I don't know about you but I have not been able to post a reply for the past couple of days.
Seems to me that server is back to normal, no longer acting up so I'd like to comment on your last reply if I may.
You said "Rules are too rigorous"
it's funny but we would normally not use the word rigorous for rules but rather use it to describe an activity like say "rigorous exercise" when you are working out hard in a gym or working up a sweat trying to lose some extra pounds.
We would also say that the rules are too strict (or maybe rigid) but I guess how you use certain words in English largely depends on what part of the English speaking world you live in. I love to hear these certain "variations" especially when traveling abroad. Best regards.
'Rules' are too rigorous, I think 'methods' are fairly closer and soothingly social. At least for a sodding country boy like me :). btw. with the 'dos' you were right, mistyping on my part !
I suppose it should be doS and don'tS, because S is for plural.
In an office it would be a formal or informal list of rules: -Do clean your desk each day. -Do your work in silence. -Don't smoke. -Don't leave your food on the desk. etc.
Yep, but more like "orders" or rather like "official / officious routine"- the imperative here an allusion to the administrative punctuousness and hierarchy. Anything that can be methodically put to. Sometimes (rarely) it's the know-how of an act, like the "do's and don'ts og picking up a girl" :).
Hi spionkop ! You're quite right assuming it's the same as "be your age". Generally "act your age" means just as much, but also bears a hint of fluidity of (inter)action - hence the name - , passion and motion. If I say "Act your age, man !" then I want that the addressee put some energy & motion into his doings. "Be your age" is a somewhat pejorative phrase because it implicates nonchalant and passive behaviour.
Hi there, you just got the prize :). Oh no, cockney isn't THAT hard to understand UNLESS a cockney wants it to be. It's just like any other coined language general in big cities, such as the "verlan" in Paris. Maybe it's unusual till you get the spice - that is, lotsa words are spoken backwards like "yob" for "boy" and we like sandwiches such as "absobloodylutely" etc.
Coming to the French again, they're quite likeable in the southern parts - Languedoc, Gascogne, Provence. It's in the blood I think, people living by the Mediterranean simply and sheerly HATE Paris and the northern folks. They say Paris has been colonizing the South since the 10th century, a more or less historically proven fact. They still (try to) keep to the old values, in their language "pretz, larguesa, egalitat, etc." (provencal words meaning largeness of the heart and soul, sincere and everlasting friendship, and other "chevalieresque" tags.)
Hi there, pardon me for asking but were you born in Britain?
"I'm a Wapping-born cockney.." this line got me thinking that you were.
Correct me if I am wrong but I thought that Wapping is your POB and you speak with a cockney accent that is a really hard to understand.
Is that right or am I totally off on this?
The other day I watched a late night special about the unwelcoming and sometimes downright rude behavior of the French towards tourists titled "What's in the scowl", where they said tourism to Paris (and France in general) is way down that has tourism officials worried. Concerned officials are scrambling to find remedies to improve the country's bad reputation, so among the many things and suggestions under consideration, they came up with a website where tourists can learn about commonly used facial expressions and gestures used by the French that may be encountered while traveling in France.
Tourism officials stated that tourists should not feel bad about about rude French behavior because they are equally rude to not only tourists but each other as well.
There you go, knowing this I feel a lot better now and I can hardly wait to start packing my suitcase. :) I think these officials got it all wrong, they should come up with a website where the people of France could learn how to be more friendly and welcoming after all they are the ones that will benefit from all those millions of tourist Euros.
Oh man, no, it hasn't a mere bit changed ! French play promptly deaf to English words. My very life on it as my dear wife - and dearest mom-in-law ;) - are French and I'm a Wapping-born cockney... When countrysiding, our wee boy MUSTN'T utter a single English word or the uncles'n'aunties cry blasphemy.
I've been to France only once in my life and it was 16 years ago (God, how old I am). I remember that we were trying to get cigarettes and asking people on the street to give some, though, nobody did. In the end, some afro-american guys helped us. Actually, French were pretty inhospitable or sometimes even rude. At the same time, I must admit that we weren't the best visitors either, having worn ragged clothes and had empty pockets. Perhaps, the situation has changed since then, as my clothes too, since all nations, including France, have had to get used to the fact that English is the language of the world. But before going abroad we could learn some practical expressions in the language of the country is to be visited, I reckon, and in this way the situation might be much easier, although there are some exceptions, such as Croatia where my Croatian words weren't as appreciated as I expected so.
You are right in basic situations (buying something, order some dishes in restaurants or asking some help) I wrote about the fact, when you try to take new relationship. I feel they expect to speak French exactly and if you can't they "draw a wall" and they make felt that "you are a simply outsider".
Well, when they heard my french in Paris, they automatically switched to English :-)) In restaurants and pubs everybody talked English (at least where I was). In shops not so many, but with my French and their English we could understand each other. I was staying in a camping, and there all speaked English as well.
Hey! Im very glad to this topic, I would like to practice english also. I chat with an canadian guy since more then 5 month , but I had to realize I cant know him... I thought that I can talk in english, but it wasnt true. I often mix into misunderstanding, thats why Im allways between doubt about my english knowledge........ Its soooooo bad! Have you similar experiences?
Hi there visa1b2, the alarm bells are ringing for your President!
His approval rating is at an all time low.
Congress’ approval rating is even lower at 18 percent.
Half of the people polled this week said that they believe Congress is corrupt. Look at Rep. William J. “Cold Cash” Jefferson (Louisiana) who hid 90,000.00 Dollars in his refrigerator that was recovered by the FBI during a corruption investigation and raid on his office
Bush’ rhetoric of “the war on terror”, “staying the course in Iraq”, “a free and democratic Iraq is vital to the security of the United States” does not seem to generate a lot of public support for his foreign policy just days away from crucial mid-term elections. The Foley (R) congressional page scandal has not helped improve poll results for the Republican Party, champions of “family values” either.
Your much admired friend Condi, Secretary of State is at her wits’ end what to do with North Korea that is about to blow up another load of nukes. Go tell your Condi to hammer out a deal with North Korea and stop them from further nuclear tests before it is not too late for all of us, innocent bystanders. You can’t turn a blind eye on this potentially fatal diplomatic crisis, we desperately need your help visa1b2.
It is better to be active now than radio-active later.
Let me know what do you think about all this.
I can hardly wait for your reply.
Cheers.
