Letter: Lost in translation

Lost in translation

Sir: Steve Boggan's report (20 February) about the pitfalls of English usage here and in the US reminded me of the son of a Texan friend and his wife. He was called Randolf and she Gaynor and they came to London on business. At parties they introduced themselves charmingly with the words, "Hello, we're Gay and Randy." For a while they wondered why people looked a bit put out or muttered things like, "Jolly good!" before edging away, until a kind colleague finally explained.

RICHARD GUNTER

London W14