Strange Ways with Words: You Do Speak English?
by English is never that simple. Take the Test.
Nearly every writing site tells me I have spelled many words incorrectly when I spell-check. With unbelievable arrogance, it appears to insinuate that if I do no write in American English, then I’ve got it wrong. In fact, my first effort for Triond was rejected for too many mispelt words! This is such bullshit, considering that English originated in England and the British Isles as a whole. So I am going to give you some real English expressions, along with some Ulster Irish ones, just a little test, with the answers at the end. See how good you are at interpreting and understanding the mother tongue. Do not be downhearted if you do no get everything – or anything – right. That’s the joy of colloquial English and the pleasure of language.
Ulster Expressions
1. A fella fellaffa larry.
2. A’m all up the left the day.
3. Diya wannta wee poke?
4. Gimma head pace!
5. Ach away on!
Yorkshire Expressions
1. Ee’s a rum bugger!
2. Ah’ll gotto t’fut o’ ower steres!
3. ‘Av a word wi’ yersel’
4. Sithee, niver do owt fer nowt.
5. Thon’s a maungey bairn.
I wonder how many anybody got right, or even had an inkling of what meanings are in these English statements? So here are the answers.
Ulster Expressions Answers
1. A man fell from the back of a truck.
2. Everything is going wrong, I am really having a bad day.
3. Would you like a small ice-cream cornet?
4. Leave me alone, you are annoying me and I feel a headache coming on.
5. Get outta here! or I do not believe you!
Yorkshire Expressions Answers
1. He is a very strange sort of person, quite unfathomable.
2. I am completely surprised by what you are telling me.
3. Don’t be so silly!
4. I tell you, do not do anything for nothing, there has to be something in it for you.
5. That baby is very fretful.
Is it gold stars all round? No, well never mind, that is the beauty of English, as I am sure every person who has ever heard a local accent, laced with colloquialisms, knows. Variety really is the spice of life.
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Post CommentReilley
On February 14, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I agree with the notion that we are seperated by a common language.
annielundy
On February 15, 2009 at 5:57 am
Ok we are, Reilley, but not too many folks have dared to take this test. Cheers for your loyalty.x
Ori Sonata
On February 27, 2009 at 8:54 am
Wow I never know this before. But yeah almost every language is spoken differently in different region even if that region is where the language come from.
The Japanese used in Tokyo and Osaka for example are different. Bahasa Indonesia used in Jakarta and Surabaya are different as well. Mandarin used in Beijing and Shangai are totally different, albeit they used the same character set.
For international use however, the language is often standarized according to whatever used in the capital.