Forum: Author Hangout

although I can see it happening with a text to speech and speech to text software with some accents.

When I read your comment, it made me wonder: if you use speech to text, are you still a writer or merely a storyteller?

When I read your comment, it made me wonder: if you use speech to text, are you still a writer or merely a storyteller?

Yer just another storyteller until ya prints it and at that moment -- kaChink! -- yer a right writer!

I tried that once with our pet parrot, 'cept it wuz in reverse. Polly would read what I'd writ, and I'd listen fer awkward phrasing 'n' such. It worked okay until the day when Polly shit all over my draft and that night the cats in the alley out back had Polly Wally Doodle fer dinner.

There are several exceptions, with some cultures swapping the meanings between nodding and head shaking: in Greece, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Albania, and Sicily a single nod of the head up (not down) indicates a "no".

The Ottoman Empire conquered several of those countries, then the Muslims went around putting a sword to the peoples necks offering them the choice of conversion to Islam or being dead. The people made the conscious choice to reverse the meanings of nod and shake so they could lie without saying a word, then after the Muslim conversion squad left they went back to living their lives as before. Since it was under duress they considered it not valid or binding.

I wrote it, and Americans are reading it on the innerned.

I wonder whether their inability to articulate 't' is part of the reason so many now write the opposite of what they actually mean - "can't" becomes "can'd", which is very difficult to pronounce, so becomes "can": I've read a number of stories recently in which the author wrote "can" when they meant "can't". :(

I haven't noticed a problem with the pronunciation of 't' in this area. On the other hand, I have noticed a degradation in the ability of some to articulate a thought.

A class example is the now standard 'shouting heads' in Cable News, where everyone appears to have abandoned simply stating their opinions in measured tones.

You are confusing "informed opinion" with "entertainment". Cable News don't want intelligent discussion, they want screaming and tantrums to keep viewers watching, the same viewers who are waiting for Oprah or Jerry Springer.

A class example is the now standard 'shouting heads' in Cable News, where everyone appears to have abandoned simply stating their opinions in measured tones.

Thank goodness nobody would ever do a thing like that on this forum!

It's the large bottles of spirits they drink while writing that's the issue.

Bottled spirits? He must be drinking Jinn.

It's the large bottles of spirits they drink while writing that's the issue.

I thought only ghost writers drank bottled spirits...

Ernest said that the nod-shake meanings are reversed in some countries. I've never heard of that.

Waving, nodding, eyebrow movement, finger wagging, and other body language, does in fact vary in meaning. Ernest is 100% correct in that.

There are places where waving is signaling you're a prostitute for sale, nodding has been discussed, Filipinos can say yes with an eyebrow or point direction, and you do not want to give a come here finger wag to an Egyptian. You get the idea.

The key is, while there may be some confusion, you primarily stick with the conventions used in the country that the story is based in.

It has been my observation that infrequent travelers don't know what the convention is, much less care about it. The first few trips abroad that I made, I didn't either. That changed after a fracas I inadvertently stirred up in Khan el-Khalili (souk/bazar in Cairo).

I learned that the upturned index finger wag given to signal someone at a distance to come here, means something entirely different in context to them. Telling them they are the son of a goat is apparently less insulting to them.

Palm down, all four fingers in a repeated clasping motion is the culturally accepted version of the same thing. The upturned finger version means the equivalent of "come here bitch/slave" or thereabouts.

As a result, I learned to take some time to observe body language anytime I went somewhere new. Locals are still going to recognize "you're not from around here", but they will at least treat you better when you don't inadvertently step on your proverbial meat blatantly.

I've been in a few dozen countries, but that is not required to learn how to observe. Even within the states, there are subtle body language clues to be observed region to region. An example being eye contact and time making that contact. A New Yorker from NYC verses a Texan from the pan handle in this for instance. The Texan isn't going to think highly of a New Yorker who either can only make brief eye contact, or none at all. The New Yorker isn't going to react well to the Texan who they think is staring at them.

Point being, the messages of body language are not universally understood nor conventional.

Sometimes I shudder when the shutters bang against the wall in a storm.

Which raises the question: Do they still build houses with functioning shutters outside? I see them quite frequently where the shutters are inside the windows, acting more like shades with movable slats than protection against storms. And it's been years since I've seen them on the outside as anything other than decoration.

Do they still build houses with functioning shutters outside?

Yes. At least in parts of Europe.

But you should have seen them in use on the outside of small shops and most mall shops. Admittedly they are 'roller' shutters, but they do the same job.

