I think the British can be more polite and proper in the way they word things. Here is an example of 'Wheels on the Bus' that we sing every week at Jolly Tots. (Have I told you about Jolly Tots?)
The driver on the bus says 'move along please' instead of 'move on back!'
The mommies on the bus say 'chatah chatah, chatah' (chatter) instead of 'Shh! Shh! Shh!' (one mum said to me, 'oh we would never shush our children!' oops!)
The daddies on the bus go 'read, read, read' (act like you are reading a newspaper) ha!
...and instead of 'all through the town' we sing 'all day long'
Now you can imagine Cerys singing at the top of her lungs the first time we sang this song. Everyone stopped and looked at us. :) We are now singing the 'proper' version at home!
Other songs we sing at Jolly Tots-
'Baa Baa Black Sheep'- which makes much more sense after living here!
'Postman Pat'
'Grand Ole Duke of York'- again, much better sense singing it over here!
Friday, October 19, 2007
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8 comments:
OK, the Welsh must be more polite to their children than these Jordies up here. The one thing I hear all the time (which REALLY bothers me) is mums telling their children to 'Shut up!' I think shushing is much better than that!
I learned it as "all over town." Then I had kids. There are a variety of versions!! I think I like the "move on please" version much better. Will really keyed on the "move on back" at the library this week. Anything that adds politeness is a good thing!
Oops! That would be 'Geordie' actually. Here is a website on it's origins-- sounds like no one is quite sure where the term started. Geordie Translator
You crack me up! LOL
Oh and I "shhh!" the boys a hundred times a day... whoops!
Polite is good! And how fun to learn different versions! I'm sure it keeps you hopping, trying to keep up with them all.
P.S. How's it been going with Cerys lately? I'm still praying.
How funny! I had to really laugh since our pastor's wife (they are English, you know) gave some of us ladies a lesson in how to speak "proper English". You can't smile, if you do it's southern, but if you pucker your lips, THEN you can speak "English".
In Ireland the mam's (mothers) say "yak yak yak".... no joke... that is how they sing it here!
I love the "new" polite version of the song. I think I'll try sharing that with others. Thanks!
I'm wondering if Jolly Tots is like Kindermusik here???
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