British humor explained, American values explored
Natasha Martin
Issue date: 8/29/08 Section: Opinion
Last week, I wrote my first column entry. A few people asked why I had decided to call it Lost in Translation, since they understood every Briticism and never once picked up a dictionary whilst reading my first article.
Now, I'm not suggesting you inquisitive few are a bunch of complete cretins, but basically Lost in Translation is my chance for a once-a-week rant in complete, perfect English whilst avoiding those alien-esque moments when apparently I'm the one from outer space, speaking the foreign language. (Don't whine about that comment: I'm a YouTube addict and I know there is a video out there documenting an American who claims they most definitely speak the language: 'American'.)
This way, I get five hundred words in which to be "British" and if you have a problem with it, it's my poor, sweet editor that has to hear about it. Luckily most of you have a sense of humor, or feel sorry for the poor British girl who has to put on an American accent in order to get a glass of water at Chili's, and won't be too offended by my god-awful sense of humor. Saying that, I have already come across one reader who regards the phrase 'bloody hell' as some offensive, verbal poo poo.
Fortunately for him, he has never lived in the U.K. and therefore has never had to confront our notion of customer relations, which consists of the country's most disinterested and illiterate igits. If he had, he would know pretty swiftly that 'bloody hell' is actually a relatively friendly phrase when compared to some of the crap they receive down the phone.
Forgive me; I forgot to mention that I also like to abuse my own country. We do that, it is allowed. If we were America, we would have written a constitution covering it. But then again, we keep trying to remind ourselves that we are a democracy and therefore as individuals we are allowed to decide whether or not we want to slag off our country. I promise that when I am slagging off yours, it is purely for entertainment … possibly just my own. Like I said to the lovable critic who confronted me this week, suggesting that if my article was going to be an "I hate America, kinda thang," then I should just bugger off home - I love America.
Now, I'm not suggesting you inquisitive few are a bunch of complete cretins, but basically Lost in Translation is my chance for a once-a-week rant in complete, perfect English whilst avoiding those alien-esque moments when apparently I'm the one from outer space, speaking the foreign language. (Don't whine about that comment: I'm a YouTube addict and I know there is a video out there documenting an American who claims they most definitely speak the language: 'American'.)
This way, I get five hundred words in which to be "British" and if you have a problem with it, it's my poor, sweet editor that has to hear about it. Luckily most of you have a sense of humor, or feel sorry for the poor British girl who has to put on an American accent in order to get a glass of water at Chili's, and won't be too offended by my god-awful sense of humor. Saying that, I have already come across one reader who regards the phrase 'bloody hell' as some offensive, verbal poo poo.
Fortunately for him, he has never lived in the U.K. and therefore has never had to confront our notion of customer relations, which consists of the country's most disinterested and illiterate igits. If he had, he would know pretty swiftly that 'bloody hell' is actually a relatively friendly phrase when compared to some of the crap they receive down the phone.
Forgive me; I forgot to mention that I also like to abuse my own country. We do that, it is allowed. If we were America, we would have written a constitution covering it. But then again, we keep trying to remind ourselves that we are a democracy and therefore as individuals we are allowed to decide whether or not we want to slag off our country. I promise that when I am slagging off yours, it is purely for entertainment … possibly just my own. Like I said to the lovable critic who confronted me this week, suggesting that if my article was going to be an "I hate America, kinda thang," then I should just bugger off home - I love America.
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