h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Is this for real? I've Googled it and can't find anything about it anywhere on the Web.

That's what that thing about 'not an official sign language' means.
It's just something that is passed on from father to son, mother to daughter, friend to friend or anyone else to anyone else.
This thing has developed somewhere (nobody knows where) and somehow it has spread all over the country.

I think it's reading more like an article for the Post than a guide entry at the moment - there are too many references to hitch hiking, and I think it's trying to be too funny.

Feel free to disagree mind you!

Entry: Beer Sign Language - A11970687



off to read it again

It's only in the very first paragraph and just the first half of it at that:


>>> Hitchhiking through the galaxy, one will sometimes find oneself in the situation that one is thirsty. The galaxy, being the vast place that it is, has an infinite amount of languages, so the chance is pretty big that one will not be able to make it known to the locals that one is thirsty and in dire need of a liquid of some kind. <<<


how about soemthing like this (suggestion only ):


... In the event of finding oneself in the situation that one is thirsty, and the galaxy being the vast place that it is with an infinite number of languages, the chance is pretty big that one will not be able to make it known to the locals that one is thirsty and therefore in dire need of a liquid of some kind...


Any better?

W

thanks for the suggestion W. i'm gonna update it.
Although I don't see the problem with any reference to the Books. This is the site called 'Hithchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy', right?
*sarcasm*
If I wanted to read just some encyclopedia, I would go to Wikipedia.

Anyhoo, you gotta admit that the concept of a Beer Sign Language is funny? So why take it serious? That's my two cents, anyway.

BTW, Wilma: I've added you to the Researcher' list for this entry. You've rewritten the first alinea very nicely and I wouldn't want to be caught steeling.
Hope you agree with this action.

That's very kind of you, V. However I have done no more than is expected in PR. I don't think my suggestions make me the coauthor of your entry. So although I truly appreciate your generosity, I would rather not accept
W

I enjoyed reading this, even though I'll probably never have cause to use it. I didn't have any trouble understanding any of the signs, well done!

I was wondering if using an entity tag for the cent sign might provide a visual for the mazout in lieu of a graphic, or would that be frowned upon for edited status?

is the tag, but it might not display properly in all browsers.

<>

Though Douglas Adams (the author of Hitchhiker's) thought up the idea for this site because of the concept he created in his radio series/books, we try to stay away from too many Hitchhiker's references. Quite a few of the people who read or contribute to h2g2 have not read Hitchhiker's, particularly those from other parts of the world. As this is a BBC site, pretty much anyone can come here looking for information, so we ask that writers of entries not try too hard to be funny, and that they keep Hitchhiker's references to a minimum.

ah, I see. Pity, though.
Anyway, with the suggestion of Wilma, the reference has been removed.

W: ok, no prob.

Miloso, I've tried it, but the sign is too small. You can heardly read it. Is there some way I can use a bigger font (without using the HEADER-tag) ?

You could try
I don't know if it will work, but you can try. If it's still too small you can change the 5 to a higher number, I don't know if there's a site limit on font size or not.

thx, it worked.
I hope this way, this sign becomes more clear.

I've added another sign: nen 33er.
Read it through and let me know if it's clear.
It's in the 'E pinke' section.

Having read the entry now, I can see Gosho's concerns about how widespread this is. Have any other Dutch readers encountered this, or is it something limited to a small group of people.

It's a fun entry, and very well written, but I'm wavering as to whether it would be best served in the Edited Guide or in one of our other projects, like the UnderGuide.

If any of our other Dutch Researchers could verify that this is quite common, I'd be more inclined to accept it, but I'm concerned that it's something made up in a clique - and that it might cause offence to deaf readers. Any comments?

Well, I can speak from experience that it is wide spread, but in Flanders (hence the title).
Of course you only have my word for it. But if any other Flemish Researchers can confirm, that'll be cool.

I thought I knew a few things about and ..

This is definitely Flemish. I must admit that their beer culture has a higher level than in the Netherlands (anyone objecting: where does Duvel come from?). The pink sign could be understood very wrong, like you don't even want to bother flipping the barman your middle finger.. I'd be careful with that one, however I'm reasonably confident the 33 variation on sign #1 (two hands) will be understood all over the Netherlands as well, the Palm sign will get you the bill in the Netherlands and the Duvel sign may get you in anything like your teeth punched out or a red towel waved in front of you. Mazout is .. .. well, I think Varindweion was very polite and civilised in his description of the taste.

Cola? what's that?

The whole thing is definitely Flemish, I would indeed be very surprised if these signs are not understood in -say- 90% of all Flemish pubs.

This makes me thirsty .. to have a Duvel

That's that then

*Checks scout calendar *

thanks Hapi for confirming

and Cola...that's Coke. Apparently, all over the world people call Coca Cola, or Pepsi or Dr. Pepper, when they order one, simply 'coke' (or 'coca' in France). Only in Flanders they call it 'cola'.
Weird.