Dialectical Divergence

So you might think this posting is about our work with the nine languages of the Mara Region. Wrong. This posting results from our friendships with other missionaries and expatriates who also live and work here. We love being part of a truly international community, and are constantly chuckling at our amusing differences. Here's a taste of our wazungu translation work. (Wazungu = white people living in East Africa)

USA first - British/Australian next

FOODS:
*candy - lollies (AU), sweeties (UK)
*cookie - biscuit (UK), bikkie (AU) Do Aussies say this just because they're speaking to kids or do they say it all the time?
*biscuit - scone. However, to a Tanzanian, a "scone" is a dinner roll. And a good Southern girl will insist that a true biscuit is definitely NOT a scone.
*breakfast - brekkie (AU) See above question.
*dinner - tea. Sure to get an American over her head when she invites a friend for "tea" and that person then expects dinner.
*eggplant - aubergine. Not to worry as we avoid it in both dialects.
*sweet pepper - capsicum. I had a good laugh when I saw "Paul Newman Spaghetti Sauce with Capsicum" for sale in Kenya.
*zucchini - courgette. "Would you like a lovely slice of courgette bread?"
*jello - jelly. Don't ask an Aussie or a Brit for jelly on your toast.
*fries - chips. As in "fish and chips"
*chips - crisps - These last two are always confusing to the kids as we interchange them according to company and continent.

DRINKS:
*lemonade - lemon cordial or lemon juice (AU) I'm not even sure I knew what cordial was till I got here. Doesn't it just mean polite??
*Sprite - lemonade (AU) When offered a lemonade at an Aussie's house, I no longer hope for fresh squeezed lemonade
*fruit concentrate - squash (UK). "Would you like some mango squash." Hmmm, ew!

CLOTHES:
*sweater/sweatshirt - jumper - I think we only use "jumper" for a longish snap/button dress under which a shirt is worn. So when I was complimented on my jumper I had to laugh as an image of a very uncool 80s dress came to mind.
*flip flops - thongs -Guaranteed to get a chuckle out of an American
*swimsuit - Aussie cossie (AU), bathing costume. When asked if they had brought their costumes at a hotel with a pool, my kids looked up at us with puzzlement.

CARS - AUTOS:
*gas - petrol
*hood (of a car) - bonnet
*trunk (of a car) - boot
*shoulder (of the road) - verge (UK) "No driving on the verge." I think we only use "verge" before "of a nervous breakdown."

HOUSEHOLD:
*garbage - rubbish "Ah, that's a load of rubbish!"
*socket - power point (AU) "Does the house have power points?" - guaranteed to confuse an American who is thinking of a Microsoft presentation.
*flashlight - torch
*cooler - eskie (AU), chillibin (NZ) Say chillibin three times fast; it's good fun!

KIDS:
*goofing off - faffing around (UK) - "Kids! Quit faffing around and come to dinner!"
*whine/complain - grisle, winge - It's so nice to have FOUR ways of describing your kids' annoying behavior!
*diaper - nappy
*crib - cot
*pacifier - dummy. I love this one.
*c-section - caeser (AU) Did Julius Caeser's wife have a caeser?
*Mommy - Mummy. As if I don't feel old enough already!

GENERAL:
*afternoon - arvo (AU) Now I know to invite my friends for "arvo tea" if I don't want to deal with a whole dinner.
*to fall hard - to stack it (AU) "Man, I stacked it this morning when running to help the screaming kids."
*soccer - football
*vacation - holiday. How do they differentiate a holiday (Christmas, Easter, etc) from a vacation?
*1st floor - ground floor
*2nd floor - 1st floor, etc. - You can only guess at how confusing this can get when giving or getting directions.
*operating room - operating theatre. In case of needing a "caeser" for Jack, I was told "You'll need written permission to have your husband allowed in the theatre." Was the operation rated R? hee hee.
*thanks - ta!

I know this is just a short list, so add on the ones you encounter in the comments.

So the next time we're in the States just ignore us or interpret when we sound a little funny as we casually throw around words like nappies and dummies, bikkies and crisps.

Ta!
kim