Job Discussion Forums

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 2:13 pm Post subject:

Well, for personal reasons, I prefer "W.C." to "the john."
Regards,
John

mjed9 · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 242

I know this is supposed to be about words we overuse but ...

How about the use of the word "comfortable" with Chinese students.

Everything is f***king comfortable from hair to people to books to how they feel emotionally.

I try to tell them only chairs and suchlike are comfortable (and the occasional atmosphere)

J

Slim Pickens · Joined: 25 Nov 2003 Posts: 299

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

And then, there was the grumpy actor who always went pee in the middle of the farm: W.C. Fields.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I guess that they are taught WC is polite, bathroom gets giggles, restroom, they don't understand, and toilet gets giggles as well. My kids are taught toilet and bathroom.

Do you ever get the WC finger sign? almost like the ok sign? I had middle schoolers who used to do that, they refused to say WC, bathroom, restroom, or toilet. weird.

Slim Pickens · Joined: 25 Nov 2003 Posts: 299

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

The word "W.C." overused? You must be funny in your head!
Contrary, I think anglophones have an unwholesome tendency to use euphemisms as plainly evident in this kind of concept:
Bathroom, washroom, restroom - laughable attempts at diverting your attention from the less heroic functions of your own body.

Do you "rest" in the "bathroom"? Can you take a "bath" in there?

The acronym "w.c." has been adopted internationally, and I think CHinese students use it appropriately.

If they have to use this word a number too many for your personal taste, then it's not the word per se but the fact that nature calls - too often.

Forbid thgem to use the "washroom" during exams! And, exhort them to drink less water...

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

gtidey · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 93

Make them refer to it as "the pool". It'll probably make your school sound a lot better and it'll keep you amused.

"can i go to the pool?"
"alright, but no diving!"

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Mark-O · Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 12:53 pm Post subject:

Well I prefer "Khazi" (spelling?). Though 'sh_itter' is an elegant term to adopt.

Which reminds me, a good friend of mine has aspired to one day having his own pub, purely for the reason of being able to give it a name. He has proposed to call it 'The Shi_tter', so that he can overhear male patrons of the pub resting against the bar saying "Yeah, more fool me, I promised to take my wife up 'The Shi_tter' tonight!". Purile, I know, but ...

Norman Bethune · Joined: 19 Apr 2004 Posts: 731

ligerbird · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 3

W.C in China - when i first arrived i was given a book called i want to go pee. My primary kids loved it squeeling in delight at this book.....until i was told the chinese ' gou pi' Embarassed

However it all worked out for the best and after a while even the headmaster would giggle and say i'm off to go pee.

Most used words - delicious and interesting. I have found I have now adopted this to describe anything - the film was interesting but not delicious!