"But its British!"

[karl hungus]

And oh how I laughed that one day at the movie theater when some woman told her companion in quite a serious manner, that she didn't want to see a British film because she didn't want to be bothered with reading subtitles.
Yep. I was going to offer to translate English to local, but I didn't. Ah, Louisville.

[crazylegs]

she didn't want to see a British film because she didn't want to be bothered with reading subtitles.

Crazylegs twitches in the corner...

How....Why....

WTF??

Now thats just plain stupid.

[Imogene]

I bought a box set of the Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy series one time when I went to Canada.

I'm pretty sure the version released in the US is the same way, accentually (is that even a word?) since Canada and the US are both DVD Region 1, to my knowledge.

[myswtghst]

Seriously though, that lady was wacked. I love British narration, they can make even the dullest events seem like the greatest thing in the world.

All things being equal, no one does that like the futbol announcers...even if I can't understand half of what they're saying, thanks to my half-arsed grasp of Spanish, I still get caught up in the enthusiasm...and I'm not much for soccer.

[reformedwaitress]

I'm pretty sure the version released in the US is the same way, accentually (is that even a word?) since Canada and the US are both DVD Region 1, to my knowledge.

I'm pretty sure they were talking about the BOOKS not the DVD (which quite possibly are different).

[Broomjockey]

I'm pretty sure they were talking about the BOOKS not the DVD (which quite possibly are different).

Actually, it's more likely they're talking about the BBC TV series, or the old radio plays, which would likely be harder to find in the US.

[Brightglaive]

I've always said, " Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Canada and the USA: Six countries separated by one language." Heaven forbid you throw in english from india (which truly is a different language). What does, "I will be the one to do the needful" actually mean anyway?

[Broomjockey]

What does, "I will be the one to do the needful" actually mean anyway?

"I'll do it." "I'll take care of it." "I will do what needs to be done."

Take your pick.

[webchimp]

Crazylegs twitches in the corner...

How....Why....

WTF??

Now thats just plain stupid.

I believe Trainspotting was subtitled for America.

[Shabo]

British English is pretty easy to pick up, but if you've never heard it before, and they have every other word as slang, I could see where it would be daunting. Same thing for US English, too. Indian English can be a bit more tricky. I've had several conversations with Indian students/coworkers about how Indian English tends to be more "functional" than the US version. I guess so? I got used to it after a while. The Indian version is closer to the British version anyway (duh!) so if you can pick up British, it's not so far to jump to Indian. I just did it backwards, I guess.

OT:

I actually enjoy talking to people from other countries. I was good friends with a French exchange student last year, and have been a "conversation partner" with a few Chinese students here. I've also worked with several students from all over India. I always like to ask them about their culture, and if the context of work allows it, I'll teach them slang from this part of the US. Good times. I want to move overseas and learn at least 3 other languages before I leave this world. Best way to do it is to immerse yourself. I found that by watching movies in Spanish with subtitles, it makes it easier to pick out words in a normal conversation. I've taken two semesters of it so far, and am planning on continuing as finances allow. I think it's such a fun language!

[Rapscallion]

Seriously though, that lady was wacked. I love British narration, they can make even the dullest events seem like the greatest thing in the world.

"Here we see two animals eating a third animal. Another animal waits its turn. Oh, and the whole scene turned into a mating ritual..."

There's a reason I don't watch television.

Rapscallion

[AirHostess]

I thought Americans loved our English accents

[Jester]

Wow. I had no idea that "American" and "British" were two totally different languages.

Having been engaged to a Brit, I can tell you that they are, in fact, two entirely different languages!

As one of my friends commented, "two cultures, divided by a common language."

[Listerfiend]

I believe Trainspotting was subtitled for America.

I can *kind of* see the logic... The book did have a glossary...

[crazylegs]

I thought Americans loved our English accents

Evidently not on TV!