Are you ever delighted?
Chuck Riggs
What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
that"?
--
Regards,
Chuck Riggs,
An American who lives near Dublin, Ireland and usually spells in BrE
LFS
> What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
> is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
> that"?
Frequently, Chuck. In all sorts of ways.
I have just sent two work-connected emails which used precisely the
expression you cite. In both cases I was sincerely delighted by news
received but there are occasions when I might use the expression ironically.
--
Laura
(emulate St. George for email)
miseri
> What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
> is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
> that"?
> --
>
similar here in the UK with the phrase ‘exciting changes’. Though,
admittedly, some of these highlighted ‘changes’ may, occasionally, be
moderately interesting, I can’t recall a single instance of any said
change invoking ‘excitement’.
miseri
R H Draney
>
>On Nov 6, 5:01=A0pm, Chuck Riggs <chri...@eircom.net> wrote:
>> What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
>> is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
>> that"?
>> --
>>
>Yes, a quick scan through some of my work emails shows something
>admittedly, some of these highlighted =91changes=92 may, occasionally, be
>moderately interesting, I can=92t recall a single instance of any said
>change invoking =91excitement=92.
One is reminded of the time Dr McCoy sarcastically asked Mr Spock if he found
something "fascinating", only to be told that it was merely "interesting"....r
--
A pessimist sees the glass as half empty.
An optometrist asks whether you see the glass
more full like this?...or like this?
Peter Moylan
> What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
> is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
> that"?
I am delighted to hear it when I think it's an expression of genuine
delight, but I think the impact of such expressions can be ruined by
over-use.
I have a similar reaction to the American "You're welcome", which you
get even when you're obviously not welcome. Initially I thought it was a
charming thing to say. After about the thousandth time I was starting to
associate it with hypocrisy.
--
Peter Moylan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. http://www.pmoylan.org
For an e-mail address, see my web page.
Stan Brown
<chr...@eircom.net>:
>
> What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
> is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
> that"?
Seems unexceptionable to me. I use it sometimes when a customer
emails me to say that a problem is solved because my solution worked.
--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
Shikata ga nai...
Stan Brown
<pe...@pmoylan.org.not.china>:
> I have a similar reaction to the American "You're welcome", which you
> get even when you're obviously not welcome. Initially I thought it was a
> charming thing to say. After about the thousandth time I was starting to
> associate it with hypocrisy.
Conventional expressions like "you're welcome" are not subject to
charges of hypocrisy because they're not meant to be evaluated
literally. Or would you consider someone a hypocrite who, on being
introduced to you, says "how do you do"? (*) "You're welcome" is
just something we say in response to "thank you".
Objecting to conventional phrases because they're not literally true
is a phase many children go through, but adults understand that
they're just social lubricants with no real meaning beyond "we are
members of the same [ill-defined] group with the same customs."
(*) And of course there's no question mark inside the quotes because
"how do you do" isn't really a question and usually is spoken without
the rising tone of a real question.
Nick
> Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:25:03 +1100 from Peter Moylan
> <pe...@pmoylan.org.not.china>:
>> I have a similar reaction to the American "You're welcome", which you
>> get even when you're obviously not welcome. Initially I thought it was a
>> charming thing to say. After about the thousandth time I was starting to
>> associate it with hypocrisy.
>
> Conventional expressions like "you're welcome" are not subject to
> charges of hypocrisy because they're not meant to be evaluated
> literally. Or would you consider someone a hypocrite who, on being
> introduced to you, says "how do you do"? (*) "You're welcome" is
> just something we say in response to "thank you".
>
> Objecting to conventional phrases because they're not literally true
> is a phase many children go through, but adults understand that
> they're just social lubricants with no real meaning beyond "we are
> members of the same [ill-defined] group with the same customs."
They are also one of the things that differ between cultures that speak
the same languages. It's very noticeable how American's use much more
friendly terms to strangers in commercial transactions, but a lot fewer
"please"s and "thank you"s than the British. Each are being equally
polite - just using different ways to do it, but this can be
disconcerting and confusing.
--
Online waterways route planner: http://canalplan.org.uk
development version: http://canalplan.eu
Richard Chambers
>
> What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
> is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
> that"?
I have performed a search on all my Word for Windows files, and have found
only one instance of "delighted". It turns out that this was written by my
wife -- she and I have our own separate subdirectories under our shared main
directory "Word". It further turns out that she was directly quoting the
words of somebody else when she wrote that single instance. So neither of us
has originated the word "delighted" for the last six years.
In my own e-mails of the last six years, I ran a search and found one
instance:- "Of course, I shall be delighted to help you in any way I can". I
shall be equally deighted if this helps to answer your question about
British usage.
Richard Chambers Leeds UK.
Richard Chambers
I was once very pleasantly surprised by this aspect of US American culture
and manners. I was on holiday in Ireland with my wife, and we decided to pay
�30 a head for tickets for a "Medieval Banquet" in a castle near where we
had bed and breakfasted.
Typical Brits (Susan and myself):- Stand around, as close as possible to
one of the walls (for social protection from all the people we do not know),
survey the other guests as they arrive, and (in many cases) take an instant
dislike to them. Think that it had been a mistake to spend �60 on such an
evening, with such hateful guests.
Typical Americans:- Stride confidently into the room, walk straight up to
us, look us in the eye, and shake hands with us. "Hi, I'm Bill and this is
Joyce, my wife. We're from Arizona!".
The evening was not a total waste of time after all. Why don't the Brits do
that? Why don't I do that? A question I simply cannot answer. I would
certainly like to do things that way, but I can't. I'm British.
Richard Chambers Leeds UK.
Arcadian Rises
> Chuck Riggs wrote:
> > What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
> > is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
> > that"?
>
> I am delighted to hear it when I think it's an expression of genuine
> delight, but I think the impact of such expressions can be ruined by
> over-use.
If you think "delighted" is overused, try "happy", a much stronger
word that should mean more than just a frame of mind; because this is
the version I hear more often in my neck of the woods (New York area):
"I'm happy to hear that".
>
> I have a similar reaction to the American "You're welcome", which you
> get even when you're obviously not welcome. Initially I thought it was a
> charming thing to say. After about the thousandth time I was starting to
> associate it with hypocrisy.
It's just a cliche so don't take it personally.
When you find out from a flyer that "Jesus loves you" are you really
overcome with joy, or "delighted to hear that"?
the Omrud
Fight the desire to be different. You know you'll not be happier.
--
David
CDB
> Peter Moylan <pe...@pmoylan.org.not.china>:
>
>> I have a similar reaction to the American "You're welcome", which
>> you get even when you're obviously not welcome. Initially I
>> thought it was a charming thing to say. After about the thousandth
>> time I was starting to associate it with hypocrisy.
>
> Conventional expressions like "you're welcome" are not subject to
> charges of hypocrisy because they're not meant to be evaluated
> literally. Or would you consider someone a hypocrite who, on being
> introduced to you, says "how do you do"? (*) "You're welcome" is
> just something we say in response to "thank you".
>
>
> (*) And of course there's no question mark inside the quotes because
> "how do you do" isn't really a question and usually is spoken
> without the rising tone of a real question.
>
rising tone.
tony cooper
<richard.cham...@ntlworld.net> wrote:
>Typical Brits (Susan and myself):- Stand around, as close as possible to
>one of the walls (for social protection from all the people we do not know),
>survey the other guests as they arrive, and (in many cases) take an instant
>dislike to them. Think that it had been a mistake to spend �60 on such an
>evening, with such hateful guests.
