British Language

[Archie and Edith]

Hi,

I have a DVD of "Till Death Us Do Part" and I don't understand a few things they say. Can someone give some British words and what they mean.

Thank You,

Archie and Edith

[Mickey]

How about you post the words you don't understand, and we try to translate?! Otherwise it's kinda like shooting in the dark. :)

[Archie and Edith]

Some of the words are:
Bly me
daddy dums day (Not sure if that's exact way).

That's all the words/sayings I can remember.
If I remember more I'll post them.

Thanks,

Archie and Edith

Where is the place in the opening theme of
"Till Death Us Do Part" located?

[Mickey]

"Blimey", as in "Cor blimey", Cockney expression, derived from "Lord Blind Me" originally, allegedly. Means much the same as "Gosh", except is cruder, obviously. Was probably a mild obscenity many years ago, but isn't any more. The other one doesn't sound like it means anything, unless you're hearing it wrong! Probably much the same as saying 'la di da' or any other nonsense expression.

:)

[DramaQueen]

Mickey, Thanks. That cleared up a few things I was wondering ,but was afraid to ask. Thanks Again. :wave:

[Archie and Edith]

Thanks Mickey.

I was also wondering why the United States english is different than Briatain's english?

Thanks Again,

Archi and Edith

[Mickey]

Both languages have changed over the years. The English that was adopted by Americans as their new national language was the one taken over there by Puritan settlers. In many ways it's actually changed very little from that basic, quite old fashioned style, but has been added to by various immigrants over the years. It contains a lot of Yiddish for example, and also German and Italian.

British English has ben altered a lot by the Empire. India in particular was a big influence. Immigrants again have played a big part, but immigrants into Britain tend to come from difference places to immigrants into America. Former colonial countries very often - India and Pakistan, also the West Indies, all bringing their own words and slang.

Also America and Britain are different places, so things were bound to change anyway.

All the above is probably only part of the reason.

[Tourmaline]

Also bear in mind this happens to other languages - there's a stronger correlation between Quebecan French and the French language as spoken 300 or so years ago than there is between French 300 years ago and French spoken today in France. :)

[Mickey]

Yes, that would make sense I suppose, since French in France will have adapted independently of the language exported to Canada.

Does anybody know how much difference there is now between the Spanish spoken in Spain and that spoken in South America?

[cp32]

I used to draw my conclusion as what smeg meant. Until I found out recently when trading with someone in the U.K That smeg is dirt under the foreskin of your ....

[Mickey]

Whoever said that is having you on! Smeg is a made up word. They wanted to be able to swear on the show without actually swearing properly, and so decided to make up their own swear word. Smeg is entirely without meaning in proper English, and if some people have decided to invent their own meanings for it, it's just something personal for them. :)

Check out the various web sites for the show. Smeg has no meaning at all outside of the context of the show.

[japfles]

Nah, you're wrong Mickey, surely?

The word smeg is a shortened version of smegma and has been around a very long time.

Dictionary definition: The matter secreted by any of the sebaceous glands. Specifically: (a) The soapy substance covering the skin of newborn infants. (b) The cheesy, sebaceous matter which collects between the glans penis and the foreskin.

[Mickey]

Well they always claimed they made it up!