What do you associate with the word "backshop"?

[Stew.t.]

Hi Jamie

To make such a blanket statement about Americans inability to be convinced an English sounding word has the same meaning in another language hints a lttle bit at generalisation, does it not?

Granted you said you had a limited experience.
But from my own limited experience I have experienced an Americn learner of German, try to debate the true meaning of the word "provision" in his German class and even question the root.
"It sounds English, you have got it wrong, it does not mean commission" (slightkly paraphrased here).

A judgement on the "stupidity" of a statement may be that the listener or reader does not get the intention, or they take it too seriously, can it not?

From a so called lapsed "cosmopolitan" European I would like to if I may point out some examples, but state that not all Americans are so.

I had one Californian friend who in 3 years of living in Germany learnt next to no German and used his Polish girlfriend to get by.

I was on a dual carriageway near "Heidelberg" when two women from New York State asked me for directions to their hotel. They had tried to ask in a small petrol (gas) station if anyone could help, in English. They had no phrase book, map or even an address for their hotel. My friend managed to communicate to them that I was in his car at "pump 3" and maybe I could help. I tried my best but could not get it across to them that they should be a little better prepared. Of course they were astonished the guy in the petrol station could not speak English.

I was involved in a discussion in a pub here in Leipzig with a guy from Oklahoma who tried to convince a German that they should get rid of Umlauts in their language, as it was not really fair on international vistitors. This is something that the Germans have considered and adopted in official documents or transactions. No Umlauts are now used on bank machines used for transfers anymore. On the one had it does help "outsiders", on the other how far should you go to adapt a language to people with little understanding of it.

But the point remains that all nationalities, and even so called "global thinking" Americans have examples where they are convinced they are right or someone else is stupid.

A little tolerance goes a long way, does it not?
_________________
Please meet Stewart Tunncilff

[Stew.t.]

The usage of "handy" I was assured by a Japanese guy here was used in Japan. I apologise if that was my second hand assumption. I took the person at his word. Maybe he had been here too long, and had simply allowed memory, misinformation or language interferance to affetct his judgement.
I respect what you said Haihao and Ninazara and will remember this in future.

cheers stew.t
_________________
Please meet Stewart Tunncilff

[Jamie (K)]

[Mister Micawber]

.

[Yankee]

[Jamie (K)]

I also remember a Brit recommending that it might broaden my horizons if I tried living in another country, just assuming that I never had. (Yuk, yuk.)

[Stew.t.]

Hi Yankee

I think you miss my point altogether. And if you had cared to carefully read my text with out responding with a certain presumption then you may have seen my intent.

I wrote;

From a so called lapsed "cosmopolitan" European I would like to if I may point out some examples, but state that not all Americans are so.

I also choose to address certain states and not American as a nationality, you could say this is unfair to the specific states, could you not?

The last remark you could have taken out of the context if you wishe as I retorted "cosmopolitan" with "global thinking.

Of course you could see it as my lack of tolerance of Americans or you could try to read it in another light.

The things we choose to emphasis from a text often force us to misinterpret the whole point. The subjective interpretation that I am bashing Americans, is a sensitive reaction but maybe rightly so. Try looking at the text again and seeing where I bash and how often "Americans", as such.

Why have you chosen to take the statements I made out of the context of the thread or what I said?

Maybe the guy from Oklahoma was part of the think tank that sank the Umlauts.

I cans see the point Jamie K made, however I still think they should not remove them altogether.

Of ocurse my point was to bash Americans? I always take a club round with me for such events. ; )
The tolerance you say I do not have, where would this come from?
_________________
Please meet Stewart Tunncilff

[Stew.t.]

I also remember a certain American thinking I wrote like a drunk comic book writer. A secret dream of mine LOL

But bygones are often hard to let be, even after time or apologies. Some people just do not see the generosity in the act ; ) Such is life.
_________________
Please meet Stewart Tunncilff

[Yankee]

[Mister Micawber]

.
It would be nice to move on to helping the students now. Before Torsten comes back.
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Stew.t.]

Amy I apologise profusely, obviously you know me better than I do. Ever considered a career in pyshoanalysis? ; )
_________________
Please meet Stewart Tunncilff

[Yankee]

.
Thank you so much for such an enlightening message.
.

[NinaZara]

[Baierpk]

For fun I have made a web page where people can post pictures of "Backshops" or similar newly created expressions: the domain backshop.de was already in use, of course, so I called it www.backshopping.de. Enjoy!
(And don't be angry with me, I am German myself, so I may make some fun of my compatriots).

[Yankee]

Hi Baierpk

I'd like to try some of that "Coffee on rolls". Is it a soggy, new-fangled alternative to dunking?
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