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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 3 to 27 of 36. Go back in thread:
Posted by Alexus on September 6, 2006, at 3:05:38
In reply to Re: OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Declan on September 6, 2006, at 1:54:51
> 1. Bucket
> 2. Tap
> 3. I am unfamiliar with either of these items.lol!!!
Ditto
:-)
Posted by Alexus on September 6, 2006, at 3:06:25
In reply to OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 1:41:05
is
3
a housetruck
or a caravan
or something like that?
Posted by gardenergirl on September 6, 2006, at 8:12:28
In reply to OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 1:41:05
> This is a silly one, and it really won't be interesting to anyone except me, but...
>
> 1. Bucket or pail?Bucket
>
> 2. Faucet, spigot, or tap?Faucet. However, I get tap water out of the faucet. Not faucet water, apparently. And spigot water is right out!
>
> 3. Tractor-trailer or trailer-truck?Um, semi?
And not crazy.
gg
Posted by Dinah on September 6, 2006, at 9:39:22
In reply to OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 1:41:05
bucket, faucet, tractor trailer
Posted by Phillipa on September 6, 2006, at 10:00:50
In reply to Re: OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Dinah on September 6, 2006, at 9:39:22
Bucket, faucet, neither of the others. Love Phillipa
Posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 12:18:19
In reply to Re: OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Phillipa on September 6, 2006, at 10:00:50
All these *used* to be regional differences, back when I took linguistics. There were even intermediate forms -- I've got a faucet in the kitchen, and in the bath, but turn on the spigot for the hose or sprinkler in the back yard, for instance. (And there was a rumor that in one area around New Jersey, people referred to "tractor trailer trucks.")
In my case, as I said, it's a faucet inside the house, spigot outside. Bucket if it's rubber or plastic, pail if it's metal.
And number 3 is a "big truck" ;-) (I think, if I needed to be more specific, rather than "big @$$ truck," I'd probably use "tractor trailer.")
Alexus and Declan, tractor trailers are also called things like 18 wheeler, or even GG's "semi." Brits would call them "lorries." They're the big Peterbilt or MAC style trucks that have trailers attached to haul huge loads. Think lumber, petrol, etc. Those things... I think MacKenzie is another brand in Oz, but can't quite think... Lemme ask Mr X...
Mr X says you'd call a tractor trailer a semi, and they're mostly made by Volvo or Mercedes over there. (Although I think that Mercedes is MacKenzie when it comes to tractor trailer trucks...)
Anyone have any more examples? Or anyone else want to join in the survey?
Posted by James K on September 6, 2006, at 14:38:07
In reply to OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 1:41:05
bucket, faucet, semi. (with the trucks, the more someone knows about them, the more specific their name, but most people around here just say semi)
The ones that come up the most here, my family coming from a different part of the country, are
sofa - couch - davenport?
lunch - dinner - supper
soda - pop - sodapop - coke
I love reading books from elsewhere and the different terms, such as flat, pitch, lorry etc.
Did you know the Harry Potter books were "translated" for American audiences?
James k
Posted by Declan on September 6, 2006, at 15:01:59
In reply to NO ONE has a spigot?, posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 12:18:19
We call 3. 'B Doubles', I've no idea why.
Posted by Phillipa on September 6, 2006, at 16:09:21
In reply to NO ONE has a spigot?, posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 12:18:19
Racer it's just a big truck to me. And I was once with a truck driver. He made no distinction other than truck or two together was piggy backing the trucks. Love Phillipa
Posted by curtm on September 6, 2006, at 16:27:46
In reply to OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 1:41:05
These are very interesting questions you ask. Many people go through life without any concern for their vocabulary. It is extremely important that we give such considerations to such serious matters.
> This is a silly one, and it really won't be interesting to anyone except me, but...
>
> 1. Bucket or pail?A bucket is used when you need something to kick!
A pail is what you use any other time.>
> 2. Faucet, spigot, or tap?
