tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post2246311342551389869..comments2024-03-27T20:36:43.009-04:00Comments on Letters from a Hill Farm: Book Report/The Coffin TrailNanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15547916206007733970noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-88247269577755777352014-04-11T14:38:15.324-04:002014-04-11T14:38:15.324-04:00Oh goodness, I am commenting years later, lol! Lov...Oh goodness, I am commenting years later, lol! Loved your post and all the comments! When we moved here 25 years ago from the UK it was as though everything was slightly out of focus....yes, the same language, sort of, but not as well. I say skedule but never tomayto, I do call not phone but continue with British spellings, I write cheques but I never lay down I go and lie down!<br /><br />We lived back in the UK for a couple of years recently and slightly scandalised people talking about wearing pants!<br /><br />Actually wasn't it G B Shaw..2 nations separated etc?Gilliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13039155678428883554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-4505555267502069712008-11-27T05:22:00.000-05:002008-11-27T05:22:00.000-05:00A previous commentor was correct when he/she wonde...A previous commentor was correct when he/she wondered how much banking has changed in the UK. My husband actually was a Bank Manager. He retired in 2000 and that was just about when bank managers became defunct. Before that they were ultimately responsible for an entire branch, the lending, the staff, the cash, everything: the buck stopped at him. Now bank branches are a complete mish mash and no one seems to want to take responsibility for anything. I know this because my daughter now works for the same bank and it drives her insane at times, whereas my husband *loved* his job. I'm also convinced that bank customers preferred things the way they were. Many things it seems, just don't change for the better.Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-6398003483339940772008-11-26T15:32:00.000-05:002008-11-26T15:32:00.000-05:00I've only recently "discovered" Martin Edwards and...I've only recently "discovered" Martin Edwards and have yet to read any of his books - soon to be remedied as I've borrowed The Arsenic Labyrinth from the library. Don't put me in the giveaway as I'll get this one out too.<BR/><BR/>I'll just add to everyone else's comments that I find the differences between British and American English fascinating. I haven't come across the word "wind-cheater" I think it's what I call an "anorak" or a "parka" and I've never heard of "off-comer" - I'd say new comer. "Kitted out" is when you're dressed in the right clothes for a particular sport or event. Oh, and a "comforter" here is a soft comforting blanket, usually for a baby or young child; or it's a baby's dummy. How confusing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-35661291778487940292008-11-26T13:16:00.000-05:002008-11-26T13:16:00.000-05:00Nan, I just had to put my two pennies worth into t...Nan, I just had to put my two pennies worth into the discussion, as I have an interesting anecdote regarding the "divided by a common language" thing.<BR/><BR/>My great aunt was a GI bride, she was my gran's favourite sister. They wrote to each other for years, and my gran finally got to visit her and her husband in the US in the mid-1980s. When she arrived at her home, my great uncle invited my gran to (ahem) "park her fanny on the couch." My mother had to gently explain to my gran that "fanny" had an entirely different meaning in the US...great uncle being in serious danger of receiving a face full of female, English, knuckles!Dulce Domumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15835872248177497717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-40665887705272005232008-11-26T11:17:00.000-05:002008-11-26T11:17:00.000-05:00Don't pick me, because I have the book. I'm glad ...Don't pick me, because I have the book. I'm glad you enjoyed it, as I did also.<BR/><BR/>Your thoughts below on Thanksgiving were quite well put! Edward and I wish you and yours a happy day!Pamela Terry and Edwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12746603636884819522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-15384718246623656752008-11-25T23:16:00.000-05:002008-11-25T23:16:00.000-05:00One of the sayings that has a completely differnt ...One of the sayings that has a completely differnt meaning between the US and the UK, is a word to describe one's home.....<BR/>In England we say it is very homely, meaning cosy, and welcoming. I made the mistake early on as a newcomer in the US, of describing someone's home as such, not knowing that over here it means ugly, also true of describing people's looks.<BR/>I won't make that mistake again ;)<BR/>I used to work in a bank in England, the bank manager is the person in charge of that particular branch, and that position carries much esteem. I would compare it to the bank president in the US.<BR/>Please consider me for your book give-away, sounds most interesting.A Brit in Tennesseehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16080644141670903160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-19564806066172322442008-11-25T20:11:00.000-05:002008-11-25T20:11:00.000-05:00Lovely post, Nan! I love the British was of saying...Lovely post, Nan! I love the British was of saying things, too. Throw my name in the hat for the book. It sounds brilliant! :)Leshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08345657431432380804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-32567204912873948972008-11-25T16:42:00.000-05:002008-11-25T16:42:00.000-05:00Pl. don't put me in the draw for this book as I al...Pl. don't put me in the draw for this book as I already have it (and very much enjoyed it!) I enjoyed reading your American equivalents of British terms. Of course, there are many more (not used in the book), such as American vest for our waistcoat. If we say a chap went out wearing vest and pants he would most certainly not be fully dressed, but in his underwear!<BR/>A bank manager was the person in control of your local branch of your bank and, as such, decided whether or not you could have an overdraft (if needed, of course!) or not. You were always polite to your bank manager!<BR/>Margaret Powlinggalanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14190356279359463949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-33708371147517339492008-11-25T16:35:00.000-05:002008-11-25T16:35:00.000-05:00Sounds like good read for a snowy night. I looked ...Sounds like good read for a snowy night. I looked at the Martin Edwards website when you blogged about him in an earlier post - all of his work sounds good. Your copy of the book has a prettier cover than the one on his site!alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02753238295390712514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-9054731217135517652008-11-25T16:16:00.000-05:002008-11-25T16:16:00.000-05:00I wonder how much bank managers--and banking in ge...I wonder how much bank managers--and banking in general--has changed in the UK since this book was written! It used to be that you could overdraw your account with no more repercussions than a nice letter letting you know and suggesting that if this was going to be a common occurrence, perhaps you should arrange for overdraughts (spelling!) in advance. No interest or penalty was even charged on the overdraft! Got to love it.Doctor Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-49857486367460179992008-11-25T13:53:00.000-05:002008-11-25T13:53:00.000-05:00NanWould love to be entered to win.. sounds deligh...Nan<BR/>Would love to be entered to win.. sounds delightful.