When we travel many of us may have some preconceived (or stereotypical) ideas of what certain countries and their people will be like.

I admit that when I first came to China I subconsciously imagined that all Chinese people spoke the same language in the same way.It didn't take me long to realize that wasn't the case.

I found that apart from different dialects among the numerous minorities,even among the Han Chinese there is a multitude of different slang and accents used.

While living in a small town in the Northeast of China, it's been fascinating for me to find that just like many natives in my hometown London the natives were very proud of their local slang, accent and culture.

In fact all over the world we find that people in virtually every town village and city both possess and are proud of their own distinctive slang.

While it's true that due to certain circumstances people can only communicate using local slang and not much else, I feel that the majority of people on this Earth use slang to differing degrees in their day to day conversations, especially with their close friends and relatives.

When I'm back in my hometown London with my "mates"
my accent naturally thickens and I use quite a bit of slang including many of the expressions mentioned in Mr O'donnell's article.

The English already have a reputation for being stiff,uptight and snobby.Imagine how worse it would be if every single English person spoke in the same "hoity-toity snooty accent ".The world would be a very dull place if all of us spoke exactly the same language with the same accent minus any slang whatsoever.

Local accents and slang give people identity and pride in themselves and their background.When travelling we are enriched when we learn some of the local slang ' and this often results in breaking the ice, and helps us to bond with the locals.

Mr O'donnell, no affens mate, but you come across as a bit snooty,lioke! Sorry it's gotta be said innit?
Wots ya problem me ode China? At the and ov the day it's arbaht respec', innit?

Seriously. Darn't piss me off mate. Ya 'aving a laff, ain't ya? Ta be 'onest wiv ya, ya rite air' ov order mate! Giv' it a rest mate.Ya na wot I mean, lioke? Ya na what I'm saying? Give us cockneys a squeeze, We ain't done nuffin to you.

Cockney, and proud of it.