>A faucet is what you get water out of.
A spigot is what you get wine out of.
A tap is what you get beer out of.
> 3. Tractor-trailer or trailer-truck?
>A tractor-trailer is a typical semi hauler.
A trailer-truck is the same, but backing up.> Which do you use, or do you use some combination of them?
>I usually use a combination of them depending on the application. I hope this helps.
> Or, if you'd prefer, just how crazy do you think I am for asking about this?No comment.
Posted by Jost on September 6, 2006, at 17:53:37
In reply to Re: OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by James K on September 6, 2006, at 14:38:07
1. pail (sometimes bucket)
2. faucet (sometimes spigot, never tap)
3. semi (sometimes tracker-trailer)
4. couch (often with potato) ---davenport???? that's truly dialect-- from the maybe 1920's ?? --otherwise, I thought it was a College at Yale??
5. soda (unless it is a coke, in which case coke)
6. to-may-to
7. dinner
8. whatya'ma'callit, 'it," "that"(or "that thing") etc, occasionally "thingamagiggit"
9. blah, blah, blah; yada, yada, yada (definitely obsolete), "whatever"
10. elevator
11. bus, taxi (cab, rarely), "that damn thing" (meaning SUV, pickup truck, or large car blocking the street), "now what?" (meaning, Firetruck, lights turning red out-of-sync, police car going slowly with many cars behind it, also going slowly, EMS vehicle)
Jost
Posted by sleepygirl on September 6, 2006, at 20:32:55
In reply to OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 1:41:05
> This is a silly one, and it really won't be interesting to anyone except me, but...
>
> 1. Bucket or pail?
bucket
>
> 2. Faucet, spigot, or tap?
faucet
>
> 3. Tractor-trailer or trailer-truck?
tractor-trailer
>
> Which do you use, or do you use some combination of them?
>
I use a faucet all the time, a bucket occasionally, and a tractor trailer never.> Or, if you'd prefer, just how crazy do you think I am for asking about this?
not at all :-)
Posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 22:26:30
In reply to Re: OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by James K on September 6, 2006, at 14:38:07
>
> sofa - couch - davenport?
>
>Don't you know? It's a CHESTERFIELD!
Posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 22:34:00
In reply to Re: OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Jost on September 6, 2006, at 17:53:37
>
> 6. to-may-to
>Since I'm trying to learn my husband's native language, I'm practicing "tomahto"
>
> 8. whatya'ma'callit, 'it," "that"(or "that thing") etc, occasionally "thingamagiggit""Whatchamacallit," or "thingamabob," or "whosamawhatsit."
>Thanks for adding your humor to it -- and you and my mother could probably have a fine time discussing Large Vehicles...
Posted by llrrrpp on September 6, 2006, at 22:49:48
In reply to OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 1:41:05
> This is a silly one, and it really won't be interesting to anyone except me, but...
> 1. Bucket or pail?
When I puke, whatever's closest.
>
> 2. Faucet, spigot, or tap?See 1. above.
>
> 3. Tractor-trailer or trailer-truck?
I don't drink and drive.> Which do you use, or do you use some combination of them?
>
> Or, if you'd prefer, just how crazy do you think I am for asking about this?you didn't ask: bottle or can?
Alone or with others?
on the rocks or neat?
with pop or with soda?-ll
Posted by Racer on September 7, 2006, at 1:23:42
In reply to Re: OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!! » Racer, posted by llrrrpp on September 6, 2006, at 22:49:48
Posted by Racer on September 7, 2006, at 1:26:28
In reply to Re: OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!! » Racer, posted by llrrrpp on September 6, 2006, at 22:49:48
> >
> > 3. Tractor-trailer or trailer-truck?
> I don't drink and drive.I do, I do! I always have an open container in my car when I'm driving! Sometimes it's Pepsi One, in a can, in my coldee holder.
Mostly, though, it's Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water -- mountain spring! HA! -- in a sport top bottle...
