Lost in Translation, Found in Laughter

Last week, I went to a local bakery to buy some bread. I wanted to order a 'sourdough loaf,' but my pronunciation was a little off. The baker, a friendly older woman, looked at me quizzically. I tried again, emphasizing each syllable. She still looked confused. Finally, I pointed at a picture of the bread on the display case. She laughed, a warm, hearty laugh that filled the small shop. "Oh, you mean a *sourdough* loaf!" she exclaimed, using a completely different pronunciation than I had attempted. We both laughed at the misunderstanding. She explained that the local pronunciation was quite different from what I'd learned in my textbook. She then gave me an extra bread roll, a small gift for my ‘lost in translation’ experience. It was a reminder that even simple words can sound very different depending on the context and that even mistakes can lead to unexpected kindness and laughter. I left the bakery feeling much happier, with a delicious loaf of sourdough and a new appreciation for the nuances of spoken English.