Words, words everywhere, and not a one to communicate

[indigo_rose99]

I got into a conversation with my class this week about words that mean different things in different cultures.  I tried to head them off with "Let's take a break, see you in 10 minutes." but one of them was on a roll.

"There is a word in the US that means human rear end that means something quite different here."

I was clearly intrigued, but this was straying into verbally dangerous territory.  He could not resist   "Fanny packs," he said.  I nodded, that I recognized the term while I physically distanced myself from him.  " Those bags that Americans tie around their waists.  They call them fanny packs.  Here, 'fanny' means..." he started gesturing.  The rest of the class nodded knowingly as they walked out the door.  He had to clarify for me.  "...women's chests!  When an American starts off about their fanny pack, we can't help but laugh!"

That certainly explains some of the references in Fanny Hill that were a bit strange.

Comments

[mr-efficient.livejournal.com]

He had to clarify for me. "...women's chests!"

This isn't something that I ever thought I would be saying to you, but: I think you mean vaginas.

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

*snort/laugh* It's even worse than I thought!!!

I totally should have cut that conversation off sooner.

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

Settling down for a good study of the rest of that list... You'd think I wouldn't have to study the language for travel to an English speaking country!

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

THAT's what a "bap" is?! I've been avoiding it because it sounded too painful.

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

Whew! I'd only figured out about a third of these. Happily, I had not encountered many of the rest. The really confusing ones are the ones used in the exact same context but meaning the opposite. *sigh*

And people want to travel for fun!? *shake head* It boggles my mind.

[reedrover]

I was in Ecuador in 1995, with a group of exchange students that included a bunch from Kalamazoo MI, two from Virginia, a handful from England, and a sprinkling of Aussies. We were on the bus going somewhere when one of the non-American girls burst out with "Oh, my god, that guy is just so horny!" Therein began a loooooong conversation about just what she meant to say and how each of the rest of us would say it. The native Ecuadorian (Spanish speaking) audience was completely bewildered within minutes. And then we made it worse by trying to translate each version of slang back into Spanish. Heh. It was a lot of fun.

Additionally, despite the drawl part of it sounding similar to non-Aussies, Australians have a devil of a time comprehending American Southern accents.

[chikuru.livejournal.com]

I already knew what a British fanny was, so I found this very amusing. Did your student actually say "chests" or was he an inaccurate gesturer?

L and I were talking about this this morning and came up with these sentences an unwitting American in the UK might say.

"I was riding on the train with my boyfriend all morning and boy is my fanny sore."

"That movie didn't pass the fanny test."

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

I think he may have said "women's parts" and it was the vague gestures that led me to the breasts conclusion. That and my optimistic outlook. *cough, cough* I mean, who would bring up this topic AT WORK?!?!