We have already determined elsewhere that the bank is in the UK; hence the cheque is written in English. For the islanders to read the amount on the cheque, and hence to accept it, they will need to be able to read English.
Hence, your comment that "Everyone knows the cheque is good", *implies* that they all know English!
"Troy Steadman" wrote
True, and your story would have stacked-up a lot better if you had used 'IOU' or 'beads' etc, rather than the specific financial instrument which you did use.
"Troy Steadman" wrote
Why would I write that? Everyone knows that cheques don't need to be written on paper (don't they?) ...
Where do I imply the bank is in the UK? I don't think I did although if you can quote me otherwise I'll happily concede. It doesn't matter where the bank is, or where the island is, or whether its capital city is Toytown (pop: Noddy, Mr Wobbly-Man, Golly and Big Ears).
It it was in the UK it could (presumably) be written like this:
Croeso i'ch safle chi am wybodaeth corfforaethol & atebolrwydd a mwy.
How does being "able to read English" help you with that?
It is only a "financial instrument" because you've chosen to attribute it to a UK Bank and then apply UK law (rather than common sense :) ) to it.
Even that is wrong. My COD defines "paper" as "negotiable documents". Write your cheque on a pig or Mr Wobbly-Man's backside and it becomes, by definition, "paper".
I very much doubt thats the only definition of 'paper' in your COD. If it is, I suggest you take it back and ask for a refund. ALternatively, you could try reading the book 'English as She is Written' which just shows that you cant do reverse translations and expect to get sense.
Are you saying cheques written on pigs are not "negotiable documents"? Or are you saying "paper" is not another word for (more fully): "negotiable documents, e.g. bills of exchange".
He's presumably simply saying that in the context in which it was being written, the word 'paper' was being used to represent the physical objects that come in thin sheets, which are usually called "paper"...
The difference is, of course, that the word "cheque" only has *one* meaning. But, of course, "paper" can have either meaning, even in UK finance terms (the one that it was being used for, or the definition you have given).
"Troy Steadman" wrote
I believe I described the objects rather more than that ...
If that's so, I take it back unreservedly, and will go with your characterisation instead. He does have a distinctly autistic tendency to focus on the trees rather than the wood.
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
"Look"? OK, so I'm using my eyes to do that I suppose...
"Troy Steadman" wrote
Ermmm - if I had a plank in my own eye, I don't think I'd be looking at anything much, least a speck of sawdust in anyone else's eye.
"Troy Steadman" wrote
Is that speck of sawdust meant to be part of the plank, like the trees are part of the wood?
How would that work then, the speck is in my brother's eye but it is *also* part of the plank which is in my eye - so my brother's eye is *inside* my eye?!
If you're going to try analogies, at least get them consistent!
Tim's wife: "Aren't you a *teensie* bit interested to know where I hid your shoe laces?" Tim: "No" Tim's wife: [sexily] "We could make babies?" Tim: "Cessation of corpus luteum activity means a decline in estrogen and progesterone". Tim's wife: [sighs]
BeanSmart website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.