I'm still learning things after all these years, Marianne, and am still trying to work my brain around the difference between broiling and grilling, which you really do need to know in order to teach someone how to make a reasonable welsh rarebit! One day ....
I used to mangle the mispronunciation as “Tay-mate-toe” and just about got away with it… that and perusing the shelves of Trader Joe’s (I do miss TJ’s) and having to remember to look for “eggplant”, “zucchini”, “rutabaga” and “cilantro”… Tbf, as SWMBO would say, “You’ve acclimatised, I’ve ack-lee-mated 🤣”
I learned tomayto because I just got so tired of people saying “I love the way you say that,” except it turned out this very nice man said it anyway! I was quite proud of adopting American vocabulary early on, and proclaimed zucchini with ringing confidence until my all-Californian husband pointed out gently that here they’re apparently called Italian squash. Who knew? On the other hand, I also seem to have rubbed off on him because he now refers to me, too, as She Who Must Be Obeyed … didn’t She Who turn out to be not only very bossy but the most unspeakably ancient old hag when you got to look at her? Just asking …
I love this too Gabrielle! In my minds eye he has a big smile, rosy cheeks and a straw boater.
Language pronunciation differences can also sometimes really trip you up. Reading this brought me back to a moment from my time as an exchange student sitting in a Business Studies class in an American University. The teacher kept referring to "the cost of good souls". I was enchanted! I put my hand up "What an interesting maybe archaic expression that is" I said. Yes....I did, out loud.
He wasn't quite so dapper but he was a very nice man, Sheena. You got me all excited with the idea of "the cost of good souls," because it sounded thrillingly Faustian, but on investigation it seems to be somewhat less dramatic in meaning. But you're right that it's a good expression, so thanks for educating me!
I love this! I have a similar exchange with the green grocer here in the UK, but from the American accent side of things 😊
I'm still learning things after all these years, Marianne, and am still trying to work my brain around the difference between broiling and grilling, which you really do need to know in order to teach someone how to make a reasonable welsh rarebit! One day ....
I used to mangle the mispronunciation as “Tay-mate-toe” and just about got away with it… that and perusing the shelves of Trader Joe’s (I do miss TJ’s) and having to remember to look for “eggplant”, “zucchini”, “rutabaga” and “cilantro”… Tbf, as SWMBO would say, “You’ve acclimatised, I’ve ack-lee-mated 🤣”
I learned tomayto because I just got so tired of people saying “I love the way you say that,” except it turned out this very nice man said it anyway! I was quite proud of adopting American vocabulary early on, and proclaimed zucchini with ringing confidence until my all-Californian husband pointed out gently that here they’re apparently called Italian squash. Who knew? On the other hand, I also seem to have rubbed off on him because he now refers to me, too, as She Who Must Be Obeyed … didn’t She Who turn out to be not only very bossy but the most unspeakably ancient old hag when you got to look at her? Just asking …
I love this too Gabrielle! In my minds eye he has a big smile, rosy cheeks and a straw boater.
Language pronunciation differences can also sometimes really trip you up. Reading this brought me back to a moment from my time as an exchange student sitting in a Business Studies class in an American University. The teacher kept referring to "the cost of good souls". I was enchanted! I put my hand up "What an interesting maybe archaic expression that is" I said. Yes....I did, out loud.
He wasn't quite so dapper but he was a very nice man, Sheena. You got me all excited with the idea of "the cost of good souls," because it sounded thrillingly Faustian, but on investigation it seems to be somewhat less dramatic in meaning. But you're right that it's a good expression, so thanks for educating me!
My friend and fellow class mate enlightened me that he was actually saying “The cost of goods sold”. What a let down 😂
You know I’m crazy for your accent, too!!!
Love this. You know I’m crazy for your accent too!