*spams flist*
Mar. 12th, 2006 01:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fightingthecageHahahaha! I've been reading a community that points out the differences in US and UK language for the benefit of fic writers. Mainly HP by the look of it, seeing as a lot of Americans write HP fic and some obviously want to get the Britishisms right. And I just found an entry I adore.
I should explain - I've spent months on end in America. And every time I'm there, I end up having to explain that no, I'm not actually an alcoholic, even though I drink every night. This always leads to a 'Bzuh?!' face from the person I'm talking to, which, in turn, leads to me having to explain something about British culture. But this passage does it a lot better than I do (mainly because I'm usually trollied by the time I have to attempt explanations).
Note - Euan Blair is Tony Blair's eldest son. And Tony Blair is the Prime Minister, although I'm sure y'all know that.
* * * * *
"Under age drinking is de rigeur, as are lockins [when the owner of the pub or bar locks the door to the establishment at closing time, but allows the regulars to stay indoors (i.e. locked in) and continue drinking (and paying) all night], as is a general heavy drinking culture especially among students, the professional classes, the working classes, sports fans, holiday-makers and those celebrating significant life events such as the passing of exam results. Euan Blair was found in a gutter in Leicester Square following his O levels, and the general public reaction was that he must have some lousy mates to have left him, coupled with appreciation that he'd had the nous, at least, to attempt to give a false name to the cop who was trying to redeliver him to his sorrowing friends and relations. His father, also, reacted in the traditional English manner to this; amused tolerance coupled with a threat ("His mother gets back from Italy tomorrow and I've told him she'll be having a word with him"). Nothing shrieks "Americanism" to me more than characters making jokes abotu 12 step programs, suggesting that anyone would regard teenage drinking as a sign of instability and incipient alcoholism, or the belief that alcoholism is hereditary (it may well be, but Brits have never allowed the fact that Granddad is a barmy old soak to put them off getting wellied themselves)."
* * * * *
There. A drinking culture extrodinaire. HEE! *loves it*
Link to full entry
I should explain - I've spent months on end in America. And every time I'm there, I end up having to explain that no, I'm not actually an alcoholic, even though I drink every night. This always leads to a 'Bzuh?!' face from the person I'm talking to, which, in turn, leads to me having to explain something about British culture. But this passage does it a lot better than I do (mainly because I'm usually trollied by the time I have to attempt explanations).
Note - Euan Blair is Tony Blair's eldest son. And Tony Blair is the Prime Minister, although I'm sure y'all know that.
* * * * *
"Under age drinking is de rigeur, as are lockins [when the owner of the pub or bar locks the door to the establishment at closing time, but allows the regulars to stay indoors (i.e. locked in) and continue drinking (and paying) all night], as is a general heavy drinking culture especially among students, the professional classes, the working classes, sports fans, holiday-makers and those celebrating significant life events such as the passing of exam results. Euan Blair was found in a gutter in Leicester Square following his O levels, and the general public reaction was that he must have some lousy mates to have left him, coupled with appreciation that he'd had the nous, at least, to attempt to give a false name to the cop who was trying to redeliver him to his sorrowing friends and relations. His father, also, reacted in the traditional English manner to this; amused tolerance coupled with a threat ("His mother gets back from Italy tomorrow and I've told him she'll be having a word with him"). Nothing shrieks "Americanism" to me more than characters making jokes abotu 12 step programs, suggesting that anyone would regard teenage drinking as a sign of instability and incipient alcoholism, or the belief that alcoholism is hereditary (it may well be, but Brits have never allowed the fact that Granddad is a barmy old soak to put them off getting wellied themselves)."
* * * * *
There. A drinking culture extrodinaire. HEE! *loves it*
Link to full entry
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 01:45 am (UTC)The above explanation of our drinking culture is just as true for the Scots, Welsh and Irish. Perhaps even more so for the Irish (I totally use it as an excuse).
Perfect example - the village I live in holds about 100 houses altogether. It's tiny. And yet, there are still three pubs in it. Drinks are involved in every social situation. Hell, there's a street in Edinburgh called Rose Street and it's famous because it holds over 100 pubs. Yes, on one street. It's not even that long a street, it's just that every single building on it is a pub. And they're all packed, every night.
Man, sometimes it's good to be British. *beams*
no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 01:51 am (UTC)Heredetary alcoholism has been my excuse for YEARS.
Guess I'll have to default to "no, really, I just don't like booze" huh?
no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 02:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 03:36 am (UTC)Shit, this reminds me of being on the phone last night with Chris when he was drunk off his ass. I have never laughed so much in my life.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-13 12:12 pm (UTC)fucking cheers!