I’m not really sure where to go with this blog chain. I mean, kappa no he really threw me for a loop with the whole “Don’t Pee on the Worm” idea. Not too sure I can top that one… LOL.
It did get me to thinking, though, about how people from different cultures struggle with slang in the English language. Meanings for many words are different depending upon the culture and context. Let me give you two examples:
Many years ago, I worked with a man from India. He was well educated, but English was not his first language. He spoke well and had no problem getting his meaning across until the day he asked his secretary to run to the store to buy rubbers. The poor lady did a double-take, then a triple-take, and couldn’t decide if she should be amused or offended. After a few go-rounds, it became obvious that what the man wanted her to buy were pencil erasers. In American slang we tend to use the word “rubbers” to mean condoms, but in India and (I believe) in England, the word rubbers can mean pencil erasers or waterproof boots. Same word, vastly different meaning.
Another quirky example of slang-gone-wrong comes from my own dear Grandmother. She was born and raised in Ireland and speaks with a lovely brogue. The older she gets, the more she throws around little sayings from her youth. During a routine medical appointment, she was teasing and joking with the young doctor. He was bemoaning his hectic schedule for the day and the nasty weather. As the appointment ended, my sweet Grandmother placed her hand gently on the doctor’s shoulder and advised him to “keep your pecker up!”. The doctor’s eyes went round with shock at this 80-something woman referring to his “pecker”. In Ireland, that little adage refers to a bird’s beak.. as in something that pecks.. a pecker. It means to keep your chin up. In America, we use the word pecker as slang for a penis. Completely different meaning when you say “keep your penis up”!
To make matters even more difficult, slang changes with each generation. It can be hard to keep up - even for those of us who were born and raised speaking English. Take the word “gay” for instance. In my grandmother’s generation, gay meant happy. In my generation, gay meant stupid - as in… that was SO gay! (don’t forget the dramatic eye-roll). In my daughter’s generation, gay means homosexual. Same word, three different meanings.
And with that, I will toss this blog chain over to veinglory. I can’t wait to see what she does with it. 
Here is the full blog chain.
The participating blogs in Absolute Write Blog Chain January 2009:
Razib Ahmed
Benjamin Solah
FreshHell
WendyNYC
madderblue
Kat Frass
the Cliterature blog
truelyana
Ralph Pines
January 29th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I once had an Australian friend who thought the little bags that tourists often wear–”fanny packs”–was hilarious. Where he’s from, “fanny” means “vagina.”
January 29th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I love this! When I was small I fell in love with the word pecker. I had heard it on TV, I remember. But also thought it had to do with a bird’s beak. I spent a few months calling everyone in sight a pecker. That is until the day I called my father one. Boy, did I get it. The worst was my mother trying to explain it. I was entirely ‘grossed out’ to say the least.
terrie
January 30th, 2009 at 9:02 am
I had no idea that rubber meant condom. ‘Rubber’ is meant pencil eraser in my country, Bangladesh too. In fact, it is such a common word that now, it is no longer considered to be a foreign (English) word. Rather, it has become a part of Bangla language. One thing is shocking to me about American people. They can use slang words much more openly in public than my people. Am I right or is it a wrong prejudice?
January 30th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Razib - I think that the American people are much quicker to adopt slang into the standard vocabulary. For example - up until about 5 years ago.. you never heard the word “bling” used to mean sparkly jewelry … now the word is everywhere including tv and radio commercials. It is so mainstream now… but it started as slang.
Terri - I love the word pecker… it rolls off the tongue so well! LOL.. but.. in America you’d better be darn careful when you use it! No birdies here…
Wendy - I’ve heard that about “fanny” before.. and it always makes me laugh too.
Thanks for the comments!!
January 30th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Too funny! I only have to contend with the various Southern accents found in Virginia. Some are impenetrable even to me and I’ve lived my entire life in this state.
January 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Australian slang can often be the most random and confusing. The amount of time the word “bludge” meaning to be lazy and do no work, made people confused at AW was astonishing.
January 31st, 2009 at 11:48 am
The use of slang in todays society varies on who uses it. I for one, learn new phrases everyday. Living in the UK, humour is easy to come by, and I don’t understand for most part or find funny the most notable phrases used in conversation. I have learnt to slowly get it, as it’s a play on words for most part. Many words are still new to me, and it is always interesting to find out different people’s meanings.
January 31st, 2009 at 12:36 pm
[...] today. Madderblue linked todays lingo with a favourite Japanese proverb; don’t pee on it. Kat Frass discussed the differences of English slang in different cultures. Veinglory talked about the use [...]
January 31st, 2009 at 2:26 pm
[...] say in public. Madderblue took on the theme of language and how it differs in different countries. Kat Frass ran with the theme and illustrated how language changes even among those who speak the same mother [...]
May 22nd, 2009 at 9:53 pm
any changes coming ?