John's language lab: Januar 2013

Mittwoch, 16. Januar 2013

English slang, innit?

A brief intro to "proper" language ...the kind of stuff you wouldn't get in a language class, but loads of regular English speakers, especially from around London, will be using on a regular basis... Ever wondered what Jamie Oliver is actually saying? Then you, as a non-native, might find this helpful.

Knock it on the head, son
= Stop whatever you're doing ...it's annoying me

Leave it out!
= Stop being silly

What are you like?
= I think you're being silly

Put the wood in the hole
= shut the door

Cushty = good

Pucker = good

Tidy = good

Wicked = good

Bad = good

The bollocks (vulgar) = good

The dog's bollocks (vulgar) = very good

Bollocks (vulgar) = not good (As in "Oh bollocks! My wife has just left me, etc.")

A brief boring bit about me

I was born in Essex, about 20 miles from central London. I now live and work as a language teacher in Constance, Germany. Bla, bla, bla... I'm mean who reads this? If you've got this far, well done! Everyday I try to help people to understand and speak my language, but, and this is the ironic bit....(dramatic pause, followed by drum roll, etc.), what I actually speak (I mean the rubbish I come out with at home, in the car on the way to work, to my Dad or my brother, to myself as I fall asleep with dribble on my chin) bears little resemblance to the language I try to chisel into my students' minds....Get it? I'm a bit curious why this happens and so, to set the record straight, here's a glimpse of the language I would actually call my own.