Hands Up If You Enjoy Being OnThe Job!

Englishman

I don’t want to become tiresome with my constant carping about the fact that the Watchtower, printed here in the UK, is still actually written in American English, even though it is for distribution amongst us Brits.

I am starting to realise that every issue that is placed here actually does more harm than good to the witness cause. Allow me to illustrate using the March 15 WT that has just been shoved through my letter-box. (Am I a placement?)

Page 24, Love and fine works. ”……..individuals include hardworking family men, exhausted after a long day on the job; industrious wives …….energetic youths…..

Now, on the job actually means to engage in sexual intercourse! Every Brit, both dub and free man, knows this. For example, one might hear: “Hello Bert how’s it going, blimey you look knackered, you been on the job all night you randy old sod?” You get the idea. It is never used in any other way, only to refer to having sex.

Moving swiftly on….”Describing someone as a “youth” is actually quite insulting. Being “youthful” is fine, but the term “a youth” is generally only applied to males, and then with a derogatory edge, rather akin to calling a girl a “wench” if you like. The WT’s reference to “energetic youths” paints a picture of a bunch of weak minded uneducated young males who have no manners and little common sense. Hmm, there again maybe…..!

As for Embalming for Xtians, I flipped through that one quickly. The Awake had something to say about ladybugs which had me baffled until I saw a pic of a ladybird, so I was at least partially mollified.

The only other American mag that doesn’t appear to adjust it’s writing style to suit the Brits is Car Mechanics Illustrated, but as I haven’t even seen a copy of that for 30 years I can only assume that Tom Cahill has long been out to grass.

What really amazes me is how the WTBTS are always tub-thumping about respecting local customs so as not to offend the natives. Someone, please tell them what “On the job” means!

Englishman.

Satanus

'On the job' Maybe they are making allowances for the decadant british;) heh heh

SS

picosito

WTS keeps being "on the job" in keeping the "Ugly American" stereotype alive and well. They offend other natives also, as they continue imagining they are God's "Light" to the world.

Thanks for some insight into Britspeak, Englishman. You guys have some really cool ways of talking about stuff. Some of it should rub off on us US'ers. I get bored of saying the same things the same way all the time anyways (courtesy of NYPDTVSERIESspeak).

Will Power

On the job

I'd take that as new light on how you should be making good use of your time!

picosito

SAME "TOO OLD TO EDIT" PROBLEM I KEEP HAVING ON THIS SITE TODAY.

WTS keeps being "on the job" in keeping the "Ugly American" stereotype alive and well. They offend other natives also, as they continue imagining they are God's "Light" to the world.
Thanks for some insight into Britspeak, Englishman. You guys have some really cool ways of talking about stuff. Some of it should rub off on us US'ers. I get bored of saying the same things the same way all the time anyways (courtesy of NYPDTVSERIESspeak).

"Hands up" is cool too. Here it's usually said only by the cops. Here we say "Raise your hand" (if you enjoy being on the job). What about "Getting a screw" in England. Here we get a "raise"? in salary.

One day an friend of mine from India (we roomed together in college) said: "I'll knock you up at 7:45 sharp for your class." I thought, "Oh yeah? Better not tell that to a girl."

Englishman

Picosito,

I personally love the American way of speaking and would attempt to adapt to it instantly when over there, after all, when in Rome, etc. It's not much fun in the written word, however, as it is quite tiring to always be able to pick up the nuances. I still don't have a clue - none of us Brits do BTW, what eggs over easy are, even though the term is often heard in American sitcoms.

Some American authors are well worth making the effort however, I enjoy Ludlum and Grisham, at present I am reading Up Country by Nelson de Mille, obviously as the hero is an American ex-vet I don't expect him to be talking the Queens English to a Vietcong ex-vet.

Englishman.

mouthy

I had to laugh at picosito last remark.
When I first came to Canada as a "war bride"in 1946.I was not familiar with the Canadian terms here( I knew my "limey"terms real well.) I was 9 months pregnant- (a year later) & I started my labor pains- My husband could Never hear the alarm so afraid he would not get up for work( while I was in Hospital) I went next door to a neighbour I didnt know( we lived in barracks) I asked the man that answered the door- If he would be" kind enough to knock me up in the morning" He looked rather embarassed,but said "just a sec, I,ll get my wife" I asked her & she said yes.
After the baby was born- we became good friends with this neighbour-
He loved to tell the tale of when we first met-
He said he went into his wife & said "theres a chick at the door that wants me to knock her up- but she looks like she has already been done...."

Englishman

I bet no UK dub has ever complained to the society though. I recall as a youngdub how I would spend Saturday nights preparing the WT (I fancied the daughter of the MS), her younger brother would always complain that he couldn't understand the lingo.

Oddly, back in the 60's, the society would pick up on US colloquialisms and phrases before they had even crossed the Atlantic via the film industry. The expression "No way" appeared in the WT before anyone else had ever heard of it, we all assumed it referred to a road traffic sign.

Similarly "Points up" was frequently used back then, however this was one of those that didn't ever catch on although the WT flogged it to death much to the bafflement of the UK dubs.

The detested word, though, was "youths" and all that it conveyed.

Englishman.

JBean

Interesting thread! I enjoy hearing how other nations use phrases and what they think of US terminology. I've never heard of "on the job" referred to in any other way than in police work. If someone was on the job, it meant they were a cop of some sort. Too funny that for some it means having sex!!! : )

picosito

Hi, Englishman:

"Eggs over easy":

Fry eggs in a pan. The side of the egg that splats into the pan first gets cooked enough so that it stays together enough to get a turner or spatula under it. Then you turn it over carefully onto its top side, hoping you don't break the yolk. OVER EASY (also called OVER LIGHT) means you cook it just sufficiently to turn the white part into cooked egg without making the yolk hard.

Hope this helps.

Hands Up If You Enjoy Being OnThe Job!

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