>
>Typical Americans:- Stride confidently into the room, walk straight up to
>us, look us in the eye, and shake hands with us. "Hi, I'm Bill and this is
>Joyce, my wife. We're from Arizona!".
>
>The evening was not a total waste of time after all. Why don't the Brits do
>that? Why don't I do that? A question I simply cannot answer. I would
>certainly like to do things that way, but I can't. I'm British.
When I travel outside of this country, I am not one of those puppy dog
Americans who approaches every stranger with a wag of the tail and
tries to initiate a conversation. However, like Bill, I would
introduce myself in a similar situation to what you describe.
What follows would be dependent on the reaction of the other people.
Some people are effective in conveying a lack of interest in further
interaction by their body language and lack of eye contact. Even if
the other party responds with their introductory information, it's
easy to sense their comfort level with further idle chat with a
stranger.
I don't recall ever being rebuffed in the UK, and certainly not coldly
rebuffed. I have had the feeling in train compartments and other
situations that the other party is not looking forward to being
glad-handed. So I don't.
The major difference I see between Brits and Yanks in situations like
this is that Yanks are curious and Brits are either not curious or are
unwilling to voice their curiosity. Yanks ask questions. Brits
comment on impersonal subjects. Exceptions, of course.
--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida
CDB
>
> What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
> is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to
> hear that"?
>
cordiality to someone you don't know well. In a reply last month to
an email from the producer of a CBC radio program, sent to tell me
that my entry to one of their contests had been accepted for use, I
began "Of course I'm delighted," and went on to explain why I was also
surprised.
Chuck Riggs
<pe...@pmoylan.org.not.china> wrote:
>Chuck Riggs wrote:
>> What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
>> is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
>> that"?
>
>I am delighted to hear it when I think it's an expression of genuine
>delight, but I think the impact of such expressions can be ruined by
>over-use.
>
>I have a similar reaction to the American "You're welcome", which you
>get even when you're obviously not welcome. Initially I thought it was a
>charming thing to say. After about the thousandth time I was starting to
>associate it with hypocrisy.
I've been hearing "You're welcome" more often in Ireland than I once
did, as opposed to the more traditional "Thank you" response to "Thank
you", a response that always struck me odd. Perhaps it is because I'm
an American, but I enjoy hearing "You're welcome".
Chuck Riggs
>miseri filted:
>>
>>On Nov 6, 5:01=A0pm, Chuck Riggs <chri...@eircom.net> wrote:
>>> What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
>>> is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
>>> that"?
>>> --
>>>
>>Yes, a quick scan through some of my work emails shows something
>>similar here in the UK with the phrase =91exciting changes=92. Though,
>>admittedly, some of these highlighted =91changes=92 may, occasionally, be
>>moderately interesting, I can=92t recall a single instance of any said
>>change invoking =91excitement=92.
>
>One is reminded of the time Dr McCoy sarcastically asked Mr Spock if he found
>something "fascinating", only to be told that it was merely "interesting"....r
Yes. When I first heard it twenty years ago, or so, it seemed far too
intense for the situation. After hearing it many, many times, it
sounds sincere from most people, but not always. I realize that most
natives have no problem whatever with it.
LFS
Spot on, Tony. I'm a very nosy Brit. My idea of heaven is a room full of
people I've never met before. Last night we had dinner with friends:
among the other guests were South Africans and an American who we had
not met before. Only the American asked us any questions about
ourselves. We learned a lot about South Africa, though.
Django Cat
One of many things that surprised me on my only visit to the US was how
reticent the people we met were. Nobody was rude to us - in fact
people were charming and polite, and rather more formal than in the UK
(we've done use of 'Sir' and 'Ma'am' previously), but in three weeks we
only had about two conversations with strangers. There's also a
culture clash over social language; to me 'how are you' is only used
with someone you've met previously, but it does require a little
information as an answer, not just a formula; something like:
'How are you?'
'Oh not too bad - glad the Sun's shining today!'
This sort of thing got me iffy looks ('nutter alert!') in San
Franscisco, and after a couple of days I just said 'fine'.
DC
--
Robin Bignall
<richard.cham...@ntlworld.net> wrote:
Spending much of one's working life around Americans tends to have
some of their attitude rub off and make one a little more gregarious
even if it is learned behaviour rather than innate. I was like you
until 1973, then I moved abroad to live and work in a community whose
English-speaking members were mainly American. They are a sociable
people, especially when they, too, are expatriates.
So, incidentally, are the Irish, who I found to be miserable buggers
in their own country, but an absolute hoot abroad.
--
Robin
(BrE)
Herts, England
LFS
>
> One of many things that surprised me on my only visit to the US was how
> reticent the people we met were. Nobody was rude to us - in fact
> people were charming and polite, and rather more formal than in the UK
> (we've done use of 'Sir' and 'Ma'am' previously), but in three weeks we
> only had about two conversations with strangers. There's also a
> culture clash over social language; to me 'how are you' is only used
> with someone you've met previously, but it does require a little
> information as an answer, not just a formula; something like:
>
> 'How are you?'
> 'Oh not too bad - glad the Sun's shining today!'
>
> This sort of thing got me iffy looks ('nutter alert!') in San
> Franscisco, and after a couple of days I just said 'fine'.
>
Within hours of landing in Chicago recently, I was greeted in a shop by
"How are you today?" to which I automatically replied "I'm good, thank
you", something I would never usually say. Realising what I'd said, I
muttered to myself "Oh Lord, I'm speaking American already." My friends
found this very amusing.
Chuck Riggs
The rain in Ireland gets the natives down. When away from it, they are
happy, so they tell me.
I'm sure most members are familiar with this author, a man who would
have agreed with your sentiment:
http://thepoormouth.blogspot.com/2006/11/why-poor-mouth.html
Chuck Riggs
<Arcadi...@aol.com> wrote:
>On Nov 6, 6:25?pm, Peter Moylan <pe...@pmoylan.org.not.china> wrote:
>> Chuck Riggs wrote:
>> > What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
>> > is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
>> > that"?
>>
>> I am delighted to hear it when I think it's an expression of genuine
>> delight, but I think the impact of such expressions can be ruined by
>> over-use.
>
>If you think "delighted" is overused, try "happy", a much stronger
>word that should mean more than just a frame of mind; because this is
>the version I hear more often in my neck of the woods (New York area):
>"I'm happy to hear that".
How is happy stronger than delighted? Let me see: "Happy birthday".
Ho-hum. "I am happy today." That's nice. But with "I am delighted to
see you", I expect an orgasm or two, the word is so strong.
Chuck Riggs
<the_sta...@fastmail.fm> wrote:
>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:01:14 +0000 from Chuck Riggs
><chr...@eircom.net>:
>>
>> What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
>> is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
>> that"?
>
>Seems unexceptionable to me. I use it sometimes when a customer
>emails me to say that a problem is solved because my solution worked.
I hope he paid.
Chuck Riggs
I am happy to hear your emailed thoughts were that gushy only once in
six years. May the next six prove to be equally sober.
Chuck Riggs
wrote:
I think your point is an excellent one, fitting many of the occasions
when I've heard the word. People use it, oftentimes, when they don't
quite know what else to say. Thank you.
R H Draney
It wasn't always thus...there was a time when "delight" just meant a feeling
pleasant enough that you couldn't help grinning....
