Two other countries separated by a common language

Laurence Horn laurence.horn at YALE.EDU
Mon Oct 1 16:39:13 UTC 2007


At 11:20 AM -0400 10/1/07, David Donnell wrote:
>The favorite of my 88 year old mom, from southeastern MO: "pointers & setters"
>
>(The latter being the gender which most often 'sets' down to pee. Of course.)
>

...and a third door marked "poinsetters", for shy pre-op transsexuals.

LH

>
>>----------
>>
>>Except, of course, when you're seeing cutsie somethings
>>such as cowboys / cowgirls, steers / heifers, jacks /jills,
>>and my personal favorite (!): talkers / gawkers.
>>----------
>>If I had to guess, I'd imagine Australia is more likely to
>>have similar useinisms (sic) than any other country where
>>English is the principal language. I perceive their language
>>(and use of it) as being more "colorful" (in a non-dirty
>>sense) than most others. Is that a fair or reasonable assumption?
>>(the other) doug
>>
>>================
>>Doesn't anyone ask for the "Men's Room" or
>>"Ladies' Room" for public facilities any
>>more?  It's what I see on the doors in the U.S.
>>
>>Joel
>>
>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



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