Might be worthy noting that the old style working storm shutters were fitted with windows that opened in, otherwise it would be impossible to close and lock the storm shutters. Modern windows usually open out, making that style of shutters impracticable.

Might be worthy noting that the old style working storm shutters were fitted with windows that opened in, otherwise it would be impossible to close and lock the storm shutters. Modern windows usually open out, making that style of shutters impracticable.

I replaced all windows in my house a few years ago and all offered windows opened in. This may be due to regional preferences – like Germany vs UK. Can you provide a link?
The only other type I've ever seen are those turning in the middle – vertical or horizontal – with half in, half out.

HM.

Can you provide a link?

To what..?

Modern windows usually open out

I want to see those windows and where to get them.

HM.

I want to see those windows and where to get them.

Put "UK windows" into google and choose images.

(I'm not going to post a link to a specific supplier as that is effectively an advert)

Put "UK windows" into google and choose images.

Thanks, I did it and now realize the difference between UK windows and German windows. In Germany the standard are "tilt and turn windows".

HM.

"tilt and turn windows".

I loved those when I lived in Germany. Effective, easy to clean, functional...And good for when you use outside as a fridge in the winter.

Stateside the standard is single hung..up-down on the bottom half only...Not really helpful windows. Good ones cost too much here.

I'd looked up 4 UK suppliers and only one offered "tilt and turn windows" which looked like the German ones.
I then searched Wikipedia and found this amazing tidbit:

A tilt and turn window can both tilt inwards at the top or open inwards from hinges at the side. This is the most common type of window in Germany, its country of origin. It is also widespread in many other European countries. In Europe it is usual for these to be of the "turn first" type. i.e. when the handle is turned to 90 degrees the window opens in the side hung mode. With the handle turned to 180 degrees the window opens in bottom hung mode. Most usually in the UK the windows will be "tilt first" i.e. bottom hung at 90 degrees for ventilation and side hung at 180 degrees for cleaning the outer face of the glass from inside the building.

Another thing separating the UK from Europe - "tilt first" vs "turn first".

Reminds me of a vacation in GB back in 1983. The fridge of our caravan/trailer broke down on our second day in GB and we wanted it replaced. It was a Swedish make (Electrolux) and they had an office and repair facility in southern Wales. They had even nearly the same type, identical inside and front. The problem was it was intended for the UK and all three connections – propane, 12 V DC and 220 V AC – on it's back were mirrored! So no easy replacement possible. I never understood why they had to provide a special UK version with mirrored connections.

HM.

I never understood why they had to provide a special UK version with mirrored connections.

I work in automobile manufacturing and have quit wondering why certain countries require things a certain way. Just look at California. Totally insane. You just deal with it and move on.

I've heard of lots of Brits talking about people leaving pubs late on a Saturday night with triple glazed eyes!

Not an expression I've ever heard, maybe an ex-pat thing..? Most people leaving a pub late on any night would struggle to pronounce "triple glazed eyes".

"Beer goggles", "Glazed over", even "eyes like piss-holes in the snow" but not your "triple glazed eyes".

Maybe they need those mirrored sunglasses? Specifically those Robin Williams spoke of with "the mirrors on the inside". ??

This is an interesting thread drift. Here in Australia the great majority of windows are slide windows with half sliding to the side or half sliding up and some have half sliding up and the other half sliding down

This is the standard in the US as well for windows that open. It's called a double hung window. Two individually framed panes set in an outer frame with one set just inside the other so that when closed, the individual frames overlap slightly.

We call them sash windows

Very old school tech, but still good. Built out of real wood, you needed the counter weight. Not so much with today's aluminum frames.

And when the sash broke and the weight disengaged, goddesses help you.

even with the new aluminum ones

In the US, you can get double hung windows in wood, vinyl, and a composite material. I don't think I've ever seen aluminum frame double hung windows in my section of the US.

Take a ride to Home Depot, Lowes, Pella, 84lumber, etcetera, you'll see them. They are common in the states.

the shutters' prime function was to provide and extra barrier to the cold

In Europe and I believe in the American West, they were also fitted to increase security, many of the 'Western' versions included firing slots for the defenders.

Except in hurricane or other storm-related locations, where the external shutters so common in Europe help prevent flying 2x4s from plowing through those 'double-glazed' windows!

Except that the vast majority of wood, vinyl, or composite shutters wouldn't even slow down a 2x4 driven by hurricane force winds.

In the US, code approved, hurricane grade shutters are either metal (mostly aluminum) or LEXAN, a clear material that is the primary component of "bullet proof" glass.

Which raises the question: Do they still build houses with functioning shutters outside?

Yes, though not as frequently from a historical context.