English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

David Wallace

11:00

Hey, I don't get that. Why do Americans call themselves Randy?

Gigili

@DavidWallace Is it?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

So they can rhyme themselves with Brandy.

David Wallace

Now I'm thinking of that old joke about the obsessed women in the doctor's waiting room.

Matt Эллен

hmmm space?

ah

David Wallace

Your professional reputation is hereby restored.

Matt Эллен

11:02

ta

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Your unprofessional reputation, on the other hand...

Matt Эллен

well, you win some, you lose some

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Jun 20 '11 at 19:36, by RegDwight

Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you.

Matt Эллен

sometimes the bear eats the snake

RegDwight Ѭſ道

And sometimes Tuesday.

David Wallace

11:05

So three women and their daughters are in a doctor's waiting room. The doctor comes out and says to the first woman -

Gigili

It's raining cats and dogs. I hope I don't catch fleas.

David Wallace

Mrs Smith, I don't know why you keep coming here; all your problems come down to the fact that you're obsessed with money. Look, you're so obsessed with money that you named your daughter Penny.

He says to the second woman -
Mrs Jones, I don't know why you keep coming here; all your problems come down to the fact that you're obsessed with alcohol. Look, you're so obsessed with alcohol that you named your daughter Sherry.

The third woman stands up and says to her daughter -
Come on Fanny, we're leaving.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Ha.

Meysam

@DavidWallace What's Fanny?

David Wallace

(Doesn't work in American though)

RegDwight Ѭſ道

11:08

@Meysam vagina.

Matt Эллен

@Meysam Fanny is colloquial for female genitalia

David Wallace

@Meysam - It's a girl's name. It also means مهبل

Gigili

You can also look it up in a dictionary of your choice.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

I think we have a question somewhere.

7

A: Words with different meanings in American and British English

Fanny: buttocks (AE); vagina (BE) Not an insignificant distinction. Bless the soul who confuses the two in practice.

Meysam

@Gigili It's easier to ask here. This way I don't need to open another tab in the browser :D

RegDwight Ѭſ道

11:10

Hear hear!

Efficiency!

Meysam

@DavidWallace Such a strange girl name, lol

RegDwight Ѭſ道

No double spaces!

@Meysam It's short for Stephanie.

David Wallace

It's no worse than Dick for a boy.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Or Bush for his boss.

David Wallace

@RegDwightѬſ道 I'd never noticed that before!

Vitaly

11:13

so is Beaver a surname?

apparently so:

> Dick Beaver, D.C. Chiropractor in Blairsden, CA

Suits him well.

David Wallace

Yes, there is one family of Beavers in the Wellington phone book.

In fact, they live very close to me.

Gigili

Watch out.

David Wallace

I had to explain the TV ad with the beaver (that I mentioned in here a few days ago) to my wife when she first saw it.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Some people are just in beaver. I'm not pointing fingers or calling names.

Matt Эллен

speaking of funny surnames

3

RegDwight Ѭſ道

11:18

It's funny and true!

Matt Эллен

:D

RegDwight Ѭſ道

No one else can use the internet to type in their name.

David Wallace

Don't forget awkwardnames.com

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Don't forget zombo.com.

@DavidWallace So you make up for typing two whitespaces everywhere by not typing a single one in domain names, I see.

Matt Эллен

I'm fairly sure this one must be a joke

RegDwight Ѭſ道

11:22

@MattЭллен Some people will actually change their name into something like this, voluntarily.

Matt Эллен

that's true

RegDwight Ѭſ道

There is not a single person with my surname in the database.

Matt Эллен

there are 84 with the surname turd

RegDwight Ѭſ道

When I break it up into its parts, the second one gets 83 hits (should be more like ten million), while the first one still gets zero.

Vitaly

Mar 31 '11 at 18:26, by JSBangs

1

Q: How did the word "beaver" come to be associated with vagina?

What is the etymology of the word Beaver as it relates to a women's vagina?

etymology

Matt Эллен

11:24

> There are 10,197 people with the Ellen surname

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@MattЭллен So one half of me is less popular than turd.

Matt Эллен

@RegDwightѬſ道 the other half doesn't exist

RegDwight Ѭſ道

I am flying under the radar. Until I become the President of the Universe, that is.

David Wallace

I believe there's a town in Austria called Fucking (although there may be an umlaut, I'm not sure).

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Then I will fly under the radar in bulletproof limos.

