THE FIRST TIME San Geraldo's cousin Ellen visited the United States from her home in Bergen, Norway, she for some reason decided to try and sound "Southern." She sat in the car and, in her best imitation of a generic Southern American accent, she repeated, "Hi, my name is Ellen and I'm from Alabama. I got me a gun to protect my family." For some reason, it was funny.
About a year later, we were in an antique and collectibles shop in Santa Barbara and found a new, but made to look old, metal roadside sign that read, "Welcome to Mississippi. At least it's not Alabama." Of course, we bought it for Ellen and brought it to Norway that Christmas. She hammered nail holes into the sign (to look like bullet holes) and hung it on the wall.
I saw this guy on the train the other day. At least it's not AlaBama. And I have no idea what "old mincren" means. Another clothing item lost in translation.
Note:
Crimson Tide is the nickname of the University of Alabama football team.
 |
| IT' SHOULD BE ALABAMA... NOT ALALAMA. DEBERÍA SER ALABAMA... Y NO ALALAMA. |
LA PRIMERA VEZ que Ellen, una prima de San Geraldo, visitó los Estados Unidos desde su casa en Bergen, Noruega, por alguna razón decidió intentar sonar "sureña" (de EEUU). Se sentó en el auto y, en su mejor imitación de un acento sureño genérico, repetía en inglés: "Hola, me llamo Ellen y soy de Alabama. Me compré un arma para proteger a mi familia". Por alguna razón, fue gracioso.
Aproximadamente un año después, estábamos en una tienda de artículos antiguos y coleccionables en Santa Bárbara y encontramos un nuevo cartel de metal de aspecto antiguo, que decía: "Bienvenido a Mississippi. Al menos no es Alabama." Por supuesto, lo compramos por Ellen y se lo llevaron a Noruega esa Navidad. Hizo agujeros con clavos en el cartel (para que parecieran agujeros de bala) y lo colgó en la pared.
Vi a este tipo en el tren el otro día. Al menos no es AlaBama. Pero no tengo idea de lo que significa "old mincren". Entiendo "old" (viejo); pero no creo que "mincren" sea una palabra. Otro artículo de ropa perdido en la traducción.
Nota:
"Crimson Tide" (Marea Carmesí) es el apodo del equipo de fútbol de la Universidad de Alabama.
Aproximadamente un año después, estábamos en una tienda de artículos antiguos y coleccionables en Santa Bárbara y encontramos un nuevo cartel de metal de aspecto antiguo, que decía: "Bienvenido a Mississippi. Al menos no es Alabama." Por supuesto, lo compramos por Ellen y se lo llevaron a Noruega esa Navidad. Hizo agujeros con clavos en el cartel (para que parecieran agujeros de bala) y lo colgó en la pared.
Vi a este tipo en el tren el otro día. Al menos no es AlaBama. Pero no tengo idea de lo que significa "old mincren". Entiendo "old" (viejo); pero no creo que "mincren" sea una palabra. Otro artículo de ropa perdido en la traducción.
Nota:
"Crimson Tide" (Marea Carmesí) es el apodo del equipo de fútbol de la Universidad de Alabama.
southern states suck!
ReplyDeleteAnne Marie,
DeleteI must admit I agree, although I know some very good people who live in those sucky states.
Ellen sounds like a good sport!
ReplyDeleteJim,
DeleteEllen is a VERY good sport... and a joy.
Ah, the fabled Alalama. I think the Dalai Lama comes from there.
ReplyDeleteWilma,
DeleteOh no. And after reading your comment, I did a crossword puzzle with a clue about where the Dalai Lama was from. I wanted to write Alalama!!
You mean to say you don't call it Alalabamy?
ReplyDeleteMaddie:
DeleteAnd now I've got "I'm Alabamy bound..." playing in my head. Do YOU call it Alabamy?
Alalalalalama bing bong. Definitely lost in translation.....you'd think they would google things these days instead of just screen printing it first
ReplyDeleteCheapchick,
DeleteI suppose if your native languag , Chinese, has an entirely different character set, googling isn’t so easy. But there must be someone there who could proofread the English!
A true testament to the state of edjumacation in dem dere parts!
ReplyDeleteDeedles,
DeleteChinese production of American cultural referances for a Spanish audience. What could possibly go wrong?
Okay, that explains a lot! I shall try to be less judgmental. Nah, who am I kidding?
DeleteWhy did Ellen want a southern accent ? I think whatever accent she had, everyone would love it.
ReplyDeleteSugar, I have several friends from the south, love when they talk to me.
cheers, parsnip and badger
Parsnip,
DeleteShe speaks beautiful Queen’s English with a musical Norwegian accent. The American Southern accent holds a fascination for a lot of non-native speakers. Ellen’s English sounds much nicer than mine I think. But not her Alabaman.
Your Ellen story reminded me of Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's long time manager. Originally from The Netherlands, and in the US illegally (though when the authorities finally found out shortly before he died, they let him stay anyway, most likely because he had served in the United States Army), he hid that fact by successfully faking a Southern accent.
ReplyDeleteKirk,
DeleteI had no idea the colonel was Dutch!
Oh, you know--the ooooooold mincren. (?) :)
ReplyDeleteMichelle,
DeleteOh. THAT mincren!
I find the notion of a Norwegian trying to sound Southern rather funny.
ReplyDeleteSpo,
DeleteIt was very entertaining. She speaks the Queen’s English with a hint of a Norwegian accent.
Most "roll tide" stuff is red.
ReplyDeleteAn Alabama virgin is a girl faster than her dad and her brothers.
Adam,
DeleteThat’s awful... but snicker-worthy.
If we can spell Espania Spain,
ReplyDeleteTravel,
DeleteAnd Italia Italy and Roma Rome! Then again, this is Chinese production and purely accidental.
Dagnabbit! All the good jokes are taken!
ReplyDeleteWalt the Fourth,
DeleteI know! You’ve got to be quick around here!
I kinda like Alalama ... rama-lama-ding-dong.
ReplyDeleteBob,
DeleteYep. Makes me sing, too. And Alabama definitely does not.