Cultures develop their own language. Seems silly to state the obvious but it is one of the things that makes traveling worth while. "Howzit?" Takes a minute to get the greeting down. Listen carefully. You'll hear it. It takes some time to adjust, but with context it becomes readily apparent what the meaning is to the stranger. In great part, it is one of the very enjoyable parts of travel and meeting new people. "Now Now" vs "Just now", I was just reading another thread about how a PH communicated with his hunter and was struck that he also found it interesting enough to include the new terms he had learned during the hunting experience. "Funny that!" When the "kak" was hitting the fan during a hunt recently, a favourite came out very quickly from the PH: "We must make a plan!" I smile every time I think of it. Another: While the PH is excited on a stalk. I was setting up to shoot a Mtn Reedbuck that might be coming out any minute onto a slope. His direction to me in a loud whisper: "You must find a "lekker" spot." It took my brain a minute to switch into translation mode. But, I got it. Find a good spot to see/shoot from. One Zulu tracker commentary: "Oooow, eeah, No no no no." All the while shaking his head while listening to a story of his compatriot. Quintessential Zulu mannerism. Please
Brickburn, Great thread! Want to see what some of my local compatriots get up to with their expressions....lol. Might weigh in with a couple myself. I'm following this one....
"The Americans and the English are two people separated by a common language." Somebody smarted than me said that. I found myself in the Czech Republic talking to a group of young people taking an English class. The word "ya'll" as in "How are ya'll" completely confused them. I quickly realized that I had to translate from Texan to English. Then we all had great fun learning to speak the English dialect of Texas. I too will enjoy reading this thread and it will be a great help in our first safari this June.
Texans aren't bad, Newfies on the other hand... Were ya too buy? I come were yarzat. Sea air, um budda tree. ???????? Believe it or not, it is English, barely. LOL
I get a kick out of silent letters as well, for instance we say build as bild, south Africans say buld. It took me a minute to figure out what was about to transpire when my PH was about to buld a fire. LOL
The first time to Africa we where in a restaurant, I thought my PH's boyfriends was calling the waitress a donkey. Took a minute to realize he was saying danke.
I know when I'm around my South African friends that when they say "Folk" they're not referring to people or family members. And if they begin a sentence with the phrase, "I promise you my friend," they're quite serious about whatever it is that follows. The strength of emphasis on this phrase as well as the number of times it is repeated is directly proportional to the amount of alcohol that has been consumed prior to its use.
Namibia was the first place that I heard of putting wood "in" the donkey! What? Great way to make you head snap round. A "Donkey" (sp) is a wood fired water boiler/heater.
Lorrie - truck. "Hop on the lorrie" very confusing when you are a kid and a girl name Lori is around. Spanner - wrench. Bonnet and boot - hood and trunk of a vehicle.
when we were in b.c the cook kept asking my mate how he liked the 30 ought 6...... on the third day we had to ask what he was on about ? hey wheels in oz the volkswagon is most often refered to as a v dub...
??? how do you say it? I have never heard it any other way. How about buckshot? single aught, double aught, triple aught?
??? how do you say it? I have never heard it any other way. How about buckshot? single aught, double aught, triple aught?[/QUOTE] ive only ever heard it called 30 .0 .6 now im confussed how to make it work we say 30 oh 6=30.06 where as this bloke from saskacthewn voiced it as thirty ought six ,it was the ought instead of oh that had us hope you know what im saying mate
How about some North side Chicagoeez Dgeet ? a question asking ,,did you eat ,,the Ds are allmost silent Djue ? an answer meaning, did you ?