Then again, I only drive adorable little cars...
(I love my Corolla. BIG topic tonight in marriage counseling... Brought on a lot of tears...)
Posted by Poet on September 7, 2006, at 10:29:25
In reply to OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 1:41:05
Around these parts it's a *bubbler.*
Poet
Posted by caraher on September 7, 2006, at 18:22:52
In reply to OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 1:41:05
Posted by finelinebob on September 7, 2006, at 22:12:38
In reply to OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 1:41:05
Darn, wish I could remember my Balmorese.
You know, what they speak in Balmore, Murlyn.
They have these things called urshters. And when you were done eating your urshters, you'd put your plate in the zink, turn on the spicket and warsh it off.
Posted by Racer on September 8, 2006, at 0:21:24
In reply to Re: OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by finelinebob on September 7, 2006, at 22:12:38
That's the theory that consonents are conserved: in Bahston, you pahk your cah, but in Texas (I think it was) you warsh it!
lol I loved that one, also learnt back in linguistics 101...
Maybe I should take that again?
Posted by finelinebob on September 8, 2006, at 0:54:33
In reply to Conservation of CONSONENTS! lol » finelinebob, posted by Racer on September 8, 2006, at 0:21:24
> lol I loved that one, also learnt back in linguistics 101...
We had some linguistics prof of some reknown back in Ann Arbor who would start "linguistics 101" the same every semester...
He ask, "who knows what a prefix is?", see all the hands raise, and say, "yeah, a syllable or group of syllables added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning" or something like that.
Then he'd ask, "who knows what a suffix is?" ... hands would go up, and he'd answer his own rhetorical question again.
Then he'd ask, "who knows what an infix is?"
As usual, no hands would raise. And he'd nod and say it's a syllable or group of syllables added to the MIDDLE of a word to alter its meaning, and say that he wasn't all that surprised no one knew what it was since we have no infixes in English.
"unless," he'd say, "you include abso-fscking-lutely and in-fscking-credible and..."
Posted by llrrrpp on September 8, 2006, at 8:04:08
In reply to Consonents and Vowels and Dipthongs, oh MY!! » Racer, posted by finelinebob on September 8, 2006, at 0:54:33
In the place I grew up, there were a lot of added dipthongs.
whey-ull, I jee-ust don't knaaow what an eeee-iinfix eee-is.
My dad (Yankee) used to try to imitate the locals, and he sounded like he was yodeling.
I lost my twang when I went to college, but I get it back easily. My brother still has his, and it's lovely, because he's a smarty and he still talks like a good 'ol boy. My bff married a local and she has the strongest accent I have ever heard. I don't remember her having an accent when we were in school. I think we both had twangs and then moved to our extremes when we went off to college.
-ll
Posted by Dinah on September 8, 2006, at 10:27:03
In reply to Re: Consonents and Vowels and Dipthongs, oh MY!! » finelinebob, posted by llrrrpp on September 8, 2006, at 8:04:08
:)
That reminds me of when I talked to my best friend from elementary school years later when my mother got her phone number from her mother. She'd been a lot of places and had settled down in Boston, I think.
We had been inseparable in the way that only grade school girls can be. And depending on whether you were an adult or a child, I think we were probably delightful or insufferable. We had vocabulary contests, and similar fun games, and we were both rather proud of keeping our pronunciations generic.
As we awkwardly chatted, I thought how northeastern her accent had grown. And she said "You really sound New Orleanian now!!!"
Gosh I miss her. How many people can you find who enjoy vocabulary contests?
Posted by Jost on September 8, 2006, at 20:18:53
In reply to Re: Consonents and Vowels and Dipthongs, oh MY!! » llrrrpp, posted by Dinah on September 8, 2006, at 10:27:03
Yesterday I heard a podcast in which someone corrected a caller who said he was going to "Nu Orleeeens"
The dj said do you mean "Nawww-l'ns?"
so, is it really "Nawww-l'ns"?
Jost
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