Re: CHAT: Trans-oceanic word differences // was Education words in various English dialects

Padraic Brown wrote, quoting myself:

> >In Australia, a shed is usually something much bigger. "Shed" is the
> >word used for the buildings that house farming implements such as
> >tractors.
>
> We have them too. Often called 'sheds' as well. Can also be a largeish
> workshop.
The language difference essentially concerns assumptions made in the
absence of a qualifying adjective.

The context in which I first came across it was in describing to an
American how my XXth birthday party was held in a shed. Her mental image
was that of holding a party in a garden shed! Naturally, she realised
that couldn't be right and hence I learned about the language difference.

There's a song, popularised by a famous Australian radio program, about
sheds:

  "All Australian boys need a shed
   A place where he can go, somewhere to clear his head
   To think about the things his woman said
   Yeah, all Australian boys need a shed."

> >Also, we rarely say "garage", generally preferring "car shed" (or just
> >"shed" when the context is established). It's only a garage if it's
> >physically attached to the house.
>
> Ah, there we differ. I might call a 'garage' a shed if its primary use
> is garden storage or as a workshop. Otherwise, it'd always be a
> garage.
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