>What the British Say:
I hear what you say</p>

<p>What the British Mean:
I disagree and do not want to discuss it further</p>

<p>What the Dutch understand:
He accepts my point of view</p>

<p>What the US understand
He understands what I just said</p>

<p>What the British Say
That’s not bad</p>

<p>What the British Mean
That’s good or very good</p>

<p>What the Dutch understand
That’s poor or mediocre</p>

<p>What the US understand
Pretty good piece of work</p>

<p>What the British Say
I was bit disappointed. It’s a pity that…</p>

<p>What the British Mean
I am most upset and cross</p>

<p>What the Dutch understand
It doesn’t really matter</p>

<p>What the US understand
Someone should have done better or I feel sorry for this person or situation</p>

<p>What the British Say
This is an original point of view</p>

<p>What the British Mean
You must be crazy</p>

<p>What the Dutch understand
They like my ideas </p>

<p>What the US understand
This is one smart person to figure this out all by him/her self</p>

2

<p>“I hear what you say”
Dig hears: You weren’t really paying attention, were you…</p>

<p>“That’s not bad”
Dig hears: It ain’t so good, either…</p>

<p>I was bit disappointed. It’s a pity that…"
Dig hears: Oh no, here comes the bad news…</p>

<p>“This is an original point of view”
Dig hears: Fuggetaboutit!</p>

3

<p>There is a book called “Divided by a Common Language.” Despite its borrowed title, be it from Wilde, Shaw, Thomas, or Russell, the contents might interest anyone who likes the evolution of the spoken word. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0966094573/103-0858079-6415817?v=glance&n=283155[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0966094573/103-0858079-6415817?v=glance&n=283155&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;