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The cultural aspect of international communication – timekeeping
When we communicate across cultures, more than just language defines us. The parts of our own culture we bring with us to an international meeting can surprise, shock and even offend people from other...
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Lost in Translation Part 1
English may be international, but it certainly is not multi-cultural, if these product names are anything to go by! I find this one really funny because it is fish. Nope, not going to explain why!
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Given Putin’s anti-gay stance, perhaps his elite Omoh squad……
….. should stay away from mirrors.
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Lost in Translation Part 2
Another example of how language can be international but not always multicultural. The same word can mean different things in different languages. The same word can even mean different things in the...
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The history of The Middle Finger – or not?
Before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory over the English, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all captured English soldiers. Without the middle finger it would be...
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The Streisand Effect
The Streisand effect is the phenomenon whereby an attempt to hide, remove, or censor a piece of information has the unintended consequence of publicizing the information more widely, usually...
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Where does Halloween come from?
Halloween has evolved and been influenced by a number of different cultures and religions, the most important of which are paganism, the Romans, the Celts (the people of Ireland, Scotland, Britain,...
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Clever people say stupid things too
Everything that can be invented has been invented. Charles H. Duell, Commissioner of the US Patent Office, in 1899. I think there is a world market for maybe five computers. Thomas J. Watson Snr, IBM...
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Strange Human Behaviour
Sometimes the way we behave is really strange. In many ways the differences between men and women can be traced back to troglodyte (sounds less sexist than ‘caveman’) days when men were hunters and...
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Everyday Grammar Fails
Every single day I see the following errors in English: Stationery, as in paper and office supplies, spelled stationary, which means not moving. Correct usage: I bought some stationery today Discreet,...
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Clarissa Dickson Wright; 1947-2014
British cookery gets a bad rap, at least here in the States it does. We see references to things like animal fats (horrors!), offal, greasy pastry, lumpy gravy-sluiced meats and pies, and other “nasty...
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Periods
Was trying to think of a discreet title for this post but I think there are enough euphemisms out there already. I saw a question on Yahoo today which read: I am reading this book in social studies...
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Brand names which have become names
Xerox BandAid Hoover Post It Notes Scotch Tape Tippex Prestick Pritt Kleenex Rollerblades Tampax Coke Frisbee Speedo Tupperware Ziploc Bags Walkman Frisbee Jockey shorts Filofax Kibble
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Potentially Embarrassing Differences Between British and American English
In the classroom one is seldom taught those embarrassing words that might cause English speakers to laugh when you say them, but you don’t know why. There are also potentially embarrassing differences...
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Being Politically Correct in English
Being politically correct in any language is difficult. As words become negatively charged and used insultingly, they are replaced by more neutral words which themselves become negative. This is...
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Annoying Jargon
I hate think outside the box it’s not rocket science wrinkle (used instead of problem) e-anything (as in e-id, e-government) skill set sustainable baked in holistic seedbed best practice drop the ball...
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