Lingo-ist-ics

Hand wash only?

This month saw a report in the Guardian of a retailer unknowingly selling T-shirts bearing a far-right slogan advocating ethnic cleansing.

The slogan read, 'We will cleanse Russia of all non-Russians'.

The discovery was made in his local Burton menswear shop by a Bristol University student who picked up a seemingly innocent grey cotton T-shirt. As a Russian language student, he was surprised to read the Cyrillic writing surrounding the clothing’s eagle motif.

The high street chain was later alerted to the issue by a member of its staff when the shirts went on sale in London shops. A spokeswoman for the group said that they had purchased 6,000 of the T-shirts from one of their regular suppliers and were told that the slogan translated loosely as ‘Be proud of Russia’. As they thought the slogan to be mere patriotism, the T-shirts were distributed for sale in the company’s stores throughout the UK.

The T-shirts were withdrawn from stores shortly after the inappropriate nature of the slogan, when translated, was made apparent.

Say what?

The selection of quotes from the Plain English Campaign website’s ‘Gobbledygook of the week’ always makes for fun reading:

• 'Ultralift has been developed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and make the skin feel firmer; it has not been proven to lift or firm the skin.'(from L'Oreal Ultralift cream)
• The delay to this service is due to low adhesive conditions. (Otherwise known as 'slippery tracks', from First Scotrail)
• 'A tempting selection of rosemary, SweetflamedTM red peppers and caramelised onion with Fontal cheese. Dimpled by hand to push in all of the flavoursome toppings.' (from Sainsbury's 'Taste the Difference' range)

What you chattin’ about?

And finally, the Sun newspaper reports on how older Tesco supermarket workers are being given a guide to modern-day youth slang in order to encourage and facilitate communication with younger colleagues and customers.

The pamphlet of ‘street’ lingo is being tested in 1,500 stores where there is a high proportion of employees over retirement age.

It includes expressions such as:

• A and B the C of D: Above and beyond the call of duty.
• Bad: Good (but this can also mean bad. When in doubt, just nod).
• Ballin’: Doing well.
• Blood: Mate, chum.
• How’s it hanging’?: How are you today?
• Is it, blood?: You know, mate? Oh, really mate?
• Laters: Cheerio, goodbye.
• Minging: Ugly, unattractive.
• Phat: Wicked (in the good sense), cool.
• Slammin’: Pleasing to the eye.
• Safe blood: Brilliant.
• Talk to the hand: I’m not listening.
• What you chattin’ about?: Shut up, you are talking absolute rubbish.
• Wack: Weak, boring.

If well-received, the ‘phrasebook’ will be rolled out to all UK stores.