Gotham: Alfred is teaching British English

[dieastra]

Alfred is teaching Bruce about British English:

"Alfred, can I have some chips?"
"You mean crisps. These are chips."
"I'd also like a napkin, please."
"Nappies are for babies."

Comments

[leesa_perrie]

LOL! Though I don't get the 'napkin'/'nappie' thing. We have napkins in the UK and they are not the same thing as nappies. Yes, we also use the term 'serviette' for napkins, but a napkin is not a nappie, and a nappie is not a napkin. They are two separate things and no one would call a baby's nappie a napkin or vice versa!

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

Alfred was just messing with Bruce! Really too bad I can't do expressions on those. He looks way too serious saying that.

My online dictionary actually lists napkin as an old (dated) British word for diaper. And since Alfred is rather old... ;)

https://www.dict.cc/?s=napkin

We also say serviette in Germany!

[leesa_perrie]

Gosh, that must be old! I suppose I should have realised that nappies came from the word napkins, but it sounds really weird to put a napkin on a baby, lol!! :D

Poor Bruce, lol! :D :D

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

And when scrolling down the list we come to the American sanitary napkin and it is again something entirely else! How is a poor foreigner to sort through these?

Back in school I learnt British English, things like cinema and flat. Now it's suddenly movies/pictures and apartment.

I love these kind of discussions though! Once back in Torchwood times there was a case where British and American fans had trouble with the whole Jack and suspenders/braces thing and that's where I first heard about the napkin comparisons.

It's an interesting discussion how long out of date it already is. Maybe you could ask your grandmother (if you have one) if she knows it from way then?

[leesa_perrie]

Yeah, I've noticed the move to 'apartments' as if they're something more up market than a lowly 'flat' *rolls eyes* A flat is a flat at the end of the day!

I've found myself saying 'movies' these days, but I still use 'films' as well. But I balk at the use of 'theatre' at the cinema. It is not a theatre, not at all!! :)

Oh yeah, suspenders still makes me smile, even though I know they mean braces! :D :D

No grandparents left I'm afraid. Ah well.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Good! It is always so difficult to teach students those iconic differences between Britich and American English. You chose the problem very well!

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

I think children learn their lessons better when they get something to eat ;)

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Definitely!!!

[niviene.livejournal.com]

This is great!

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

Heh, thank you! I had bought those chips bags and always wondered what to do with them.