Job Discussion Forums

[sheikh radlinrol]

The Spanish press (EL MUNDO) is reporting that Obama used the word ¨queue¨, when saying we would have to go to the back of something. Farage has pounced on this as evidence that his speech was written in Downing Street since an American would use ¨line¨ instead of queue. Is this true? I didn´t see Obama speak in Englsih.

[johnslat]

That's absurd - were I speaking to a British audience, I would use "queue" rather than "line."

I think most well-educated people would.

"Okay, it's certainly true that queue is used relatively rarely in American English: As the Oxford English Dictionary says in its listing for the word, it is a "chiefly British" word. But this isn't exactly a smoking gun. As James Ball of Buzzfeed UK was quick to point out on Twitter, Obama has actually used the word "queue" a number of times before.

You can see it in this White House transcript from 2010, for example, when Obama says: "There were several people who were still in the queue who didn’t have a chance to speak prior to us breaking." Or in another transcript from 2011, when he says: "Could I just say that Chuck is the only guy who asked two questions — so far. So just — when I cut off here, whoever was next in the queue — I’m messing with you, Chuck." Or in yet another transcript from two years after that, when he says: "We’ve got to make sure that we have a legal immigration system that doesn’t cause people to sit in the queue for 5 years, 10 years, 15 years — in some cases, 20 years."

The instances of Obama using "queue" do seem relatively rare, but they exist and they appear to be off-the-cuff comments. And importantly, in none of the above examples was the president being used to trick British people to not act in their own interest. In fact, Obama has something of a habit of using British English. According to "Britishisms," a blog run by University of Delaware English Prof. Ben Yagoda with the aim of catching the British English that enters into American daily life, the president has also been caught saying things like "full stop," "run to ground" and "take a decision."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/04/23/queue-obamas-use-of-british-english-makes-brits-suspicious/

[sheikh radlinrol]

Thank you Mr. S. Just shows what a dummy Mr. Farage is. Please note that I used ¨dummy¨ as I was addressing an American. In the pub I would have used dimwit or w*****.

[johnslat]

Dear sheikh,

Of course I noted that - I'm not a wanker.

Regards,
John

[Knedliki]

That's for others to decide.

[johnslat]

Dear Knedliki,

Actually, no it's not. I don't let myself be defined by others. Do you?

If I were to decide that you're a wanker, would that make you one? Hope not.

Regards,
John

[Knedliki]

I'm talking about a subjective opinion on a person's character
Whether you feel defined, insulted, slighted or anything else is irrelevant.

I can see why someone who has written thirteen thousand fatuous comments wouldn't understand that,.

[Dedicated]

Knedliki wrote :

[sheikh radlinrol]

[Knedliki]

He's immune from moderation for some reason. However, his trolling behaviour over the years has got a lot of people blocked on here.
Every few months there seems to be someone who can't tolerate his insufferable comments and tells him where to go.

[johnslat]

Dear Knedlili,

"He's immune from moderation for some reason."

Maybe I'm really Dave.

Would I be correct in guessing that you, in another incarnation, could be a victim of my "trolling behavior" (Would you mind providing some examples of that, please).

You needn't bother to provide an example of my "insufferable comments;" I imagine this post will suffice.

Regards,
John

[grahamb]

[johnslat]

Dear grahamb,

Well, it'd be an honor to be misidentified as you.

Regards,
John

[Hod]

Could I please remind everyone that Insufferable John may be immune from moderation but is still barred along with wangdaning from the Official ESLcafe Brexit poll.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=113478

[johnslat]

That barring would seem to be on the "honor" (or rather the "honour") system. But no fear, I will honour your request and cast no vote.

Should a thread be established with as poll for the upcoming US Presidential election, I'm sure you'll honour that restriction, as well.

Regards,
John