One of the fascinating consequences of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is that the American mind is basically incapable of understanding the concept of the British chicken sandwich.
One need only show this image to your nearest American and ask him to describe what he's seeing. Watch the piggish eyes bulge out of his head. Hear the asthmatic gasps of surprise as he struggles with—what is to him—a completely alien artefact.
"Is it a chicken salad?" He cries (note there is no "salad" of any kind inside the sandwich. The American mind, which so over-polices the usage of the word "burger", can not help but insert the word "salad" into every possible context. My suspicion is this characteristic Americanism allows continentals to shovel bucketfuls of ice cream into their mouths while claiming "I'm eating a salad". I suspect even a slice of unadorned cheese on a plate would be described as a "cheese salad" by the typical American, though I have yet to test this).
Soon realising that he is being confronted by something entirely beyond his ken, the American resorts to that so characteristic reaction of a moron encountering the unfamiliar: Not curiosity. But violent disgust.
"That's gross! That's gross! I would never put chicken between sliced bread. That's not a chicken sandwich! It's not. It's not! It's nothing like my McChickens!" Notice the petulant stomping of the American's trotter atop the floorboards as he—at last—is confronted the narrowness of his world view. Neurologically incapable of syncretising this new information, he rejects that such a sandwich may even exist. He cannot comprehend that there are people who eat and enjoy the humble chicken sandwich every day.
At last we see the inherent obesity of the American. Obesity built into the bones of his very "language". He defines all kinds of words for the fattening, the sloppy, the caloric, the restaurant heated, but reserves no words for a simple meal of bread and chicken made in one's own kitchen. He has over a thousand words to describe his beloved Big Macs, but is purely incapable of speaking of any meal below 800 calories. Moreover, robbed of that linguistic capacity, he cannot even conceive of it as a meal.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
That's a sandwich not a burger.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
It's a burger. Here is a sandwich for your reference
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
No burger patty = not a burger.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
What about chicken burgers then?
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
That's a patty too though
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
That's a fricking burger too.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
I'd need to see it from another angle.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
One of the fascinating consequences of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is that the American mind is basically incapable of understanding the concept of the British chicken sandwich.
One need only show this image to your nearest American and ask him to describe what he's seeing. Watch the piggish eyes bulge out of his head. Hear the asthmatic gasps of surprise as he struggles with—what is to him—a completely alien artefact.
"Is it a chicken salad?" He cries (note there is no "salad" of any kind inside the sandwich. The American mind, which so over-polices the usage of the word "burger", can not help but insert the word "salad" into every possible context. My suspicion is this characteristic Americanism allows continentals to shovel bucketfuls of ice cream into their mouths while claiming "I'm eating a salad". I suspect even a slice of unadorned cheese on a plate would be described as a "cheese salad" by the typical American, though I have yet to test this).
Soon realising that he is being confronted by something entirely beyond his ken, the American resorts to that so characteristic reaction of a moron encountering the unfamiliar: Not curiosity. But violent disgust.
"That's gross! That's gross! I would never put chicken between sliced bread. That's not a chicken sandwich! It's not. It's not! It's nothing like my McChickens!" Notice the petulant stomping of the American's trotter atop the floorboards as he—at last—is confronted the narrowness of his world view. Neurologically incapable of syncretising this new information, he rejects that such a sandwich may even exist. He cannot comprehend that there are people who eat and enjoy the humble chicken sandwich every day.
At last we see the inherent obesity of the American. Obesity built into the bones of his very "language". He defines all kinds of words for the fattening, the sloppy, the caloric, the restaurant heated, but reserves no words for a simple meal of bread and chicken made in one's own kitchen. He has over a thousand words to describe his beloved Big Macs, but is purely incapable of speaking of any meal below 800 calories. Moreover, robbed of that linguistic capacity, he cannot even conceive of it as a meal.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
tldr?
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context