Categories: linguistics
Date: 09 July 2004 06:36:17
Someone once said England and the US were two nations separated by a common language. I think the same could be said about Australia and the US. I was pondering this when I went to hire skis here yesterday...as it caused me to remember the time I went skiing in the US.
The fun began when I asked where I could "hire" skis. The quizzical look on the cashier's face made me wonder if I was speaking Russian. "Ski hire", I repeated. Same look. My friend, who now lives in the US and was smirking behind me, informed her I meant "rent", and I was dutifully informed "hire" is only used over there for employment purposes.
I then made some comment about the "queue" I was in. Blank stares. My friend, my salvation, rescued me and told me it was a "line". The cashier seemed suitably amused at the creole I was speaking.
Like a man intent on destruction, I then dared to ask if "EFTPOS" was available. The earth shook; the roof collapsed; lightning filled the sky. I decided retreat was the best option and handed over cash.
I had an easier time of it when I hired [or was it rented?] skis in Austria: in German.