Matt Эллен

11:26

@RegDwightѬſ道 you could have a regmobile!

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@DavidWallace You will find it not only in Austria, but also in the transcript of this room. Many times.

And no Umlaut.

/fookking/

David Wallace

Fine, close me as ED then.

Gigili

I'd flag you for moderator attention. You're full of nice words today.

David Wallace

Hmm, is the moderator cute?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

I've never seen him.

David Wallace

11:29

I'm just looking at the list of words with different meanings in English and American. Is "bugger" seriously a term of endearment for children in USA?

Meysam

@RegDwightѬſ道 Nobody has ever seen them indeed. They are kind of invisible

RegDwight Ѭſ道

If you mean it that way, any word can be a term of endearment.

KitFox

Hi.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Wo?

Matt Эллен

halloo

Gigili

11:31

Hier und dort.

KitFox

@RegDwightѬſ道 Don't worry. I've got it under control.

Gigili

Holla.

Meysam

@KitFox Hi, are you a moderator?

KitFox

@Meysam No. Why do you ask?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

The shark is being caressed as we speak.

@KitFox We are looking for a mod.

They are never around.

KitFox

11:32

Ahahahaha.

Are you having some fun this morning?

And you don't want to get caught?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Not really, no.

2 hours ago, by Meysam

The question is, where are the moderators? Aren't they meant to be around?

2 hours ago, by Meysam

@WillHunting But on stackoverflow they are always there, 24 hours a day :)

KitFox

I am so confused.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Well this site needs stronger moderation.

But nobody's there!

KitFox

Damn invisible mods.

Matt Эллен

100% closed questions! all answers deleted!

RegDwight Ѭſ道

11:34

Mar 10 at 12:47, by RegDwight Ѭſ道

Huh, Kosmo no longer has mod privileges.

See what happens, Larry?

KitFox

sad panda

You can make me a mod, if you want.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Dig it, if you can! In just seven days.

KitFox

I should just be a chat mod though.

Matt Эллен

it is Kit's job to be judgemental

KitFox

I am judgmental.

It's true. I can post my Myers-Briggs as evidence.

Matt Эллен

11:35

sorry, I get confused how to express it

KitFox

What?

David Wallace

I love trans-Atlantic spelling differences.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Well I think we should have been having mod elections by now. But somehow we aren't.

Matt Эллен

not your job, but your essence

KitFox

Oh really? Mod elections?

hides

RegDwight Ѭſ道

11:36

Well they are supposed to be held each year.

KitFox

Huh.

Oh right, I haven't been here quite one year yet.

Not until sometime soon.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Some of the sites that went live shortly before us have had their second round already.

KitFox

Well, are the mods supposed to call the elections?

Matt Эллен

Maybe we're on the naughty step?

KitFox

Because they are never around.

Matt Эллен

11:38

invisible some might say

Gigili

If they hold mod election a thousand times, I'll vote for you 999 times.

Oh had a clever thought again, but it died of loneliness. So sad.

3

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@KitFox The mods are supposed to call the elections "fair and balanced". Alternatively, "honey" or "Susan" will do.

KitFox

@RegDwightѬſ道 As long as the don't call them late for dinner. Got it.

David Wallace

@KitFox Yes, but if they do it within three days, they seem overly needy.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

/election

David Wallace

11:41

@Gigili Maybe it's gone off to join the other one.

Meysam

I think ELAU is a site that none of the stack exchange founders are aware of. That's why there has been no elections so far here. This site is nothing more than a hallucination.

David Wallace

Hey, now that there's an American here, I can ask the Randy question again!

Matt Эллен

@Meysam have you met Jeff Atwood?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@Meysam Oh trust me, the founders are aware.

Too aware.

David Wallace

Why do some American men call themselves Randy, as a name?

Matt Эллен

11:43

he pops by and hassles us now and again

KitFox

@DavidWallace Short for Randall, usually.

@RegDwightѬſ道 strokes feathers soothingly

David Wallace

Yeah, I know, or Randolph. But why?

If my name were Hornswoggle, I wouldn't go by Horny!

KitFox

Why why? Same reason as William is Willy or John is Johnny.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@DavidWallace Oh you liar. You so would.

Matt Эллен

@DavidWallace maybe you would!

RegDwight Ѭſ道

11:45

Jinx.

KitFox

More likely'd be "Horns" if were Hornswoggle.

Gigili

Superjinx.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@KitFox Or Swog.

