There is a lot to deal with when one moves to a new country. Languages, accents and colloquialisms take some time to get used to, even when moving to another English speaking country. Moving to the US 10 years ago, I did have to make adjustments in the way I spoke and in the way I understood what others said to me. One of the biggest adjustments was the “wassup” adjustment. Took me a long time to realize that it was a greeting and not a question, and that I didn’t need to respond with a full answer. It’s similar to the “you alright?” or “alright?” greeting in the UK (or is this London only?). 

It’s taken me a lot less time to make similar adjustments in the UK, however.  But I just don’t get British advertising and the confusing (and annoying) language it uses. I’m sitting in an East Coast train on the way to Edinburgh right now, and across from me is a sign for their new first class service. The last sentence goes: it’s extra special and we haven’t put the prices up. 

“Put the prices up”?? Do they mean they haven’t raised prices or they haven’t displayed them? 

The other day, I was surfing the Sky website, wondering if I were to get Sky TV what kind of package I’d get. A little sign at the bottom of the page said something like “get £5 off when you also take a Sky phone line rental for £11.99”. (The amounts here aren’t accurate.) A phone line is a service that I purchase. And even if it was a physical product and not a service, I don’t “take” it. I pay a monthly fee for the next 12 (or maybe even 24) months for a service that I sign up for, I don’t just “take” it. What I do “take” is an extra helping of mushrooms or another slice of toast. Not a phone line service that I’m renting and signing a contract for. 

Ok, rant of the day done.