I blame the Starland Vocal Band....r
Robin Bignall
wrote:
That could be it. My only visits to Ireland, north and south, were
during the troubles a few decades ago, and a British English accent
seemed to be viewed with suspicion in Dublin and Belfast and the stops
along the motorway that connects them.
Peter Moylan
My first ever experience of Ireland was as my plane was landing at
Dublin airport. The tarmac was covered with huge puddles. The sky was a
mass of gloomy grey clouds.
My seat-mate looked out the window and said "It's not raining!" with an
air of great surprise.
Mark Brader
> > What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
> > is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
> > that"?
> I have performed a search on all my Word for Windows files, and have found
> only one instance of "delighted". It turns out that this was written by my
> found one instance:- "Of course, I shall be delighted to help you in any
Perhaps Dick needs to search for "deighted" as well. :-)
Looking through my own outgoing-email logs for the 4 years or so since
I stopped periodically cleaning them up, I find the following instances
where I used the pronoun "I" followed by a reference to being "delighted":
On a trip to Sydney in 1988, I acquired a DMR souvenir eyeshade,
which I was delighted to be able to hand to DMR himself in 1990.
That must be something very specific and meaningful to someone,
but I'm delighted to have no idea whatever of what it is!
I was delighted with solving it until I saw a completely different
solution by James Dow Allen -- now I think both answers are about
equally good!
Incidentally, the room where he talked to us included its own pile
of magazines, among which I was delighted to see an issue of National
Geographic with the new photos of Uranus just taken by Voyager II --
that's right, it was printed in 1986!
Having now viewed the leaflet, I'm delighted.
But when I finally saw the closeup view in Google Maps imagery,
I was delighted to realize the shape looks even more duck-like in
GM's straight-down view than in my slide!
As we approached Bloor station, I was delighted to hear the automatic
announcement "next station Rosedale".
Speaking of occurrences, one of my favorite computer science professors
at UW, Frank Tompa, who I was delighted to learn has had a street named
after him (in 2005) while still alive and working, used to say that he
sometimes felt like giving a test on which the only question would be
1. Spell "occurrences".
Instead I was delighted to find *white pages* listings in the
following form:
Brother Authorized Dealer
2942 FinchE - 494-1881
BROTHER AUTHORIXED
DEALER SALES REPAIRS&
SUPPLIES 642 Pape - 465-5212
BROTHER AUTHORIZED
SEWING MACHINE
SERVICE&SALES CENTRE
511QueenW - 703-1026
Brother Fax Centre 2942 FinchE - 494-1881
Brother Typewriter Sales And Service
Centre 2942 FinchE - 494-1881
I must have mentioned that my last phone number in Edmonton was
GRanite 7-7474, so that I was delighted when we dropped the letters
and it became 477-7474.
My grep also picked up these examples where I quoted back my friends'
(one Canadian-born US immigrant, one American) usage of similar
expressions in email to me:
Be that as it may, just now I was delighted to discover that,
Right or not, it did *exactly* the right thing.
I'm delighted that the crisis has passed.
And these passages from forwarded newsgroup postings by Richard
Heathfield, David "the Omrud", Nick Atty, and a non-native English
speaker seeking advice:
Certainly; I'm delighted and rather relieved to learn that I haven't
upset or offended you.
Having said that, catching a bright bunny's mistake does have a
certain kudos about it, which is why I'm delighted to be able to say
that I've caught out Steve Summit, Chris Torek, and even Donald Knuth
in simple errors.
I am delighted to see from this thread that it's not just who feels
like that. [sic]
I first discovered a Martin Gardner book about a million years ago,
and I've been a firm fan ever since. I must admit I had assumed he
had finally worked out the Mortal Coil Shuffle, and I'm delighted to
learn that my assumption was incorrect.
I would be delighted to attend for an interview and look forward to
hearing from you soon.
Of course, none of these has exactly the form originally asked about.
--
Mark Brader | "But this still doesn't explain spousal resemblance
Toronto | in earlobe length, which is only rarely cited as a
m...@vex.net | factor in divorce." --Jared Diamond
My text in this article is in the public domain.
Dr Peter Young
> Chuck Riggs wrote:
>> On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:16:44 +0000, Robin Bignall
>> <docr...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>>> So, incidentally, are the Irish, who I found to be miserable buggers
>>> in their own country, but an absolute hoot abroad.
>>
>> The rain in Ireland gets the natives down. When away from it, they are
>> happy, so they tell me.
> My first ever experience of Ireland was as my plane was landing at
> Dublin airport. The tarmac was covered with huge puddles. The sky was a
> mass of gloomy grey clouds.
> My seat-mate looked out the window and said "It's not raining!" with an
> air of great surprise.
Rather like the story that's told in Bergen, in Norway. A tourist asks
a young lad, "Does it always rain here?", and the lad replies, "I
don't know. I'm only thirteen."
With best wishes,
Peter.
--
Peter Young, (BrE), Consultant Anaesthetist, 1975-2004.
(US equivalent: Attending Anesthesiologist)
Cheltenham and Gloucester, UK. Now happily retired.
http://pnyoung.orpheusweb.co.uk
Django Cat
Ah, but that "I'm good" is more and more common in BrE, especially on
Radio 1. I'm surprised we haven't had Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells on
here about it (or not that I've noticed).
DC
--
Django Cat
> decided to pay #30 a head for tickets for a "Medieval Banquet" in a
> castle near where we had bed and breakfasted.
>
> Typical Brits (Susan and myself):- Stand around, as close as
> possible to one of the walls (for social protection from all the
> people we do not know), survey the other guests as they arrive, and
> (in many cases) take an instant dislike to them. Think that it had
> been a mistake to spend #60 on such an evening, with such hateful
> guests.
>
> Typical Americans:- Stride confidently into the room, walk straight
> up to us, look us in the eye, and shake hands with us. "Hi, I'm Bill
> and this is Joyce, my wife. We're from Arizona!".
>
> The evening was not a total waste of time after all. Why don't the
> Brits do that? Why don't I do that? A question I simply cannot
> answer. I would certainly like to do things that way, but I can't.
> I'm British.
>
Come on Richard, stop at a chuck wagon, grab a mug of tea, and have a
chat with the regulars. You can do it!
DC
--
Django Cat
But sometimes sadly not. I have to go to Munich a few times a year -
last time flying from Stansted rather than the usual Manchester. Got
on the plane, got out some work to do, set up the iPod with music I
really wanted to listen to... and then found I was going to be spending
the entire (thankfully short) flight talking to a retired insurance
salesman from Stevenage. In fact he was good company, but it wasn't
what I had planned and after a particular point the conversation
gathers critical mass and you can't break it off - despite being quite
hard work for both parties.
I ended up feeling really annoyed and frustrated when I got to the
other end - this may well have led to the events of the rest of the
evening. Too late for the airport bus, S-Bahn cancelled for some
reason, decided to take a taxi, went to an ATM, dialled up 70Euro, got
in taxi, 40 minute ride to hotel, pulled out wallet... ... ... and
realised I'd not taken the 70 Euro from the ATM and can't pay the taxi
fare. Limited knowledge of German collapses completely...
Anyway, that stuff isn't culturally-specific...
>
> I don't recall ever being rebuffed in the UK, and certainly not coldly
> rebuffed. I have had the feeling in train compartments and other
> situations that the other party is not looking forward to being
> glad-handed. So I don't.
