Understanding each other on AW

I read this online today in preparing Olympic watchers for travel in England (Google this headline if the link doesn't pop up here):

The nation explained for visitors to the Olympic Games

Each 212-word section covered things like accents, trains, pub rounds, etc. But the parts about bad puns, even in serious newspapers, or self-deprecating humor as part of the national culture brought to mind some exchanges on AW that often are misunderstood when communicating with Brits. I wonder how our attempts and miscues on each others' languages/use of English vocabulary/humor on AW becomes cause for angst, impatience, apathy, or rejection? And what about broken English by those from non-English-speaking countries? (This works both ways. Surely, some of you have had a few chuckles at my Spanish!)

I have taken to Wikipedia definitions at times, or highlighted, copied and pasted whole paragraphs in order to translate them on Google Translations (to English) for myself. I have no idea how correctly my own sentences are offered to others when I try to change them to Russian or French for AW readers. Wouldn't it be nice if AW had not only a translation feature for type, but also a link to communication etiquette and cultural no-nos?

Anyway, the Olympics officially open Friday. Shall we all play a game of spotting bald heads in the crowds? I hear women can walk about more freely without wigs in England. Wonder if that applies to televised events, too?

Views: 376

Comment by mabaker on July 29, 2012 at 9:05pm

Duncan Goodhew a British swimmer won a gold and bronze medal in 1980 at the Moscow Olympics - he has AU - I think he fell out of a tree as a child and all his hair fell out. I loved the story Danny Boyle told on Friday night too.

Comment by Tallgirl on July 30, 2012 at 9:46am

Gail Porter on what it's like to be bald | The Sun |Woman|Health|Health
www.thesun.co.uk/sol/.../Gail-Porter-on-what-its-like-to-be-bald.html
Nov 5, 2009 – Helped career ... Duncan Goodhew. OLYMPIC swim champ Duncan lost all his hair through alopecia universalis aged just 11. The Brit hero ...

Comment by Tallgirl on July 30, 2012 at 9:50am

Staciana Stitts, Olympic Gold Swimmer | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
www.flickr.com/photos/baldrus/4712621939/
Staciana Stitts Winfield (born September 12, 1981 in Columbus, Ohio) is a breaststroke ... [4] She's been a motivational speaker at the National Alopecia Areata ...

Comment by Tallgirl on July 31, 2012 at 9:41am

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Comment by Tallgirl on July 31, 2012 at 11:06am

The Best of British - British Slang
www.effingpot.com/slang.shtml
Tweet Ace - If something is ace it is awesome. I used to hear it a lot in Liverpool. Kids thought all cool stuff was ace, or brill. Aggro - Short for aggravation, it's the ...

Comment by Tallgirl on August 3, 2012 at 6:56pm

There's more! People sent these in to add to Rule(s) Britannia:

Readers sum up British quirks in 212 words

Comment by Tallgirl on August 12, 2012 at 9:36am

Today is the last day. I have been following the BBC Live Blogs, and it is nice to see that joy of accomplishment and pride in country are universal emotions that we can all understand.

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