This an abbreviated version of a post on a long defunct blog of mine. It follows my earlier post about American and British language. (It might be in multiple posts. I have not cleaned it up.) Language Barriers There is a raging debate going on LinkedIn about the differences between Scot and English language visa vie dialog, proper grammar and dialect and those sorts of things that the UK folks row about all the time. It is amusing and I have piped in a few times. I am a Southerner (US) and our dialect is heavily influenced by Scot language particularly Doric dialect. Anyway, this reminded me of an experience I had while skiing in Austria oh so many years ago. I like the top of the mountain, the white stuff is better and there are less people. The party with which I was skiing would have no part of it, so I venture forth on my own. While in the lift line I was joined by a robust and tall (I’m 6.1, he had a couple of inches on me) thick leathery skin and wearing an orange jumpsuit. I assumed he was German or Austrian and he probably had no idea what I was. Big jumpsuit guy pulled out a pack of smokes lit one up and gestured if I wanted one. “Danke” I said. Then he produced a flask and gestured again. “Ya, Danke! Schnops?” I said. “Um hum” he said. So we had our little international party as we up jiggled up the long lift to the summit. A minute went by when tall orange dude decided to strike up a conversation. To my twentyish American ears it sound like German but wasn’t sure. “Nix verstehen zie.” I said. He spoke again. “Ich spreche kein Deutsch, wenig Deutsch.” (I only knew Germlish) In a slow and deliberate manner he said, “I am from New Zealand. I am speaking English!” We laughed and chatted slowly the rest of the ride. At the top, I watched as the orange jumpsuit disappears into the woods. I never saw him again but laugh about that ride still. (I think I got it all in.)
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 03:32:48 +0000
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