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sweetpea
Joined: 03 May 2004
Posts: 33
Location: Bursa, Turkey
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 Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: 'eathen |
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| Albulbul wrote: |
One tortoy, two tortoise ?
For some reason Americans do not use the word tortoise. They call them turtles. Similarly they are blissfully unaware of what a "budgerigar" or "budgie" is.
Benighted colonial 'eathens ! |
FOR SOME REASON MOST PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE US DON'T REALIZE THAT WHEN THEY MAKE STATEMENTS ABOUT AMERICANS THEY ARE USUALLY SPEAKING ERRONEOUSLY....
What's the difference between a tortoise and a turtle?
Strictly semantics. All are chelonians. All chelonians are turtles. There is indeed a regional variance in the naming of chelonians. With the advent of modern communications this regional variation is becoming blurred.
In the USA - a turtle is found in or around water and a tortoise is found on dry land. A terrapin is a turtle that is found in brackish water. In general, look at the back legs. If they are webbed, call it a turtle. If they are stumpy (like an elephants) call it a tortoise.
In the UK they apply terrapin to freshwater chelonians, tortoise to land chelonians, and turtle to oceanic dwellers.
In Australia 'tortoise' is used for everything except sea 'turtles'. (There are no land chelonians native to Australia)
Terrapin is also occasionally used as the name for any turtle that is to be eaten by humans in both the UK and USA.
HEATHENS... HARUMPH!!!
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vre
Joined: 17 Mar 2004
Posts: 371
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| Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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| OH PULEEEEZ! |
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justme
Joined: 18 May 2004
Posts: 1944
Location: Istanbul
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| Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2004 9:38 am Post subject: Budgie |
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I'm American and isn't budgie just a silly name for a parakeet?
Liked the turtle story. I wish I had a turtle. |
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