>
> The major difference I see between Brits and Yanks in situations like
> this is that Yanks are curious and Brits are either not curious or are
> unwilling to voice their curiosity. Yanks ask questions. Brits
> comment on impersonal subjects. Exceptions, of course.
>
I think you're right, we're brought up to believe it's rude to ask too
many questions. Because I work as an EFL it's in my blood to ask
people questions because I want to get students talking. This
sometimes gets me into trouble in social situations.
DC
--
Nick Spalding
on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:48:15 +0000:
I've employed my undiluted BrE accent here without observing anything
like that for 44 years now. I occasionally get asked what part of
England I am from but that is the extent of any reaction.
--
Nick Spalding
BrE/IrE
James Hogg
I've heard it said of people in the Republic that they love the English
but hate their politics. With the Unionists in the North it's vice versa.
--
James
Django Cat
> > The major difference I see between Brits and Yanks in situations
> > like this is that Yanks are curious and Brits are either not
> > curious or are unwilling to voice their curiosity. Yanks ask
> > questions. Brits comment on impersonal subjects. Exceptions, of
> > course.
> >
>
> I think you're right, we're brought up to believe it's rude to ask too
> many questions. Because I work as an EFL it's in my blood to ask
^ teacher
> people questions because I want to get students talking. This
> sometimes gets me into trouble in social situations.
--
Peter Duncanson (BrE)
wrote:
As an Englishman resident in Northern Ireland since 1972 I'd just like
to comment that there is some truth in that statement but it is a
broad-brush generalisation and certainly does not apply in all
circumstances.
As for English people appearing to be viewed with suspicion that can
result from the person being marked out as a stranger by their accent.
Someone who is obviously different will attract attention. Speaking
strangely can attract as much attention as dressing strangely. IME in NI
some locals sometimes have difficulty in understanding some English
accents.
People can cope with variations in pronunciation of vowels and
consonants but the killer is the omission of letters. An obvious
omission is that of the letter "r" by some non-rhotic speakers. I have
seen people from various parts of Ireland expressing annoyance at the
way some English people (particularly if they are politicians) pronounce
Ireland. The offenders pronounce it in a way indistinguishable from
"island". The listeners appear to be able to accept a non-rhotic
pronunciation in which the "r" is "uh" or similar indistinct sound. What
annoys them is the total omission of the letter.
But putting annoyance to one side, the more general omission of
consonants, as in Estuary English, can cause real puzzlement and a
inability to understand what is being said. How can a person be
understood if they speak only the first part of each word and leave the
rest silent?
--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)
Chuck Riggs
Not so much "I'm good", as a response, but I do hear "Good, thank you"
quite frequently in Ireland.
Chuck Riggs
<docr...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
My American accent was not too popular during the troubles of the Bush
years. Now, Americans seem to be back in their good graces, or that is
the impression I get. Of course, if Obama the Zigzagger doesn't pull
the world economic rabbit out of the hat, as many Irish people trust
he will, it is back in the dog house with me.
Chuck Riggs
ObAUE: "a _mug_ of tea"?
Chuck Riggs
>Chuck Riggs filted:
>>
>>On Sat, 7 Nov 2009 06:37:40 -0800 (PST), Arcadian Rises
>><Arcadi...@aol.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On Nov 6, 6:25?pm, Peter Moylan <pe...@pmoylan.org.not.china> wrote:
>>>> Chuck Riggs wrote:
>>>> > What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
>>>> > is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
>>>> > that"?
>>>>
>>>> I am delighted to hear it when I think it's an expression of genuine
>>>> delight, but I think the impact of such expressions can be ruined by
>>>> over-use.
>>>
>>>If you think "delighted" is overused, try "happy", a much stronger
>>>word that should mean more than just a frame of mind; because this is
>>>the version I hear more often in my neck of the woods (New York area):
>>>"I'm happy to hear that".
>>
>>How is happy stronger than delighted? Let me see: "Happy birthday".
>>Ho-hum. "I am happy today." That's nice. But with "I am delighted to
>>see you", I expect an orgasm or two, the word is so strong.
>
>It wasn't always thus...there was a time when "delight" just meant a feeling
>pleasant enough that you couldn't help grinning....
>
>I blame the Starland Vocal Band....r
It appears that the COD10 leans in my direction:
delight
� v. please greatly. (delight in) take great pleasure in.
� n. great pleasure. a cause or source of great pleasure.
� DERIVATIVES delighted adj. delightedly adv.
� ORIGIN ME: from OFr. delitier (v.), delit (n.), from L. delectare
�to charm�, frequentative of delicere.
If that dictionary dictated usage, it would be used when reacting to
events that evoke strong emotions, which is how I use "delighted". Not
the Irish, though.
Django Cat
> ObAUE: "a mug of tea"?
Well, you're not likely to get a bone china cup and saucer in a layby
on the A1. Is this going to be one of those "things I've said all my
life that sound weird to Americans" moments?
DC
--
JimboCat
> Chuck Riggs wrote:
> > What do the British and American readers think of an expression that
> > is nearly as pervasive in Ireland as the rain: "I am delighted to hear
> > that"?
>
>
> I have just sent two work-connected emails which used precisely the
> expression you cite. In both cases I was sincerely delighted by news
> received but there are occasions when I might use the expression ironically.
I recently had occasion to communcate the opposite of "delighted" in a
work-related email. A higher-up had formally approved an agreement
with an outside supplier - without consulting me - that will cause me
much extra work, for no gain whatever, where sticking with the
established conventions would have been better, easier, and more
consistent.
I settled, after much deliberation, on "distressed". I really wanted a
word that connoted "physically damaged", rather than "emotionally
dissatisfied".
Can anyone suggest a better word? In context:
"I am distressed that neither Brandon nor I were given a chance to
review the nomenclature earlier. It would be greatly appreciated if
the SSN and SAP programmers could be a regular part of the process."
Jim Deutch (JimboCat)
--
"What is the superlative of so what?" --- R. A. Lafferty
JimboCat
> 'How are you?'
> 'Oh not too bad - glad the Sun's shining today!'
>
> This sort of thing got me iffy looks ('nutter alert!') in San
> Franscisco, and after a couple of days I just said 'fine'.
Oh, but that's simply because the sun shines virtually EVERY day in
San Francisco. It's like saying "I'm glad the air pressure is about
one atmosphere today!" or "I'm glad the gravity is keeping me from
floating away today!" Nutter: yes. Step away.
Jim Deutch (JimboCat)
--
"Those nonconformists are all the same" [anon]
Frank ess
Django Cat wrote:
[...]
>
> I think you're right, we're brought up to believe it's rude to ask
> too many questions. Because I work as an EFL it's in my blood to
> ask people questions because I want to get students talking. This
> sometimes gets me into trouble in social situations.
>
> DC
I was brought up to believe staring and asking questions is rude.
Spent the last dozen or so years of my career asking questions and
trying to interpret facial and postural signs. I was a professional
starer and question-asker. All so I could give good answers to other
questions.
My card says, "Frank Sheffield, Retired Question Answerer".
Somewhere I learned that the most effective opener of conversations is
to share something personal, and/or show empathy.
"I'm from the government and I'm here to help you. It scares me, too!"
--
Frank ess
Leslie Danks
[...]
> I recently had occasion to communcate the opposite of "delighted" in a
> work-related email. A higher-up had formally approved an agreement
> with an outside supplier - without consulting me - that will cause me
> much extra work, for no gain whatever, where sticking with the
> established conventions would have been better, easier, and more
> consistent.
