deird1: Rodney, with text "I'm not arguing, I'm simply explaining why you are wrong" (Rodney arguing)
deird1 ([personal profile] deird1) wrote2024-04-20 07:48 am

cross-cultural vocabulary

Had my first language fail today.

I walked into the hotel reception, and informed them that "the plug in the bathroom basin is stuck".

I have a fairly extensive knowledge of American English, and the ways in which it differs from mine. That being the case, in the last three weeks I have modified my vocabulary to fit my audience, as needed. For instance, "she's wrecked" (referring to my sobbing daughter) got quickly changed to "she's exhausted".

I have also changed my accent a couple of times, for greater clarity. (My daughter's name has an A in it - and apparently spelling "A" in Australian sounds like "I" in Canadian. I drawled out an appropriately accented A for the bewildered museum worker.)

In this case, though, I had no idea of what I was doing wrong. It took us several minutes before I realised that the receptionist thought I meant the toilet was clogged, and was able to clarify (with gestures) that the sink's plug was stuck in place.
beroli: (Default)

[personal profile] beroli 2024-04-19 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
I admit my immediate reaction would have been, "Bathroom basin? What on earth is that?" but then it would have gone to, "The only basin I know in the bathroom is the toilet, but the only thing I know in the bathroom that has a plug is the sink, so...she probably means the sink."
Edited 2024-04-19 22:11 (UTC)
beroli: (Default)

[personal profile] beroli 2024-04-19 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
There wouldn't be that much intellect going into it. If asked that, I would probably concede that the sink and the bathtub both count as basins.
lyr: (Default)

[personal profile] lyr 2024-04-19 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
You would have confused Texan hotel workers, too. They'd have been wondering what was wrong with your bathroom electrical outlets. We do not use "plug" for things besides those.
lyr: (Default)

[personal profile] lyr 2024-04-19 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
It's a stopper.