Job Discussion Forums

Steiner · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 573 Location: Hunan China

Elsie/Guruji,
I believe you have misunderstood me. It was exactly my point that in all my years in America I had not heard the word. So I was wondering if perhaps it is a common word in the English-speaking world outside the U.S.

I know that a parakeet is a budgerigar is a budgie. It's common. Maybe a leiothrix is just as common to a Brit, I thought. Heck, I don't know what they keep as pets. Maybe every third person is a leiothrix lover. Or maybe they know as little about the mysterious leiothrix as I do. Hence, the question.

nomadder · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2003 11:46 pm Post subject: the middle view

Wow this is a long one so if anyone's still here-HELLO OUT THERE!
Once I saw the definition of invigilator I remembered it from my childhood days and I'm not British. Canadian and if I missed a Canadian posting in all this then this may be repetitive. Just want to say that we still retain some old British words and have our choice of spellings-favorite, favourite.
Seems the British respondents are sometimes a little touchier than the American ones here. Wonder why.
If you read old literature than it's possible to know some of the Britishisms since dropped by our pioneering folk. Someone told me the American version of English is making more and more headway than ever into Britain via movies and all that.

I once had a discussion with some British guys and it seemed that maybe American English has more words-ex: review vs. revision discussed earlier-we use them both but revision has taken on a slightly different meaning. Still as a child it was used interchangeably with review for me. We seem to have added words and I sometimes wonder well if review is revision then what is revision? This happens with other examples too. But in this discussion I had before we decided that the Brits have more terms for being drunk and for the sex act. Go figure. Hmm?

selmo · Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 47 Location: China

It seems that English people understand all the words Americans use but Americans do't understand the ones English people use. Is this due to the general level of education in America being lower or is it due to America producing more movies? Did you do your homework ? said my American teacher buddy. I just told the student to say yes three years ago!

selmo · Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 47 Location: China

Revision is what you do alone . Review is what you do as a class lesson?

Ann · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 45

I am guilty of using this one: "May I borrow your rubber?" Tee hee! My classmates were SO amused. What can I say? I was schooled in Brit. English and then had to "convert" to American English. HA!

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Let's keep this thread going for at least a year?

Withoput looking at a dictionary, review implies looking something over again, while revision implies making changes. This is how I would definitely interpret the two words. Now I'll have to look at a dictionary to see if I have been wrong all my life.

The Chinese are famous for finding obscure, highly technical words that no one ever uses. And their little electronic dictionaries (Which I do not allow them to use in the classroom) have some of the most arcane definitions ever.

So far, my favourite has been "mediator", from when I gave group exercises with members taking turns being mediator, leader, etc.

Over half the class used their electronic dictionaries and found that mediator means Jesus. (which actually makes sense ina totaly obscure way )

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Dear Chris (a.k.a. aRioch36 for those who don't know and love him like I do):

I have reviewed your post and decided to award you with 2 bonus points for your correct interpretation. Revision will not be necessary in this case.

revision: the act of revising or altering (involving reconsideration and modification)

review: practice intended to polish performance or refresh the memory

And you knew all that without looking in a dictionary? You sly old fox, you. Twisted Evil

Have a nice weekend, Chris!
kEnt

the above definitions are courtesy of: http://www.onelook.com/

khmerhit · Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 8:37 pm Post subject:

R said some time ago

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

In Britain we have revision lessons but no change is made. You revise for exams.

What is the problem with the homework question?

Ixchel · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 6:00 pm Post subject:

gugelhupf · Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 575 Location: Jabotabek

Steiner, As a Brit I can assure you that leiothrixes (correct plural?) are not kept as pets in the UK. Furthermore, and perhaps to my shame, I had never heard of the blessed bird until now - and I'm supposed to be a biologist.

As for antimaccassars (spelling?) I understand that the name refers to a vile hair oil used in Victorian times, sort of a very organic Brylcreem made from something exotic and obscure, that was called Maccassar. The doileys were mean to keep the filthy stuff off your upholstery.

What does intrigue me is an old Brit spelling of "shown" as "shewn" that I haven't seen anywhere for years. Does anyone know what that was all about?

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Ixchel · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 10:06 pm Post subject:

khmerhit · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 10:34 pm Post subject:

Steiner · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 573 Location: Hunan China

Thanks, Ixchel and gugelhupf. I've been worried sick for the last ten months, waiting for a reply to my post.

What you see as the first post on page 16 of the thread was a reply I had made to a now-departed (at least under that name) troll.

Krispy Kreme doughnuts are the best food in the world!