Matt Эллен

David Wallace

But, to go up to someone and say "Hi, I'm Randy" just sounds like "Wanna bonk?"

KitFox

11:46

shrugs

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@MattЭллен I see cork, but what about coke?

KitFox

"Randy" is a pretty redneck name.

Matt Эллен

@RegDwightѬſ道 not the same? oh, uh...

KitFox

But "bonk"?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@DavidWallace And how many people go up to others only to say "Wanna bonk?" Honestly, I think "I'm Randy" is ten times cooler.

Gigili

11:47

Seven times, not ten, seven.

KitFox

No, eight.

Matt Эллен

maybe eight

jinx

RegDwight Ѭſ道

7

Q: How can I practice pronouncing "Coke" so it is not mistaken for another word?

I always fear my conversation sounds like this: — What would you like to drink, sir? — I will take some cock, thanks. — ROFL. Any tips on how to pronounce Coke so it is not mistaken for anything? :)

pronunciation

KitFox

No jinx.

David Wallace

If I were a woman and some guy said to me "Hi I'm Randy", my response would probably be "you've got a right hand haven't you?"

Gigili

11:48

I'm so happy that you're not a woman.

Matt Эллен

well, that's because you don't look like me

@RegDwightѬſ道 thanks!

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@DavidWallace you'd be surprised how few women are that ready witted. Or men, for that matter.

KitFox

I'd give a guy named Randy a chance, if he had all his teeth.

David Wallace

@MattЭллен Do you think that if I were a woman, I WOULD look like you?

Meysam

In America, Is it possible to call the police when your neighbor's dog is barking? I mean just call the police (for fun) and tell them this dog is scaring you. Would they do anything?

Matt Эллен

11:49

@DavidWallace well, maybe no beard, but it seems likely

KitFox

@Meysam Yes.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@KitFox What if he had all someone else's teeth?

KitFox

@RegDwightѬſ道 Still a possibility.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

You are so choosy.

David Wallace

@Meysam No, the phone lines are automatically disconnected every time a dog barks.

KitFox

11:50

Well, I don't really need to be choosy. 1. I'm a woman. And 2. I've a handsome husband.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

6

A: Can you contract the main verb in a sentence?

In American English, the contracted form ’ve is only possible as an auxiliary verb. It is not grammatical as a main verb. This is not the case in British English, where it is grammatical, and this is one of the differences between British and American English

Your heritage shows, Kit.

Gigili

@KitFox And you're awesome like that.

Meysam

@DavidWallace How do you know that? you are in New Zealand!

KitFox

tips hat

David Wallace

Always happens when I'm on the phone with one of my American friends. Their neighbour's dog starts barking and I have to call back later.

@Gigili and I'm so happy you're not a guy named Randy.

Gigili

11:59

I'm happy you're happy.

Meysam

@DavidWallace lol

KitFox

Is it too early for another cup of coffee?

Gigili

No lol in this chat.

KitFox

I really wish I had some Timbits this morning too.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

►

KitFox

12:00

Want that.

Vitaly

@KitFox lesswrong.com/r/discussion/lw/b92/… (you could be interested in some of the comments)

KitFox

@Vitaly Thanks.

David Wallace

Did she sing "Gigili Gigili woohoo" right at the end?

Meysam

@RegDwightѬſ道 What's the name of TV series?

David Wallace

Scrubs

RegDwight Ѭſ道

12:02

Scrubs.

Jinx.

David Wallace

A very predictable Jinx though.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

►

Meysam

@DavidWallace Is it among the list of TV series we should see before we die?

David Wallace

no.

Gigili

Is it among us?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

12:04

@Meysam ask me to hear a yes.

David Wallace

Oh come on, Reg, you can't be serious!

RegDwight Ѭſ道

shrug

Meysam

@RegDwightѬſ道 Is it among the list of TV series we should see before we die?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@DavidWallace I know you like that horrible, horrible abomination of a show that is Grey's Anatomy much more.

@Meysam absolutely.

JSBᾶngs

@Vit i'm reading through the comments there. any in particular you think are interesting?

David Wallace

12:06

I don't think I ever claimed to like Grey's Anatomy. I claimed to like certain parts of it.

Meysam

@RegDwightѬſ道 Oh come on, Reg, you can't be serious!

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@DavidWallace see, that's too much for my tastes already.

In fact now that I have typed the show's name, I must go take a shower.

