Re: Language disfunction (Re: Comprehending British dialect)


Tue, 12 Sep 1995 12:03:36 -0400

On 12 Sep 1995, Paul C Evans wrote:

> I've never actually seen one, that I recall, but I certainly knew what
> one was. I had *no* idea, though, what `an old moggy' was when I came
> across one in Christminster. I laughed out loud when I examined it
> and found it to be a cat! I guess this is to be expected from a
> country with city names like `Middle Wallop.' :)

Isn't that rather like the pot calling the kettle black when we live in
a country with city names like Intercourse (PA), Bird-in-Hand (PA),
Wachapreague (VA), etc?

On the real subject, I have known what a dumbwaiter was since I was a
child, but when I asked at work, there were some who assumed it was a
stupid waiter.