>
> I settled, after much deliberation, on "distressed". I really wanted a
> word that connoted "physically damaged", rather than "emotionally
> dissatisfied".
>
> Can anyone suggest a better word? In context:
>
> "I am distressed that neither Brandon nor I were given a chance to
> review the nomenclature earlier. It would be greatly appreciated if
> the SSN and SAP programmers could be a regular part of the process."
I suppose "gutted" would be the wrong register.
--
Les (BrE)
Frank ess
Which San Francisco /is/ that?
--
Frank ess
Roland Hutchinson
To be fair, the sun does shine most days -- eventually.
--
Roland Hutchinson
He calls himself "the Garden State's leading violist da gamba,"
... comparable to being ruler of an exceptionally small duchy.
--Newark (NJ) Star Ledger ( http://tinyurl.com/RolandIsNJ )
R H Draney
>
>JimboCat wrote:
>>
>> Oh, but that's simply because the sun shines virtually EVERY day in
>> San Francisco. It's like saying "I'm glad the air pressure is about
>> one atmosphere today!" or "I'm glad the gravity is keeping me from
>> floating away today!" Nutter: yes. Step away.
>
Maybe 34 23'45"N, 106 50'21"W....r
Mark Brader
> A higher-up had formally approved an agreement with an outside
> supplier - without consulting me - that will cause me much extra
> "I am distressed that neither Brandon nor I were given a chance to
> review the nomenclature earlier. It would be greatly appreciated if
> the SSN and SAP programmers could be a regular part of the process."
Never mind the distress, I'm more struck by the "nomenclature".
To me that word means naming in the sense of having a system where
things have names: for example, in "chemical nomenclature", word
endings like -ate and -ene have specific implications. It does not
mean "naming" in the sense of naming someone to a position.
Others?
--
Mark Brader "Great things are not done by those
Toronto who sit down and count the cost
m...@vex.net of every thought and act." --Daniel Gooch
Frank ess
R H Draney wrote:
> Frank ess filted:
>>
>> JimboCat wrote:
>>>
>>> Oh, but that's simply because the sun shines virtually EVERY day
>>> in San Francisco. It's like saying "I'm glad the air pressure is
>>> about one atmosphere today!" or "I'm glad the gravity is keeping
>>> me from floating away today!" Nutter: yes. Step away.
>>
>> Which San Francisco /is/ that?
>
> Maybe 34 23'45"N, 106 50'21"W....r
I'd go "Yeah" on that one.
Leslie Danks
> Jim Deutch:
>> A higher-up had formally approved an agreement with an outside
>> supplier - without consulting me - that will cause me much extra
>> work...
>
>> "I am distressed that neither Brandon nor I were given a chance to
>> review the nomenclature earlier. It would be greatly appreciated if
>> the SSN and SAP programmers could be a regular part of the process."
>
> Never mind the distress, I'm more struck by the "nomenclature".
> To me that word means naming in the sense of having a system where
> things have names: for example, in "chemical nomenclature", word
> endings like -ate and -ene have specific implications.
That's what I understood it to mean -- nomenclature used by the outside
supplier that was different to the in-house nomenclature and would
therefore generate extra work.
> It does not
> mean "naming" in the sense of naming someone to a position.
>
> Others?
--
Les (BrE)
JimboCat
> Mark Brader wrote:
> > Jim Deutch:
> >> A higher-up had formally approved an agreement with an outside
> >> supplier - without consulting me - that will cause me much extra
> >> work...
>
> >> "I am distressed that neither Brandon nor I were given a chance to
> >> review the nomenclature earlier. It would be greatly appreciated if
> >> the SSN and SAP programmers could be a regular part of the process."
>
> > Never mind the distress, I'm more struck by the "nomenclature".
> > To me that word means naming in the sense of having a system where
> > things have names: for example, in "chemical nomenclature", word
> > endings like -ate and -ene have specific implications.
>
> That's what I understood it to mean -- nomenclature used by the outside
> supplier that was different to the in-house nomenclature and would
> therefore generate extra work.
"BING!" You win the prize! Specifically, what we call a "part number
nomenclature" is just a mapping between specific characters in
specific locations and their meanings (e.g. when the twelfth digit is
a "6" that means "paint it green").
Jim Deutch (JimboCat)
--
Imagine a world without hypothetical situations...
JimboCat
The one far enough up the hills that it is out of the fog before noon,
of course!
Jim Deutch (JimboCat)
--
"Alas, usenet is where one will often see crowds of
people jumping up and down on the greasy smear on
the pavement that used to be a dead horse."
--Nyrath the Nearly Wise
Nick
> And these passages from forwarded newsgroup postings by Richard
> Heathfield, David "the Omrud", Nick Atty, and a non-native English
> speaker seeking advice:
Now that's a puzzle in it's own right. Presumably two are from one of
us.
> Certainly; I'm delighted and rather relieved to learn that I haven't
> upset or offended you.
>
> Having said that, catching a bright bunny's mistake does have a
> certain kudos about it, which is why I'm delighted to be able to say
> that I've caught out Steve Summit, Chris Torek, and even Donald Knuth
> in simple errors.
That must be Richard.
> I am delighted to see from this thread that it's not just who feels
> like that. [sic]
And that's just the sort of error I make far too frequently. But if
not, I must be the first one, as I'm not any of the others. I rather
hope the first is me, actually. It's such a nice thing to say!
> I first discovered a Martin Gardner book about a million years ago,
> and I've been a firm fan ever since. I must admit I had assumed he
> had finally worked out the Mortal Coil Shuffle, and I'm delighted to
> learn that my assumption was incorrect.
>
> I would be delighted to attend for an interview and look forward to
> hearing from you soon.
--
Online waterways route planner: http://canalplan.org.uk
development version: http://canalplan.eu
Nick
> I recently had occasion to communcate the opposite of "delighted" in a
> work-related email. A higher-up had formally approved an agreement
> with an outside supplier - without consulting me - that will cause me
> much extra work, for no gain whatever, where sticking with the
> established conventions would have been better, easier, and more
> consistent.
>
> I settled, after much deliberation, on "distressed". I really wanted a
> word that connoted "physically damaged", rather than "emotionally
> dissatisfied".
>
> Can anyone suggest a better word? In context:
>
> "I am distressed that neither Brandon nor I were given a chance to
> review the nomenclature earlier. It would be greatly appreciated if
> the SSN and SAP programmers could be a regular part of the process."
"I am slightly disappointed..." would serve litotically in old-style
BrE, and probably still in parts of the Civil Service.
Robin Bignall
<nota...@address.co.uk> wrote:
>LFS wrote:
>
>> Django Cat wrote:
>> >
>> > One of many things that surprised me on my only visit to the US was
>> > how reticent the people we met were. Nobody was rude to us - in
>> > fact people were charming and polite, and rather more formal than
>> > in the UK (we've done use of 'Sir' and 'Ma'am' previously), but in
>> > three weeks we only had about two conversations with strangers.
>> > There's also a culture clash over social language; to me 'how are
>> > you' is only used with someone you've met previously, but it does
>> > require a little information as an answer, not just a formula;
>> > something like:
>> >
>> > 'How are you?'
>> > 'Oh not too bad - glad the Sun's shining today!'
>> >
>> > This sort of thing got me iffy looks ('nutter alert!') in San
>> > Franscisco, and after a couple of days I just said 'fine'.
