I've got a question...

[everybodyliesmd]

Does the word "couch" mean something different than "sofa" where you're from?

because I've read a ton of fanfic where the authors have placed a couch in House's office and/or conference room. Now for me, a couch is either a long piece of furniture meant to seat 2 or more people side by side, or a kind of extended chair psychiatrists use for their patients to lie down on. Your mileage may vary.

However, unless I'm far less observant than I give myself credit for, I've never seen a couch in either of those two rooms. (Wilson DOES have a couch in his office, but I'm talking about fic scenes that take place in House's office or conference room).

I know fanfic is fiction based on canon and may contain elements that are not canon (or can be completely AU, which I don't care for). But I've read some stories where the authors go out of their way to keep everyone in character and believable but toss in something like a couch and it just throws me. I like fanfic that sticks as closely to canon as possible, especially when it comes to character traits and personalities (I don't like a mushy, overly emotional House or a very Dark!Wilson). Sticking closely to canon makes it believable for me and I can really get lost in a story, but little details like sofas that never existed just spit me out of that pleasant little "zone" I'm in. (This goes for anything I read, not just fanfic; if I don't get completely involved and totally invested in the characters and the story, then I lose interest. To me, a story with good writing, characterizations, and plotlines grabs your attention and sweeps you into their world.)

Am I too picky? Do things like this bother you?

Comments

[hugh-lover4ever.livejournal.com]

Actually, you can call House's soft office chair a couch because couch is really just french for couche and can be used to identify any furniture used for sitting or reclining, so a reclining chair could be called a couch and be used properly.

House's office doesn't have a sofa although Wilson's does. A sofa is a longish piece of furniture that fits two or more people. I would say when it comes to Wilson's two-seater that using either sofa or couch is fine. When it comes to House's chair, couch or chair is also fine but not sofa.

But you're right it depends on where you are. The English language borrows from many languages and then different cultures within English can have different meanings for the same word.

I generally never use the term sofa, I pretty much use couch all the time. Interesting tho.

[everybodyliesmd.livejournal.com]

...a reclining chair could be called a couch and be used properly.

Actually, House's Eames chair doesn't recline. The backrest can flex slightly and the chair can flex slightly on the base, but it isn't considered a reclining chair. He can stretch out and put his feet on the ottoman, but the back of the chair doesn't adjust to lie flatter. He sleeps sitting up.

But you're right it depends on where you are. The English language borrows from many languages and then different cultures within English can have different meanings for the same word.

I figured I'd ask because you are right; the meanings of words are very different among different cultures and in different regions; in the US, for example, a Coca-Cola or similar beverage can be called a Coke [regardless of whether it's a genuine Coke or not], soda, tonic, or pop depending on where you live.

I generally never use the term sofa, I pretty much use couch all the time. Interesting tho.

Me, too. The only time I use the word sofa is when it is a high-end piece of furniture. Since no one I know can afford high-end furniture, we use the term couch.

[kanld.livejournal.com]

Just to add that in French the name couche means first "layer". The "sofa" meaning comes from the verb coucher = "to lye down". BTW, couche can mean too "diaper" (yes, like Pampers) LOL.