David Wallace

You just don't like Kate Walsh. Anyway, she hasn't been in Grey's Anatomy for years.

Meysam

The last series I saw was Breaking Bad

KitFox

@Vitaly It's incredible how quickly I shut off on this one. I am amazed. I thought I'd have an open mind longer. I'll try again later.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

12:07

@DavidWallace I had to look up Kate Walsh.

Vitaly

@JSBᾶngs i don't think they are interesting, i think kit might be interested in some of them for her kid. e.g. the ones talking about specific communities and programmes for such kids

RegDwight Ѭſ道

I don't like anyone in that series.

There is not a single actor in there.

It's horrible.

I'd rather watch Melrose Place.

KitFox

@Meysam @Robusto's a big fan of that one.

@RegDwightѬſ道 Heaven forfend!

David Wallace

@RegDwightѬſ道 Then why did you seem so passionate in the vitriol you poured upon her?

KitFox

imagines pouring vitriol on Kate Walsh

RegDwight Ѭſ道

12:09

@DavidWallace Because I know her just not the name.

David Wallace

It's just about the only time I've ever seen you worked up about anything here.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Exactly.

And now off to the showermobile!

Meysam

@RegDwightѬſ道 what's the meaning of this sound? "Tchuga tchuga tchu tchu"

David Wallace

It's a train.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@RegDwightѬſ道 imagines swooshing-bar-of-soap-cut to next scene

KitFox

12:11

Wow. Just looking at her picture makes me not like her. Probably because she has the same narcissistic smile that my ex-sister-in-law does.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Meysam probably more commonly spelled chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo

David Wallace

but probably not transcribed by a native speaker of English.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Guys. I don't have Internet in my showermobile. Well, okay that's a lie. I don't want to use the Internet in my showermobile.

Meysam

@DavidWallace It's more like the sound of a train leaving the station

RegDwight Ѭſ道

►

@KitFox THANK YOU

David Wallace

12:13

@Meysam How is "a train leaving the station" unlike "a train"?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

That just proves my theory

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Mar 10 at 11:28, by RegDwight Ѭſ道

She's got too much of that I-am-so-beautiful-and-totally-aware-of-it attitude.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Germans love David Hasselhoff

Meysam

@DavidWallace Ah! I thought you said rain

KitFox

@RegDwightѬſ道 overwhelmed by sweaty manliness

swoons

RegDwight Ѭſ道

12:13

@KitFox get into my car.

Sorry, I mean jump.

Matt Эллен

Get out of my dreams first

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@RegDwightѬſ道 why, because you haven't showered yet?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Jump in my showermobile.

Meysam

@DavidWallace In Persian we say: Hoo-Hoo-Choo-Choo

RegDwight Ѭſ道

►

Gigili

12:14

@DavidWallace It's more bus that train when it's leaving.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

See, David Hasselhoff is the exact opposite of Kate Walsh.

David Wallace

He is the anti-Kate.

KitFox

He's just a raw sex machine.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@Meysam In Russian we say Владимир Путин.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@RegDwightѬſ道 opposite along which axis? Cuz he seems to have "too much of that I-am-so-beautiful-and-totally-aware-of-it attitude."

David Wallace

12:16

@RegDwightѬſ道 Because you'd like to see him under a train?

KitFox

@MrShinyandNew安宇 But he doesn't take himself seriously.

Matt Эллен

time to take myself very seriously.

KitFox

@MattЭллен OK, but not too hard!

Right. Coffee.

Who's got the Timbits?

Meysam

@RegDwightѬſ道 This video is not available in France, neither in UK

RegDwight Ѭſ道

I think I'll press this big red button to disconnect the showermobile from the Internet. Or fire a rocket at Kate Walsh. I'm not sure, it could actually do both. We'll find out.

David Wallace

12:18

No! Don't kill Kate!

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@Meysam clipfish.de/musikvideos/video/1565819/…

David Wallace

If I had to choose between being stranded on a desert island with Kate Walsh or with David Hasselhoff, I'd pick Kate every time.

Meysam

@RegDwightѬſ道 Couldn't see it again. Seems like they know I am connecting from Iran

KitFox

@Meysam You're really not missing much.

Meysam

@KitFox Thank God!

KitFox

12:22

Does anybody have any idea what I was working on on Wednesday?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Meysam Around here we thank Reg. Or if we're being ironic, Jeff Atwood.

4

@KitFox Wasn't that when a Dementor ate your data binding?