>> >
>>
>> Within hours of landing in Chicago recently, I was greeted in a shop
>> by "How are you today?" to which I automatically replied "I'm good,
>> thank you", something I would never usually say. Realising what I'd
>> said, I muttered to myself "Oh Lord, I'm speaking American already."
>> My friends found this very amusing.
>
>Ah, but that "I'm good" is more and more common in BrE, especially on
>Radio 1. I'm surprised we haven't had Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells on
>here about it (or not that I've noticed).
>
Maybe your newsreader doesn't reproduce green ink well enough, DC. But
isn't Radio 1 for the yoof? I thought I'd seen a whinge recently
about them hiring a DJ over 30, who was obviously over the hill as far
as the whingers were concerned.
--
Robin
(BrE)
Herts, England
John Varela
My impression was that Tommies fighting Rommel in the North African
desert still had a "cuppa" tea, even if it was served in a tin can.
--
John Varela
Trade NEWlamps for OLDlamps for email
Sara Lorimer
> Chuck Riggs wrote:
>
> > ObAUE: "a mug of tea"?
>
>
> Well, you're not likely to get a bone china cup and saucer in a layby
> on the A1. Is this going to be one of those "things I've said all my
> life that sound weird to Americans" moments?
This American drinks a mug of tea every morning.
--
SML
R H Draney
This one drinks a liter of it from a plastic bottle every day as it slowly melts
from having been stored in the freezer....r
Mark Brader
>> And these passages from forwarded newsgroup postings by Richard
>> Heathfield, David "the Omrud", Nick Atty, and a non-native English
>> speaker seeking advice:
> Now that's a puzzle in it's own right. Presumably two are from one of
> us.
Yep.
| Certainly; I'm delighted and rather relieved to learn that I haven't
| upset or offended you.
|
| Having said that, catching a bright bunny's mistake does have a
| certain kudos about it, which is why I'm delighted to be able to say
| that I've caught out Steve Summit, Chris Torek, and even Donald Knuth
| in simple errors.
> That must be Richard.
Yep.
| I am delighted to see from this thread that it's not just who feels
| like that. [sic]
> And that's just the sort of error I make far too frequently.
Afraid so. See also above.
> I rather hope the first is me, actually. It's such a nice thing to say!
And I'm sure David is pleased to hear you say it.
| I first discovered a Martin Gardner book about a million years ago,
| and I've been a firm fan ever since. I must admit I had assumed he
| had finally worked out the Mortal Coil Shuffle, and I'm delighted to
| learn that my assumption was incorrect.
This was also Richard, and his old assumption is *still* incorrect.
As a result of this posting, I was forwarded the following URL:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/science/20tier.html?whateverthemagictagis
(Probably requires cookies enabled; may require registration.)
--
Mark Brader | "It seems my sense of humour is out of step
Toronto | not only with rec.puzzles, but with reality itself."
m...@vex.net | --Richard Heathfield
Mark Brader
>>>> A higher-up had formally approved an agreement with an outside
>>>> supplier - without consulting me - that will cause me much extra
>>>> work...
>>>> "I am distressed that neither Brandon nor I were given a chance to
>>>> review the nomenclature earlier. It would be greatly appreciated if
>>>> the SSN and SAP programmers could be a regular part of the process."
Mark Brader:
>>> Never mind the distress, I'm more struck by the "nomenclature".
>>> To me that word means naming in the sense of having a system where
>>> things have names...
Les Danks:
>> That's what I understood it to mean -- nomenclature used by the outside
>> supplier that was different to the in-house nomenclature and would
>> therefore generate extra work.
Jim Deutch:
> "BING!" ...
OH! I get it now. I thought the "agreement" Jim meant must be a
contract to *use* this particular outside supplier, when another
one's product would've been less troublesome somehow. All clear now.
--
Mark Brader | "Don't be silly. A pedant is something you hang
Toronto | round your neck, or else you hang them by the neck."
m...@vex.net | --Rob Bannister
Django Cat
Now that *would* be a good feature!
>But
> isn't Radio 1 for the yoof?
Well, I try to keep my finger on the zeitgeist and stay down with the
kids, Doc, and I have to say I'm very partial to the genres of young
person's dance music played by the likes of Pete Tong, Annie Mack and
Dave Pierce. As an old rocker who still wants to hear something *new*
I find this is the only sort of yoof music these days that *doesn't*
sound like it might have been created any time over the last 40 years.
I also find this stuff very good to drive to - it's designed to be
played loud and danced to and you need to be moving - try listening
while sitting still or working at the PC and it doesn't really work.
obAUE, I also always enjoy the brief phone-ins on the evening dance
shows - they're always from groups of kids on the move, generally
coming back from a "weekend drum and bass all-nighter in Skegness" or
sim'lar. There's a sense of a dispersed community brought together
through the music, and some great use of language, of which my
favourite ever has been:
DJ: 'How was your weekend in Skegness, then?'
Caller: 'Fierce, man, we had a great time'.
I love that 'fierce' and I've been using it ever since.
As for the daytime Radio 1 DJs, I like Jo Willey and Edith Bowman, but
the celeb wannabies such as Scott Mills and the obnoxious, bullying and
wholly untalented Chris Moyles have me reaching for the off button, not
to mention something heavy, toot sweet.
To be honest, R1 forms maybe 10% of my listening, if that. Like, I
suspect, many BrAUErs, I was mainly brought up and educated by Radio 4,
and it's still my main listening, but there's a limit to how much of
'You and Yours' shock-horror exposes of new EU regulations for gas
supply price formulation or Food Progamme special features on the
insider gossip of the tomato ketchup industry I can take before I turn
instead to some banging techno.
I was horrified a few years back when a friend told me we'd become the
Radio 2 generation, but he's right. Radcliffe and Maconie play a
really good selection of toons, and I actually find myself - to my
horror - thoroughly enjoying Steve Wright and Chris Evans' shows. On
Radio 3 I love the cutting edge experimental and world music stuff in
the evening - Nightwaves and Late Junction - and 'The Verb', and I try,
I really do, to enjoy the long-hair classical stuff, but it really
deserves to be listened to with full attention, preferably on
headphones, and played as background. Having said that, I woke up this
morning with Borodin going through my mind (I must write that line into
a blues sometime) and now have the quartet in D Major pumping out of
Spotify. I just wish I could hear it without the lyric from 'Kismet'
in my head. Generation thing, I s'pose...
>I thought I'd seen a whinge recently
> about them hiring a DJ over 30, who was obviously over the hill as far
> as the whingers were concerned.
Don't get me started on that man Westwood...
DC
--
Django Cat
Sounds intriguing! The problem is when this stuff rubs off into your
out of work time, though.
DC
--
Django Cat
> Robin Bignall wrote, in <queef5hp7om6unmi8...@4ax.com>
> on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:48:15 +0000:
>
> > On Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:32:12 +0000, Chuck Riggs <chr...@eircom.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > The rain in Ireland gets the natives down. When away from it,
> > > they are happy, so they tell me.
> >
> > That could be it. My only visits to Ireland, north and south, were
> > during the troubles a few decades ago, and a British English accent
> > seemed to be viewed with suspicion in Dublin and Belfast and the
> > stops along the motorway that connects them.
>
> I've employed my undiluted BrE accent here without observing anything
> like that for 44 years now. I occasionally get asked what part of
> England I am from but that is the extent of any reaction.
