Were your English WT publications in the American "dialect"?

by compound complex 41 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  LoveUniHateExams

  If any Australian speaker were so careless to use any a Australian colloquial terms he would be seriously spoken too - WTF, really?!

  Although come to think of it, isn't informal Aussie speech sometimes peppered with swear words? When my dad went over as a ten pound pom, 'pommy bastard' was used as friendly banter/term of endearment as well as abuse, from what he told me.

  Imagine two Aussie JW brothers, Shane, a pioneer, and Jim, talking in the KH. Shane tells Jim he's gotten all his hours in for a whole year.

  "Shit a brick! Shane, you're a fucking legend!"

  That would go over like a lead balloon.

  I'd imagine they'd get a serious talking to.
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  Phizzy

  As would a fairly typical Ozzie greeting " Hello you old bugger" !
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  dozy

  I remember reading the Watchtower from the platform a few years ago and the phrase "the brother's pants got torn" came up - hearing the sniggers from the audience I clarified it and said "that means trousers" as pants refers to underpants in the UK. Generally the use of American English in the Societies publications wasn't a problem as people are used to it from Hollywood films , books etc and most of the terms are familiar - indeed many have become part of general speech , particularly amongst the younger generation.

  When you have become an assimilated JW , you kind of get used to the fact that this is basically an American religion. I remember a route call of mine stopping the magazines because he said they were "too American focused". In fact , Ron Drage , of the British Bethel committee famously developed a faux American accent to ingratiate himself ( allegedly ) with the GB and try to get the Brooklyn posting he always had craved.

  The dramas , of course , were pretty silly - especially the Bible based dramas that were the norm before the Society basically ditched them in recent times for "modern day" types that suit their agenda a lot better. Hearing Moses , Abraham et al speaking in a strong American accent ( who knew? ) was always extremely amusing , especially when you knew the JW in the drama miming out the speech who often had a strong regional accent.
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  stan livedeath

  @dozy:

  Ron Drage learnt ( UK English spelling--i checked ) it from his wife--she was american.
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  JRK

  I have no problems translating the various forms of the English language. If others do, they may have to smeg off. I can insult in British too!

  JK
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  punkofnice

  dozy - "the brother's pants got torn" came up - hearing the sniggers from the audience

  This is funny. It also illustrates the small minded, provincial mentalirty of the WBT$ cult.

  (Don't mention suspenders).
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  snugglebunny

  Ron Drage learnt ( UK English spelling--i checked ) it from his wife--she was american.

  That would be Babs. She and Ron were chaperoned in their courting days by an older lady, Daisy.
  
  
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  snugglebunny

  The dramas , of course , were pretty silly.

  Amen to that! My favourite:

  Teenage son: "Hey Paw, I'm getting very worried about a masturbation problem." (entire stadium cringes).

  Father, Brother Mature: "Maybe we should spend more time reading the Bible. What say we spend our Saturday afternoons doing just that together instead of you playing baseball?"

  Teenage son: "That's just swell Paw. I'd much rather read the Bible than play baseball!"

  What a wanker!
  
  
  
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  compound complex

  Thanks for the education, my over-the-Pond friends!

  pants = trousers/slacks here.

  undershirt = vest (?) = "wife beater"

  suspenders = garter (?)

  COMMENTS? EXPLANATION?
• 

  LoveUniHateExams

  The way I see it, pants mean 'trousers' or 'slacks' in America but mean 'underpants' in the UK.

  As a proud Brit and horny male, my first instinct when I heard that WT counselled sisters against wearing 'pants' was to smile and raise a glass of beer. (Sisters with no panties - are you frickin kidding me!)

  suspenders = garter (?) - in the UK,' suspenders' can mean both those elastic things that hold up men's slacks and naughty night attire worn by devilish, saucy women.

  Here in the UK, if a guy proudly announced that he's fond of wearing suspenders, there'd definitely be a few eyebrows raised. (Each to his own, I guess.)

  In fact, some people might think him to be a prime candidate for gender reassignment.