And this is such a good way TO keep learning. Such little things can change not just from English-speaking country to another English-speaking country -- but even within the US itself (which is so diverse anyway).
My husband is a Scot -- but he lived in England for quite a while. We've been married for 12 1/2 years, known each other for 13 1/2 and STILL we discover vocabulary that is different between UK English and American English.
One of my favorite and true little stories -- years ago on another messageboard a woman posted "I'm having trouble in finding my little wire-haired terrior!!!"
hmmmm -- first, in **American** English her use of the pronoun "my" truly made me think the dog was HERS and "difficulty in finding" made me think the dog was lost!!!
Add that to her spelling of "terrior" -- it is a bit of American slang to sometimes refer to some of the terrier breeds as "terrors" or "terrorists" simply in jest because terriers, as a breed, can be so very stubborn and have such an "attitude".
I thought she was JOKING.
So I made a good natured joking reference back that I hoped she found the little guy soon.
Oh my goodness. (*fanning myself*) did I get FLAMED. ohhhhhhhhhhh she was soooo angry with me!!!
First, I didn't realize she was Australian and they spell it "terrior" (with an "o") routinely. Americans spell it with no "o".
She referred to it as "my" simply because it was her chosen breed. Speaking of "my" as in something she wished to possess. NOT that she already had it. And "difficulty in finding" meant she was SHOPPING for one. Trying to find a breeder -- and actually was looking for someone to refer her to an Australian breeder of wire-haired terriers.
I emailed her and it took several quite heated emails before she cooled off and realized I meant no harm but seriously wanted to understand her. *I* learned much. **She** learned much. But it took some effort and I really gained far more understanding that sometimes you can glean much by simply reading and trying to understand exactly what someone meant or did *not* mean.
Ask questions. It's a good thing. (and did I mention we like pictures?? *smile*)
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."
Helen Keller