The only time anybody's ever raised anything political to me in Ireland
was a landlady in a B&B in Dublin who said "of course, you don't learn
in school about the history of your country and our country". She was
being perfectly friendly and matter of fact, and she had a very valid
point I thought although, as I pointed out, the 'O' level history
syllabus I took in the mid 70s had in fact dealt with the Easter
Rising, the Civil War and the establishement of the Free State, but
this was pretty unusual.
DC
--
Django Cat
> On Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:51:51 +0100, James Hogg <Jas....@gOUTmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Nick Spalding wrote:
> >> Robin Bignall wrote, in
> <queef5hp7om6unmi8...@4ax.com> >> on Sun, 08 Nov 2009
> 21:48:15 +0000: >>
> >>> On Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:32:12 +0000, Chuck Riggs
> >>> <chr...@eircom.net> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> The rain in Ireland gets the natives down. When away from it,
> >>>> they are happy, so they tell me.
> >>> That could be it. My only visits to Ireland, north and south,
> were >>> during the troubles a few decades ago, and a British English
> >>> accent seemed to be viewed with suspicion in Dublin and Belfast
> and >>> the stops along the motorway that connects them.
> >>
> >> I've employed my undiluted BrE accent here without observing
> anything >> like that for 44 years now. I occasionally get asked
> what part of >> England I am from but that is the extent of any
> reaction.
> >
> > I've heard it said of people in the Republic that they love the
> > English but hate their politics. With the Unionists in the North
> > it's vice versa.
>
> As an Englishman resident in Northern Ireland since 1972 I'd just like
> to comment that there is some truth in that statement but it is a
> broad-brush generalisation and certainly does not apply in all
> circumstances.
>
> As for English people appearing to be viewed with suspicion that can
> result from the person being marked out as a stranger by their accent.
> Someone who is obviously different will attract attention. Speaking
> strangely can attract as much attention as dressing strangely. IME in
> NI some locals sometimes have difficulty in understanding some English
> accents.
>
A lot of that reflects my experience over the last 20 years of being a
Southerner living in the North of England...
DC
--
Mike Page
--
Mike Page
Google me at port.ac.uk if you need to send an email.
Django Cat
I'm not placing money on it.
DC
--
Chuck Riggs
Coffee, yes, but I can't picture a true mug with tea in it. Tea, being
a dainty drink, belongs in a teacup, Shirley.
--
Regards,
Chuck Riggs,
An American who lives near Dublin, Ireland and usually spells in BrE
the Omrud
> On Mon, 9 Nov 2009 16:59:57 -0800, SL...@DELETEcolumbia.edu (Sara
> Lorimer) wrote:
>
>> Django Cat <nota...@address.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>> Chuck Riggs wrote:
>>>
>>>> ObAUE: "a mug of tea"?
>>>
>>> Well, you're not likely to get a bone china cup and saucer in a layby
>>> on the A1. Is this going to be one of those "things I've said all my
>>> life that sound weird to Americans" moments?
>> This American drinks a mug of tea every morning.
>
> Coffee, yes, but I can't picture a true mug with tea in it. Tea, being
> a dainty drink, belongs in a teacup, Shirley.
We have some teacups in the sideboard, but we've almost never used them
in the last 30 years. Tea is drunk from a mug in this house, and at work.
--
David
Leslie Danks
> On Mon, 9 Nov 2009 16:59:57 -0800, SL...@DELETEcolumbia.edu (Sara
> Lorimer) wrote:
[...]
>>This American drinks a mug of tea every morning.
>
> Coffee, yes, but I can't picture a true mug with tea in it. Tea, being
> a dainty drink, belongs in a teacup, Shirley.
There's tea, and there's tea. Here is a recipe for tea that I learned from
a Punjabi many years ago:
To a large mug add:
1 heaped teaspoonfull of strong leaf tea (i.e. Earl Gray need not apply)
3 heaped teaspoonsfull of sugar
boiling water (to 3/4 level or higher).
Wait 5 minutes.
Top up with gold top milk (or single cream if available).
Probably fails the CRDT [1], but I liked it.
[1] Chuck Riggs Daintiness Test
--
Les (BrE)
Nick Spalding
on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:37:30 GMT:
Here too.
--
Nick Spalding
BrE/IrE
Peter Moylan
> On Mon, 9 Nov 2009 16:59:57 -0800, SL...@DELETEcolumbia.edu (Sara
> Lorimer) wrote:
>
>> Django Cat <nota...@address.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>> Chuck Riggs wrote:
>>>
>>>> ObAUE: "a mug of tea"?
>>>
>>> Well, you're not likely to get a bone china cup and saucer in a layby
>>> on the A1. Is this going to be one of those "things I've said all my
>>> life that sound weird to Americans" moments?
>> This American drinks a mug of tea every morning.
>
> Coffee, yes, but I can't picture a true mug with tea in it. Tea, being
> a dainty drink, belongs in a teacup, Shirley.
I'm about to retire to my bed with a mug of tea, as I do almost every
evening. The solitary teacup that I own is used mainly for measuring
things like flour.
--
Peter Moylan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. http://www.pmoylan.org
For an e-mail address, see my web page.
Mike Lyle
I split the difference, and use bone china mugs. White with gold edges,
mostly. I suppose it's the thin rim that gives the impression of
enhancing the taste, but I wouldn't rule out something mysterious to do
with thermal conductivity or capacity.
Mouse-trotting army tea is really a different beverage, and would be
absurd from anything but a mug.
--
Mike.
Mike Lyle
Masala chai is the next step up: strong, milky, and spiced. Rum or
whisky optional; and at festival time some lace it with cannabis. I
imagine we got our milk-in-tea habit from the Indians.
--
Mike.
Robin Bignall
<nota...@address.co.uk> wrote:
Magnificent, DC. The only radio I seem to find time to listen to is
the 9am, 1pm, and 5pm news bulletins on Radio 4. I've lost the knack
of being able to read with any sort of music or speech in the
background.
Robin Bignall
wrote:
And here. I don't think we have any matching cups and saucers.
Sara Lorimer
> Chuck Riggs wrote:
> > Coffee, yes, but I can't picture a true mug with tea in it. Tea, being
> > a dainty drink, belongs in a teacup, Shirley.
>
> I'm about to retire to my bed with a mug of tea, as I do almost every
> evening. The solitary teacup that I own is used mainly for measuring
> things like flour.
I have several teacups. I use them for icecream.
--
SML
Frank ess
I like a nice glass tea in the morning. No "of"; I don't know why, but
it seems right. Maybe "gless", too.
--
Frank ess
Nick Spalding
on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:12:56 +0000:
I still have my work mug that I bought in 1957 for my first job after I
left the Army. Maroon Melaware, still intact except for a tiny chip out
of the handle. They were advertised in the yachting magazines as
'Guaranteed for a year in small boats', - fifty-two years and counting
here.
--
Nick Spalding
BrE/IrE
Leslie Danks
[...]
> I still have my work mug that I bought in 1957 for my first job after I
> left the Army. Maroon Melaware, still intact except for a tiny chip out
> of the handle. They were advertised in the yachting magazines as
> 'Guaranteed for a year in small boats', - fifty-two years and counting
> here.
It used to be said that when a caravan tipped over at speed on the
motorway, the only undamaged items were the melamine crockery.
--
Les (BrE)
Nick Spalding
<4afa9d57$0$1548$91ce...@newsreader04.highway.telekom.at>
on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:26:49 +0100:
I can believe it. I remember passing the scene of a caravan accident on
the A5 just south of Lyon. There was hardly a piece more than a couple
of feet long.
