Got a very exciting email yesterday (yes, it does happen). One of the most-read posts on this blog over the years has been the table ‘What Brits say v What they mean’, which I first published in 2011. A colleague had pinged it over, and I was frustratingly unable to locate the original source. I decided to publish anyway because it’s just so good – see for yourself.

But now the elusive author has got in touch and asked to be credited. Only too happy to do so. Nannette Ripmeester (@N_Ripmeester) created it for a training in the late 1990s for her organization, Expertise in Labour Mobility. As proof, here’s her 2011 paper (in the ‘Pediatric Pulmonology’ journal of all places…) and a more recent LinkedIn post. We are forever in your debt Nannette. Here’s the version from her LinkedIn post, which has a few different entries – I guess it must be a living document.

Now, how about a post-Brexit edition? ‘Europe’; ‘the Continent’ or maybe a politician-speak version – ‘Our European Friends’. I’ll happily repost, with credit this time, promise…..
Bravo, Nanette. So pleased to finally know the author of this. Your training material has helped me explain endless points about cultural difference, language, absurd Brits, communication, etc over many many years. And it makes me laugh. A triumph.
Awesome! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7d79Knc8p4