Never mind the differences with Spanish in Spain and South America...

[Al the optimist]

What about English national and regional variances to drive native speakers of other languages absolutely nuts?

 

[JohnMcM]

What about English national and regional variances to drive native speakers of other languages absolutely nuts?

Aye, ah ken whit ye mean, bit whit aboot us Scots. Whae's like us an' oor blether?

Buen Camino, or if you prefer old chap "gaun yersel' wee man"

 

[Al the optimist]

Nar d yow maen jocks or Glaswegians?

 

[C clearly]

That make languages SO interesting! In English you don't even have to go regional to get confused. How about the variations on "get"? Get in, get into, get over, get up, get-up, get along, get on, get to, get up to, etc.

 

[Al the optimist]

Ah the phrasal verbs so dreaded by so many!

 

[bystander]

STOP THIS THREAD IMMEDIATELY!!!!

Explaining English English to even fluent, but not British, English speakers, i.e. those for whom a form of English (think American/Canadian/Australian/NZ etc) is their first language, is nigh on impossible let alone trying to explain it to those for whom it is a second language!!!

And for those of you who are prosaic enough to think I'm being serious - don't be so silly!

 

[SYates]

What about English national and regional variances to drive native speakers of other languages absolutely nuts?

Native speakers??? What do you think it does to us non-native speakers??? *insert smiley banging head against wall here* SY

 

[VNwalking]

SY, your English is just fine.
Probably better than that of many of us who grew up with it. You will have learned grammar.........

 

[Introibo]

Complicated by people putt the em far sis on the wong sill ah bull

 

[Canuck]

Native speakers??? What do you think it does to us non-native speakers??? *insert smiley banging head against wall here* SY

There you go SY:

 

[SYates]

There you go SY:

Thank you! I will cherish it forever *no matter the headache* SY

 

[Canuck]

Thank you! I will cherish it forever *no matter the headache* SY

De nada.
Cheers

 

[Al the optimist]

Luv the smiley Canuck