--
Nick Spalding
BrE/IrE
Chuck Riggs
Except for Bach's and Handel's music, I never had it.
Chuck Riggs
wrote:
Perhaps the mug fails and perhaps it does not, but what is inside
definitely fails the WTMSTT(1).
1. Way Too Much Sugar in the Tea Test
Chuck Riggs
<pe...@pmoylan.org.not.china> wrote:
>Chuck Riggs wrote:
>> On Mon, 9 Nov 2009 16:59:57 -0800, SL...@DELETEcolumbia.edu (Sara
>> Lorimer) wrote:
>>
>>> Django Cat <nota...@address.co.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Chuck Riggs wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> ObAUE: "a mug of tea"?
>>>>
>>>> Well, you're not likely to get a bone china cup and saucer in a layby
>>>> on the A1. Is this going to be one of those "things I've said all my
>>>> life that sound weird to Americans" moments?
>>> This American drinks a mug of tea every morning.
>>
>> Coffee, yes, but I can't picture a true mug with tea in it. Tea, being
>> a dainty drink, belongs in a teacup, Shirley.
>
>I'm about to retire to my bed with a mug of tea, as I do almost every
>evening. The solitary teacup that I own is used mainly for measuring
>things like flour.
This is one of those many things I don't understand about Irish and
British customs: the habit in the British Isles of drinking a
caffeine-based beverage shortly before going to bed. The number one
problem goes without saying, but, number two, why imbibe a stimulant
shortly before going to sleep? Or trying to. Americans are more
sensible; they drink coffee or tea in the morning or when trying to
remain awake.
James Hogg
By the time the stimulant takes effect you should be sound asleep.
--
James
Chuck Riggs
From some pictures of them on the Internet, I think they'd suit me to
a tee. Probably better than tea cups because I often have trouble
getting my fingers through their handles.
>Mouse-trotting army tea is really a different beverage, and would be
>absurd from anything but a mug.
Mouse-trotting army tea? Googling was no help.
Leslie Danks
> Chuck Riggs wrote:
[...]
>> This is one of those many things I don't understand about Irish and
>> British customs: the habit in the British Isles of drinking a
>> caffeine-based beverage shortly before going to bed. The number one
>> problem goes without saying, but, number two, why imbibe a stimulant
>> shortly before going to sleep? Or trying to. Americans are more
>> sensible; they drink coffee or tea in the morning or when trying to
>> remain awake.
>
> By the time the stimulant takes effect you should be sound asleep.
Such stuff as dreams are made on:
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp7130Bjec4>
--
Les (BrE)
R H Draney
I thought you were going to go for this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9nOzTiJ7dU
One gets a better night's sleep on caffeine, I think....r
--
A pessimist sees the glass as half empty.
An optometrist asks whether you see the glass
more full like this?...or like this?
Peter Duncanson (BrE)
wrote:
>On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:57:45 -0000, "Mike Lyle"
It's not familiar to me, either. I wondered whether "trotting" was a
euphemism for "dropping".
--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)
James Hogg
Tea so strong you could trot mice on it.
Only two Google hits for "trot mice on it", which I found strange. I
recognised the allusion immediately.
--
James
Skitt
> Leslie Danks filted:
>> James Hogg wrote:
>>> Chuck Riggs wrote:
>> [...]
>>
>>>> This is one of those many things I don't understand about Irish and
>>>> British customs: the habit in the British Isles of drinking a
>>>> caffeine-based beverage shortly before going to bed. The number one
>>>> problem goes without saying, but, number two, why imbibe a
>>>> stimulant shortly before going to sleep? Or trying to. Americans
>>>> are more sensible; they drink coffee or tea in the morning or when
>>>> trying to remain awake.
>>>
>>> By the time the stimulant takes effect you should be sound asleep.
>>
>> Such stuff as dreams are made on:
>>
>> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp7130Bjec4>
>
> I thought you were going to go for this one:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9nOzTiJ7dU
>
> One gets a better night's sleep on caffeine, I think....r
Not only that, it helps one stay alert while watching dreams.
--
Skitt (AmE)
zzzzzzz
Peter Duncanson (BrE)
wrote:
>Peter Duncanson (BrE) wrote:
Did the bromide content make Army tea so trottable, I wonder.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromide#History
James Hogg
Quite a lot of Google hits for "trot a mouse" in the singular form (for
tea that's not quite as strong, perhaps).
--
James
Robin Bignall
wrote:
>On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:18:53 +0000, Robin Bignall
><docr...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>
[Radio]
>>Magnificent, DC. The only radio I seem to find time to listen to is
>>the 9am, 1pm, and 5pm news bulletins on Radio 4. I've lost the knack
>>of being able to read with any sort of music or speech in the
>>background.
>
>Except for Bach's and Handel's music, I never had it.
I grew up having to read, and later study for O- and A-Level exams, in
the same room as my parents while they were talking and listening to
the radio. I used to be able to detach myself completely from my
surroundings.
Robin Bignall
wrote:
>On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:55:17 +0100, Leslie Danks <leslie...@aon.at>
My mother used to say, of such strong tea with lots of sugar, that it
was strong enough to stand the spoon up in it.
Skitt
> Chuck Riggs wrote:
>> Robin Bignall wrote:
> [Radio]
>
>>> Magnificent, DC. The only radio I seem to find time to listen to is
>>> the 9am, 1pm, and 5pm news bulletins on Radio 4. I've lost the
>>> knack of being able to read with any sort of music or speech in the
>>> background.
>>
>> Except for Bach's and Handel's music, I never had it.
>
> I grew up having to read, and later study for O- and A-Level exams, in
> the same room as my parents while they were talking and listening to
> the radio. I used to be able to detach myself completely from my
> surroundings.
The thing is, when the music is of the kind that I don't care about, I can
shut it out. A problem arises when I like the music I'm hearing. Then I'm
unable to listen to it and concentrate on something else at the same time.
--
Skitt (AmE)
Skitt
> Chuck Riggs wrote:
>>> Chuck Riggs wrote:
>>>>> This American drinks a mug of tea every morning.
>>>>
>>>> Coffee, yes, but I can't picture a true mug with tea in it. Tea,
>>>> being a dainty drink, belongs in a teacup, Shirley.
>>>
>>> There's tea, and there's tea. Here is a recipe for tea that I
>>> learned from a Punjabi many years ago:
>>>
>>> To a large mug add:
>>>
>>> 1 heaped teaspoonfull of strong leaf tea (i.e. Earl Gray need not
>>> apply) 3 heaped teaspoonsfull of sugar
>>> boiling water (to 3/4 level or higher).
>>>
>>> Wait 5 minutes.
>>> Top up with gold top milk (or single cream if available).
>>>
>>> Probably fails the CRDT [1], but I liked it.
>>>
>>> [1] Chuck Riggs Daintiness Test
>>
>> Perhaps the mug fails and perhaps it does not, but what is inside
>> definitely fails the WTMSTT(1).
>>
>> 1. Way Too Much Sugar in the Tea Test
>
> My mother used to say, of such strong tea with lots of sugar, that it
> was strong enough to stand the spoon up in it.
Putting sugar in tea is a vile thing to do.
--
Skitt (AmE)
Jerry Friedman
...
> I like a nice glass tea in the morning. No "of"; I don't know why, but
> it seems right. Maybe "gless", too.
Leo Rosten says this is a Yiddishism (and so might some better
authorities).
--
Jerry Friedman