The week of listening dangerously

I highly recommend "The Years of Talking Dangerously" great book made up of commentaries mostly (wholly?) broadcast on NPR by Geoffrey Nunberg. Some how it seems even more fitting read of American culture and class and political struggle sitting in England than it is back home.

A little note on the Queen's English.

Here a "scheme" is just a plan or a programme back home it has more sinister connotations. Chips are French fries and crisps are chips (or did I get that backwards?) You put your luggage in a boot and your trash in a bin and your appointments in a diary. Toast is white or brown - not white or wheat. And you never put sweets and savory's on the same plate (still not sure what that means though I gave myself away as American by doing it!). Kit is hardware not a Transam. Not to mention, those zeds of American English are supposed to be s's.. not z's. Which is a PITA when you work in a specialization of optimization (or is that specialisation of optimisation?).

Warwick castle is pronounced "Warick" not "war-wick". Portsmouth is "portsmuth" not "ports-mouth" and Gosport is "gos-port" not "go-sport". Of course, maybe this is just a reflection of the people I am spending time with :) English accents are rather varied as well. Quite lovely to hear. I wonder if the variety of American accents are also pleasing to the ear (I doubt it).

"Brilliant!" usually does mean they really think it was a brilliant idea. "Lovely!" is also a good idea or plan/scheme. But, both terms can be used to indicate sarcastic intent. Another thing I noticed... um, Ummmmm, uMMMMmmmm, umhum and nuhum all mean different things. Tone tells you if its casual agreement, mild interest, intent interest, a positive yes, or negative no. I do like the "um" to indicate, "yes, I heard you and agree". I am happy my husband seems to be taking up the practice. It is better than silence or mild grunt.

It is nice being a relatively fresh ear in an ancient country. I hope I visit the UK many many times in the future... and I hope I never lose my appreciation for the sound of the Queen's English.