Some astute person with one foot on each side of
the English Channel (try that sometime and see how comfortable it is) has
published a translation guide that may explain why the British chose to exit
the European Union: it was all a big misunderstanding. Try as they might, the
Brits and their Continental colleagues—or the Americans, for that matter—just
don’t speak the same language. This is clear from the following examples:
What the British say: What
the British mean: What
the European hears:
“I hear what you say.” “I
disagree and do not “He
is sympathetic to my
wish
to discuss it further.” point of
view.”
“With the greatest “You
are an idiot.” “He
greatly respects me."
respect….”
“That’s not bad.” “That’s
bad.” “That’s
good.”
“Quite good.” “A
bit disappointing.” “Very
good.”
“Very interesting.” “That
is clearly nonsense.” “He is very interested."
“I almost agree.” “I
do not agree at all.” “He
is close to
agreement.”
“That is a brave proposal.” “You
are insane.” “He
thinks I’m courageous.”
“Oh, incidentally…” “This
is the main point.” “This
is not important.”
“I’m sure it’s my fault.” “It’s
your fault.” “Why
does he think it's his
fault?"
“I’ll bear it in mind.” “I
have forgotten it already.” “He’ll
almost certainly do it.”
No one has ever understood what the Bard of
Buffalo Bayou is saying, and that is not surprising.
With
the greatest respect, I hear what you say,
I’ll
bear it in mind, very good.
That
is not bad, I almost agree…
How
I hope that I’m misunderstood!
No comments:
Post a Comment