From simon@alphabeck.co.uk Thu Nov 08 09:18:35 2012
Subject:Re: Quality control, warranties and "stuff" that happens....

Not sure about other languages, but in French at any rate, the word "merde", while having exactly the same literal meaning as the English "s"-word, is regarded as an inoffensive curse, equivalent perhaps to "damn!". French people who speak good but not colloquial English often appear to over-use the "s"-word in everyday English conversation for this reason. Worse still is the French word "con" which has the innocuous meaning of "idiot, fool" but can (in a different context) also be exactly equivalent to the English "c"-word!

Even in British and American English seemingly inoffensive words can cause mirth or distress when accidentally misunderstood.

I once wrote a comedy routine based on a chain of words in US and British English:

US - meaning - UK
==============
Kitty = cat = pussy
pussy = female genitals = fanny
fanny = backside = bum
bum = vagrant = tramp
tramp = woman of dubious morals = tart...

etc.

Simon

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