HT Localization Presents Language Translations for Real Life: My Teacher Says “Ladybird, But She’s Wrong...”

Segment 26 – My Teacher Says “Ladybird, But She’s Wrong, It’s Really Ladybug”

Thanks to Disney’s A Bug’s Life, British parents and teachers are having interesting debates with their kids about the proper way to describe those little red spotted beetles – Coccinellidae.  I got a nice little chuckle when my son came home from school one day telling me how his teacher, who was Welch, described those cute little insects...

My son, already a diplomatic child waited until we were in the car, well out of his teacher’s earshot to tell me that “Miss Lucy says Ladybird, but it’s really Ladybug.”  I asked “Did you correct her?” He said “No, I didn't want her to feel bad.”

Since living here in Spain, many folks have asked me how to pronounce different words, or what’s the difference between such and such, like candies and sweeties?  The list goes on and on, and the responses will continue to be a source of debate between English speakers.  But isn't that to be expected, especially since the English language has so many different dialects, both regional and historically.  To me, the usage of different words to describe things is quite normal, even in a single community, there are many expression for the same idea – sneakers vs. tennis shoes; road vs. street; elevator vs. lift; trash vs. garbage; lorries vs. trucks - so why not call a ladybird a ladybug or vice versa.  It’s all good. 

But what I find even more interesting is the pronunciation of the same word. One day, a French lady told me that her son came home from school one day and said an English word incorrectly, so she corrected him. OK, that’s fine on the surface, but I suggested that maybe the child actually heard the word that way from his teacher.  

For instance, would you correct your child for saying - TOMATO?  My son’s English teacher pronounces the word “TO-MAH-TOE”; however my daughter’s English teacher pronounces the same word “TO-MAYH-TO”… humm!  In the same school, with different teachers, my kids get to hear the same word two different ways.   

And what about the word - EITHER?  Is it "EE-THUR" or "EYE-THUR"?  In Great Britain and Canada it seems to be mixed. In the United States, the predominant usage is "EE-THUR", but many people also say "EYE-THUR".  On the East Coast, one tends to hear British pronunciations, perhaps due to the proximity of New England influences.

Oh and what about –WATER?  If I had a dollar for every time a European told me of their experiences in Somewhere, USA when they tried to order water from a waiter: Is it “WAD-DA”, “WOR-TER”, “WAR-TA”, “WHAR-TA” OR “WAA-TER”?

How many times have I been told that my pronunciation is _fill in the blank_ (because I've heard it all…).  I've been told my accent is easy/difficult, fast/slow, American/not American, East Coast/West Coast, educated/simple… you get the picture.  

One morning, I was having coffee with a friend, who is also an English teacher, and she admitted to cringing at the sound of Australian English, while tolerating the sound of American English.  At the same table – tongue and cheek with a wink, she also told me that “we’re going to work” on my son’s accent.   If you think my accent is especially interesting, I dare you to turn on the American TV show series “Justified” – where one can hear a true blue-blooded American Kentucky guy expressing himself in a truly colorful manner!

In the end, does it really matter?  Listen to Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong’s rendition of “Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin in 1937, and you decide.

Here are my favorite excerpts from the lyrics:

You say either and I say either,

You say neither and I say neither

Either, either neither, neither

Let's call the whole thing off.

 You like potato and I like potahto

You like tomato and I like tomahto

Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto.

So if you like pyjamas and I like pyjahmas,

I'll wear pyjamas and give up pyajahmas

For we know we need each other so we

Better call the whole thing off

Let's call the whole thing off.

You say laughter and I say larfter

You say after and I say arfter

Laughter, larfter after arfter

So if you go for oysters and I go for ersters

I'll order oysters and cancel the ersters

For we know we need each other so we

 Let's call the whole thing off.

  … Stay tuned for the next Segment of HT Localization Presents Language Translations for Real Life Series, where we’ll continue … with more stuff.

 To receive the new Language Translations for Real Life Series go to HT Localization Blog and subscribe via RSS or email.

This article was written by Rachanee Thevenet, Co-Founder of HT Localization.  Rachanee is an Asian-American expat living in Spain with her family.  She loves all things international including food, art, literature, culture, languages and people.  She has years of professional product marketing expertise and global expansion experience.

HT Localization, LLC. is a worldwide translation & localization agency providing a full range of professional language translation services, including social media localization, marketing translations, website translations, software localization, eLearning materials, documentation translations, etc.  With locations in the US, Spain, France, Zambia & Thailand, and coverage across all languages and most industries, HT Localization is well positioned to provide around the globe services for all translation needs.  

• Back to Blog List for more LanguageTranslations Articles
• Check out Language Fun Facts
• Discover our International Translation Agency and Localization Services

If you like this segment please share now! Thanks