Apparently, some years ago, a Welsh rugby team did a tour of Romania. After the last match, there was to be a celebration dinner at which the club captain was asked to give a speech. In order to show his appreciation of their hosts, he thought he would start his speech by saying “Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen” in the local language.
From normal conversation, he picked up the words for “Good evening”. To learn the words “ladies” and “gentlemen” he decided to try a ruse. When he was near the public conveniences, he asked their interpreter what the words were over the doors used by the ladies and gentlemen. The interpreter duly obliged.
On the evening of the dinner, the captain stood up to make his speech and started confidently with his opening remark before continuing the rest of the speech in English. He noticed that there were a couple of strange looks from the audience at the opening although he was dutifully applauded at the end. He turned to the interpreter and asked him how he thought the speech had gone. The interpreter replied that the speech was very good but he didn’t know why the captain had started it by saying “Good evening, water closets and urinals”.
From normal conversation, he picked up the words for “Good evening”. To learn the words “ladies” and “gentlemen” he decided to try a ruse. When he was near the public conveniences, he asked their interpreter what the words were over the doors used by the ladies and gentlemen. The interpreter duly obliged.
On the evening of the dinner, the captain stood up to make his speech and started confidently with his opening remark before continuing the rest of the speech in English. He noticed that there were a couple of strange looks from the audience at the opening although he was dutifully applauded at the end. He turned to the interpreter and asked him how he thought the speech had gone. The interpreter replied that the speech was very good but he didn’t know why the captain had started it by saying “Good evening, water closets and urinals”.