<BR/>Having many British friends from our 3 years in Singapore, it was common to hear all the usages you outlined.<BR/>It is such an interesting comparison, our English to their Queen's English.<BR/>MimMimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13430084640185906974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-65940289328412748312008-11-25T12:55:00.000-05:002008-11-25T12:55:00.000-05:00I love your list of British/American usage. I can'...I love your list of British/American usage. I can't imagine life without a cardigan (or 'cardi'). 'Sorted' is a modern usage and really slang. I've never heard anyone say 'off-comer'. In this part of the world (Dorset) people say 'in-comer'. Endlessly fascinating!callmemadamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16634592448574893688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-57594752974704382008-11-25T12:53:00.000-05:002008-11-25T12:53:00.000-05:00Don't count me in the giveaway, Nan, as I've just ...Don't count me in the giveaway, Nan, as I've just read it, but I really enjoyed your review, and your comparisons of our languages. I'm hoping to find the next of the series in the library tomorrow.Jodie Robsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02442935205880334932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-77171349908437200012008-11-25T11:44:00.000-05:002008-11-25T11:44:00.000-05:00Having lived many years away from England, I hold ...Having lived many years away from England, I hold dear, through reading, all the quirks and differences of language between English and French.American English seems much less strange to me... How about these "sayings" when we in England say "It's raining cats and dogs" the French say"it's raining ropes" or when we say "He has a bat in his belfry" the French say"he has a spider on his ceiling" So funny in both languages! The Lake District is one of the most pretty places in England,I will add the book title to my list, longer every day with all the really good book reviews that bloggers like yourself recommend and intrigue us with!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11868517816392318853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-61614978238737264582008-11-25T10:10:00.000-05:002008-11-25T10:10:00.000-05:00I love dropping into a select few American blogs p...I love dropping into a select few American blogs partly because of this:'divided by a common language' thing, as Winston Churchill said.<BR/><BR/>Should point out that we actually say 'newcomer' and that 'offcomer' must be local to the Lake District. <BR/> <BR/>Another usage that surprises me is when you say 'knit' where I would say 'knitted' as in a 'hand-knitted cardigan!' And I've come across 'tardy' which is quite archaic here but was used on my children's report cards when they attended an American school in Egypt.<BR/><BR/>And a bank manager is the man in charge of the local branch of your bank, my father-in-law was one. What would that be for you - bank president? Chairman? An important personage in small-town affairs, anyway.<BR/><BR/>Finally, something that is a really odd difference: you eat 'macaroni AND cheese' but we just have 'macaroni cheese'. <BR/>It's all fascinating.Nicola Sladehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03076176253820195827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-69867883210201851342008-11-25T08:29:00.000-05:002008-11-25T08:29:00.000-05:00One of the things I like about English novels - an...One of the things I like about English novels - and I do love English mysteries - is the richness of the language. I guess I have been reading them for so long I hardly notice the differences between English and American. You comment on your site about how one book leads to another and I hope you have read The Commonreader by Alan Bennett which is a total delight and, to me, really describes how we become readers.Commonweederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10913336590036045901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-17758291564195729082008-11-25T04:32:00.000-05:002008-11-25T04:32:00.000-05:00I would love to be considered for this book; it so...I would love to be considered for this book; it sounds like it could be a good read. I also liked your take on the different sayings; what is that saying - something like, 'divided by a common language', I'm not sure that's true but it's interesting to hear what you think.Jennifer Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05465209544401844796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-48903761580534942712008-11-24T21:34:00.000-05:002008-11-24T21:34:00.000-05:00When you read stories with British dialect, do you...When you read stories with British dialect, do you 'read' the sound of the dialect? I do...and isn't it strange, I can't for the life of me mimic it if I open my mouth. But I hear it so well; and it's always enchanting. A few years back I had reason to call to England from time to time and I loved it. "Brilliant" said the young lady on the other end of the line. And for a moment, I really thought I was! LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-79440957131253941362008-11-24T17:41:00.000-05:002008-11-24T17:41:00.000-05:00Some of the English words you mentioned are 'slang...Some of the English words you mentioned are 'slang' not always in general usage, but I agree the difference in our languages is fascinating. The first time I came to the U.S from Britain, was a revelation to me. I thought the girl in Bloomingdales who wished me to 'have a nice day' was charming, but by the end of the day I had heard it so often it had ceased to mean anything, shame.<BR/>You say,'I could care less'. we (U.K.) say,' I couldn't care less'. Also pants here mean knickers, not trousers, that can get very confusing.!! C.B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-78774300157540274362008-11-24T16:42:00.000-05:002008-11-24T16:42:00.000-05:00I enjoyed your thoughts about British and American...I enjoyed your thoughts about British and American English - interesting. Reading it isn’t too bad but there are some dialects - both in Britain and the States that I'm having a hard time to understand.<BR/>MargarethaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049626897935912366.post-55132399769248639472008-11-24T16:04:00.000-05:002008-11-24T16:04:00.000-05:00Hmmm... sounds interesting. I'll have to add it to...Hmmm... sounds interesting. I'll have to add it to my library queue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com