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How Bangladesh vanquished diarrhoea

economist.com

21–30 of 62 posts

Re: How Bangladesh vanquished diarrhoea

#21
When I was growing up in Bangladesh in the early 90s, the only channel on TV had continuous ads for Orsaline (Pedialyte in the US) and what to do if you didn't have (or couldn't afford) it when your child was ill.

I have long since left Bangladesh, but it warms my heart to see that the the grassroots campaign paid off in droves.

Re: How Bangladesh vanquished diarrhoea

#25
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is English your mother tongue? In South America, people use WC, Patent (because it was written on the loo), or just Water (in Uruguay, at least) a lot. So it would be funny if (at least WC) was not as known in the English-speaking world. Patente (used in Brazil) is obviously just derived from the Patent label.

Italians use "water" (spelled váter") or WC (spelled "vee-chee"), rarely "tazza" or the less elegant "cesso".

In Germany, Crapper manufactured toilet bowls are still common.

Re: How Bangladesh vanquished diarrhoea

#28
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Conversationally it's used more like Meaning. https://translate.google.com/#hi/en/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4...

In Farsi, it is used similarly, as in Subject Matter/Topic.

In Urdu, matlab can mean intent or purpose, probably derived from Farsi.

Re: How Bangladesh vanquished diarrhoea

#29
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does WC stand for?

Is English your mother tongue? In South America, people use WC, Patent (because it was written on the loo), or just Water (in Uruguay, at least) a lot. So it would be funny if (at least WC) was not as known in the English-speaking world. Patente (used in Brazil) is obviously just derived from the Patent label.

I think it would be pretty easy to go through life in the US without ever hearing a toilet called a WC; I'm familiar with the abbreviation but I'm not even sure how, because I can't remember ever hearing or reading it.

Re: How Bangladesh vanquished diarrhoea

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks, I can't believe I had never heard that synonym for toilet until now!

You’ve never been to Canada, Europe, or India?

I've been to all of those places and only ever heard it called a WC or "water closet" in my high school french class.
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