<div style="text-align: center;">=========================================================================<br>L O W L A N D S - L - 19 June 2008 - Volume 04<br style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">
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=========================================================================<br></div><br>From: <span class="HcCDpe"><span class="EP8xU" style="color: rgb(121, 6, 25);">Kevin & Cheryl Caldwell</span> <span class="lDACoc"><<a href="mailto:kevin.caldwell1963@verizon.net">kevin.caldwell1963@verizon.net</a>></span></span><br>
Subject: <span class="HcCDpe">LL-L "Idiomatica" 2008.06.19 (02) [E]</span><br><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">A couple more euphemisms for toilet:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">facilities – as in, "I need to use the facilities" or "Could you
direct me to your facilities?"</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">loo – supposedly from French "lieu" (place), or possibly from "l'eau"
(water). This term isn't used that much by Americans. It can be used humorously
by saying that you need to "skip to the loo" (a pun on the song, "Skip to My Lou").</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">We have a joke in my family about "rest areas" (roadside areas
on major highways with restrooms and, usually, picnic tables, dog walk areas,
etc.). Whenever we see a sign saying, "Rest Area, 1 Mile," the driver will
ask, "Does anyone need to rest their area?"</span></p>
<font color="#888888">
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Kevin Caldwell</span></p></font>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 40px; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span>From:
<span>Jorge Potter</span><span> </span><span><<a href="mailto:jorgepot@gmail.com" target="_blank">jorgepot@gmail.com</a>></span><br>
Subject: <span>LL-L "Etymology" 2008.06.15 (04) [D/E]</span></span></p>
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">
<div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<p><span>Dear Ron,
Denis and the rest,</span></p>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<p><span>Ron wrote:</span></p>
</div>
<blockquote style="border-style: none none none solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 6pt; margin-left: 34.56pt; margin-right: 0in;">
<p>All
of these phrases belong to the large category of euphemisms. Euphemisms can be
single words or whole phrases. They are a type of "doublespeak."
These particular types belong to the narrower category of indirections, i.e.
indirect references to something that for some reason or other ought not be
said. Furthermore, they are of the jocular and nonsensical types. It's not
actually a case of hidden meaning, since people know what the meaning is.<span></span></p>
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<p><span>In the 1920's
my father had a Chinese roommate, who was invited to dinner by some very
wealthy folks. Dad and other students gave him a quickie course on
American etiquette, such as "If they ask you if you wish to wash your
hands, it's an opportunity to relieve yourself." What they forgot to
mention was that Americans expected guests to be on time, never very early or
late.</span></p>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<p><span>He arrived
almost an hour early, to find the hostess in the midst of preparations and the
host not yet home from work, She dispatched him to amuse himself in their
extremely fancy, ornamental garden. When she called him in and asked if he
would like to "wash his hands," he replied, "Oh, no thank you,
madame, I already took care of that in the garden.</span></p>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<p><span>One evening
in the 50s, with only a smattering of French, I found myself in a Montreal home
and had to relieve myself. When I asked for the "bain," a big family
discussion ensued, none of which was understood by me. Finally they ushered me
into a small room with a bathtub and a washbowl, only.</span></p>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<p><span>As ever,</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p style="margin-left: 40px;">Jorge
Potter</p>
</div>
</div>
</div><br>