KitFox

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Right! I'd forgotten that. Now, if I can just remember which...

sends cogs and springs flying wildly

Meysam

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Thank @RegDwight. For being around

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Meysam and for showering.

KitFox

:D

Wait. Where'd he go?

Robusto

12:27

@KitFox Tru dat. Best show evah.

KitFox

Did you bring Timbits?

And hi!

David Wallace

1:30am. Off to bed. Good night everyone.

Robusto

@RegDwightѬſ道 And Medvedev? How do you say "sock puppet" in po-russki?

Meysam

@DavidWallace Good night

KitFox

@DavidWallace Good night!

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

12:35

Ok chat.se: FFS, if you show me a flagged message, and I click "invalid", just ignore the error if the message has already been invalidated by someone else. Don't show me an error! geez

KitFox

Yeah, I know, right?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

I wonder if there's a bug report open for that.

KitFox

Shit. Why did I split these tables?

I guess I wanted to make more work for myself.

Robusto

@MrShinyandNew安宇 JAVA NULL POINTER EXCEPTION: You criticized the SE Flag notification system. This process will shut down immediately.

KitFox

Hahaha

laughs and points

Yay! Reg is all clean!

RegDwight Ѭſ道

12:45

@Robusto protip: po- already means "in".

Robusto

@RegDwightѬſ道 But not in English. Some redundancy is to be expected when you hybridize languages.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

I see. Someone is having a the-world-is-a-serious-business day today.

KitFox

Hey, is "amerikaiski" something my brother made up to trick me when he was studying Russian? Or is that something Russians would actually say?

@Robusto Only from the hoi polloi. I thought you were above all that.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@Meysam according to @Rob right here, it's okay to refer to me as God as well.

Robusto

@RegDwightѬſ道 The world is a serious business today. As in, seriously, I'm giving you the business.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

12:47

@Robusto it's like "The hoi polloi"

Robusto

@KitFox ZOMG. You did it again.

Parallel jinx.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

jinx

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@KitFox amerikanskiy. American, adjective.

KitFox

@RegDwightѬſ道 Oh. I've remembered it wrong obviously. It's mixed up with Chinese somehow.

Thanks.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Yeah. Welcome to America!

Robusto

12:49

I shouldn't be here. I should be working. Get thee behind me, Satan!

KitFox

@Robusto Thank you for noticing.

Robusto

@RegDwightѬſ道 You are in America now?

KitFox

gets behind Rob

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Are you scared now?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Robusto I've never really understood that. Why would you want Satan behind you? He'd be more dangerous there. Plus he'd just stare at your ass in a creepy way.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

12:49

I am wherever my Duschmobil takes me.

Robusto

@KitFox Is that a banana in your pocket or are you ... hey, cut that out!

RegDwight Ѭſ道

... waiting ...

... still waiting ...

KitFox

~~stares at Rob's ass in a creepy way~~

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Okay, seriously. No staring at Rob's ass in a creepy way in this chat.

KitFox

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Maybe because then he's not between you and Jesus?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

12:50

... still waiting ...

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@KitFox Nah, Jesus was the one who said it

RegDwight Ѭſ道

What, no jokes with douchemobiles? I am disappoint.

KitFox

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Then not between him and God?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

I am looking at you, Rob. No, not your ass.

Robusto

sigh ... That's because you're a deutschbag with no sense of humor other than Schadenfreude.

KitFox

12:51

zing!

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Ah. Das Looking wörket.

Robusto

It was the least I could do. He was waiting so hard.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@KitFox I am leaning more towards the Bronze-age equivalent of "Talk to the hand!"

KitFox

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Indeed. Highly plausible.

neatens whiskers

RegDwight Ѭſ道

BRB cooking.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

12:53

Hey, a Wheel of Time fan just arrived

Robusto

Must ... concentrate ... on ... work ...

KitFox

Vistors. Everybody look nice.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@FortuonPaendrag any reason you're missing the "a" from Fortuon-a-?

KitFox

Middle initial?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Fortuona Paendrag is a character in Wheel of Time

KitFox

12:55

I was just guessing. I haven't read the Wheel of Time series.

Robusto

O Fortuona, velit luna ...

Fortuon Paendrag

@MrShinyandNew I am a male, so the truncation was appropriate, I believe.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@FortuonPaendrag That's what I guessed.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

►

Transcript for

English Language & Usage: Multi-Layer…