Michael Dukelsky to Ardith Hinton:

AH>> "Miss Stickler, may I please go to the lavatory?" one
AH>> would be completely ignored or be forced to sit through
AH>> a lecture on the difference between "can" & "may" or
AH>> wait until recess.

MD> Hm-m-m... For me it is a strange joke, it is not funny
MD> at all.

But "may" is the right word to ask permission.  I remeber
these anecdotes:

  -- Miss Stickler, can I open the window?
  -- You certainly can, but you may not.

  -- Can you pass the salt?
  -- Yes.
  -- Can you pass the salt?
  -- Yes.
  -- Can you pass the salt?
  -- Yes.

MD> In Russian a governess is rather a governor's wife.

In Russian:
úπíÑα¡áΓ«αΦá (gubernatorsha) -- governor's wife
úπóÑα¡á¡Γ¬á  (guvernantka)   -- governess
-- of which neither is a Russian word :-)

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 * Origin: *** nntp://fidonews.mine.nu *** Finland *** (2:221/6.0)