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

Entry: Beer Sign Language - A11970687
Author: Varindweion - U1503746

Just a small entry on the Beer Sign Language in Flanders, Belgium. Written with the idea of the original Guide in the back or my head: what would an alien need in order to get a drink in Flanders?

Hi Varindweion,

What an insight to beer buying behaviour in Belgium.. very nice little entry, as you say. I just have a few queries for you:

First thing is This Sign Language is not official and simply a series of gestures commonly used in bars, parties and anywhere else it is too noisy to order a drink without using a megaphone or getting Celine Dion to do it for you. </I? Why is this italicised? Is it a quote from someone? If they are your own words, you need not italicise.

Also your descriptive of mazout. This is a light fuel oil (not an oil fuel), similar to diesel and used for domestic heating. When I first saw your use of it I thought it was arabic because we use the same term in Lebanon, and in fact throughout the Arab world. However... The word itself, I believe, is French. You need to mazout italicise foreign words in your text.

I found the description of the sign for mazout a bit confusing. Even though I have read it, I am still not sure how to sign it: 'You form the letter 'C' with the index finger and thumb of the left hand and use the index finger of the right hand and place it vertically in front of formed 'C', thus parting it in two. You can compare it with the '$' sign, only you use a 'C' instead of an 'S'.'

Your next section on Kiveleh etc is, I think, irrelevant to your entry as there are no signs for the drinks described.

Your last section is also good but could be tied in a bit more with your Celine Dion/loudhailer comment at the top.

The title of your entry is brilliant, I really like it.

You have a few typos in here but before we get to those, I think it is best we wait for someone with a bit more knowledge of the content to confirm that this is complete first.



Wilma

Lovely stuff (or should I say ?)

I like this Entry a lot, it's useful, well written and makes me thirsty

However, you perhaps need to clarify in the Title that you are referring to 'Beer Sign Language in Flanders, Belgium', because it's different everywhere else in the world. (that's my suggested title by the way )

There's also a few minor grammatical things, and I noticed an unfortunately that was missing a letter, but as far as content goes - brill! Like it a lot as said

Hey Wilma, glad you liked it that much

some responses:

1. I -ed that first part because I thought it would make it more of a disclaimer-kinda-thing. I wouldn't want any deaf people complaining that this isn't something official. I'll un it. It may look better, as you say.

2. I used a translater for this, since I didn't know the correct English word for 'mazout'. Thanks for the correction. Mazout, however is a Dutch word as well. But for consistency, I'll italicise non-english words.

3. the part about the mazout-sign: I'm not to happy about that either. I'm still thinking about rewriting it. I think it would be best to have a picture for this one. Any idea how I go about that?

4. section about Kivela: perhaps you are right, but you gotta admit: it is pretty gross? It was just to state, that although mazout is pretty disgusting, it can get even more ugly.

5. I'm gonna try to link the last part more with the top part. Good suggestion.

Thx Matt for the great comment.

Changing the title: okidokeli, why not?
It does leave an opening for other researchers to write about the beer sign language in their country.

You're more than welcome

When you feel up to it, why not do a search of the h2g2 Edited Guide, because I'm sure there's some Entries in it you could link to aswell.

>>> 4. section about Kivela: perhaps you are right, but you gotta admit: it is pretty gross? It was just to state, that although mazout is pretty disgusting, it can get even more ugly. <<<

Oh, right, didn't quite get that bit. Why don't you leave it in then and beef up the grossness aspect? That way it becomes relevant. I was kind of looking for a tie in and the repulsivity will do

I'm afraid unless you can find a reliable image on a reliable site that is not too commercial etc, I don't think you'll have much luck with a picture. Those are allocated at whim by the ptb (powers that be) so maybe have another go describing the finger configuration.


W

I was only over there recently [didn't end up in any pubs though]

Few spellage messes:

Hithhiking - Hitchhiking
Sing - sign
glas - glass

I'll second the ing!

I don't often comment on stuff in Peer Review, but this really caught my eye.

It's a good entry. Useful, descriptive and funny. I thought the Hitchhiker's Guide comments were a bit self-referential but I tried reading the piece again without them and it's not as good. Nice job!

Now all I need is a ticket to somewhere I can try it all out.

Oh, that's not too far away from me, I'll give it a go!
I like the chatty tone of this, well done

the only thing I wanted to comment on is this: under section 1. E pinke - you have 'a pint of beer of 250 ml' - but a pint is more like 425~450ml (depending on who you ask) - you could change 'pint' to 'glass' there

Really good fun, this one

The very formal third person 'one' in the first paragraph jars a bit with the tone of the piece. Maybe phrases like "one will sometimes find oneself in the situation that one is thirsty" could be changed to the more conversational "you'll sometimes find yourself in the situation that you're thirsty"?

of course, I should change 'pint' into 'glass'. Just to avoid the confusion with people of the Anglo-Saxon persuasion
Thx for the tip!

That was the idea. I wanted a very 'formal' start, dry and distant. And then make a radical change to the chatty tone of the rest of the piece.
Contrast is one of the major keys to humor, I think.

BTW: I ran the thing through a spelling check. Any more errors?

Hey Wilma,

I added something to the part about 'Mazout'. Have a look at it and tell me if it is a bit more clear.

I really enjoyed this, Varindweion. Takes me back to my Duvel-drinking days when I worked in Amsterdam. I can't remember seeing anyone using the signs there, but that shouldn't get in the way of a good article.

Incidentally, I always pronounced Duvel "Doo-full". What do you think?

Succes!

Hi V,
I had a look.. Yes, much, much better! I also understand the sign now.

W

What a fun entry. I'm learning British Sign Language at the moment and there are some similarities

All I'll offer for now is some structural advice. Delete the headers - 'Introduction' and 'Beer Sign Language' because they're unnecessary. Next, turn the lines you currently have in bold into your new headers.

Bingo!



(Which is also the left-handed sign for 'good')

Doo-full: WHOEHAHAHA !! I like it !

W: glad you understand it now. Although I wouldn't recommend using that sign, you know, grossness...

layout: will be changed. I'll always listen to the voice of experience.

Cool entry! I think a paragraph inserted before 'Based' and "The signs" would make it easier to read.