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Explaining idiomatic American English to foreigners.
Today I had to explain to a Spanish-speaking, Nicaraguan, female psychiatrist that "Fuck You" is not an offer.
One of my favorite examples of this involves the BIG boss. The CEO/Medical Director. The signer of my paychecks. She is of Portuguese and Spanish Descent, was raised in Spain, and speaks (at last count) 12 languages with a fair degree of fluency.
She was preparing some snacks for a board meeting to be held at the hospital that afternoon when I went to inform her that one of her outpatients was being brought in for an emergency evaluation and that her presence was required in the crisis service. There were several other departmental supervisors with her at the time. She indicated that she would be down to deal with the problem "as soon as I am done cutting the cheese."
Several of the supervisors snorted and supressed giggles.
She noted the reaction and looked around the table. She asked, "What have I just said?"
All of the people at the table who get paid a lot more money than I do looked away in embarassment and shame. None of them offered an explanation.
Bastards.
So I had to do it.
"Well, doctor, it appears that you have accidentally stumbled upon an American saying."
"Oh? What does this mean?"
"It's ... um ... an expression that describes extreme flatulence."
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