[General] I don't know if pullman porter is the right phrase here....

[Silverobama]

Last night Suzie used a phrase (She said it in Chinese) during our club meeting (we meet every week and talk to each other in English), then I translated what she'd said as "pullman porter". I once read this phrase in Obama's speech and I thought it might be the phrase Suzie needed. However, I was wrong. What she needed is "porter". She was describing a group of people here use their back or sometimes a stick to help people carry things home and then get paid. I think "porter" is the right phrase. But at that time, I used "pullman porter" which I wasn't sure. I said "I don't know if pullman porter is the right phrase here. I'll look it up later" as an explanation and to ensure her that I'll confirm this later.

Is my italic sentence natural?

 

[emsr2d2]

I associate porters with hotels - they usually help carry your luggage to your room.

The people you're describing sound like a kind of city version of a sherpa - have I got the right idea?

 

[Silverobama]

I associate porters with hotels - they usually help carry your luggage to your room.

The people you're describing sound like a kind of city version of a sherpa - have I got the right idea?

Much appreciated, emsr2d2.

The people I'm describing could only possibly be seen in my city, I believe. There's a history behind them. Many years ago, when my city was still developing, many people (not well-educated due to many different reasons, poor, for example) chose to work like this. They usually used a wooden stick as a pole (sorry, I don't know the right term here, either) on their shoulder to carry goods for people who employed them. But as time goes by, this kind of people disappear because they can find better job. Now, there are still some working like this. They now use their hands to carry things for employers, also, they still use wooden and thick sticks because this helps them carry heavier goods.

I can see such people outside supermarkets, they are usually paid 10-20 yuan for each job, which mainly depends on the weight of the good.

I looked up the word "sherpa" and I still don't know what it means. I'm sorry. But I read on WR that people use "porter" (BrE, bellman) to refer to "people who carry things for others".

And by the way, is my italic sentence natural in the OP?

Edited:

In this thread, Matching Mole describing "porter" as:

A porter carries things, often luggage, and is not restricted to a particular kind of establishment (porters work in hotels, restaurants, hospitals, etc). (However, in the UK "bellmen" are called porters; "bellman" and the like are not used, so this conversation would not occur.)

 

[Rover_KE]

They're definitely not Pullman porters.

 

[Silverobama]

They're definitely not Pullman porters.

Yes. Later when I arrived home, I looked that phrase up and apologized for making that mistake.

 

[GoesStation]

We used to refer to such people as coolies, a word used only in the context of China. It's probably offensive now, but that's the only word I can think of that really fits.

 

[Silverobama]

We used to refer to such people as coolies, a word used only in the context of China. It's probably offensive now, but that's the only word I can think of that really fits.

Thanks a lot for your input, GS.

I was about to say "coolie" but I forgot to say it. This word is directly translated from its Chinese version of pronunciation.

I think it's a neutral word and sometimes people describe themselves as coolies in a joking manner. Again, context matters.

When I was looking up "coolie" I saw the word "laborer". I think this word is much better because it sounds much more modern.

Please also help me with my italic sentence in the OP, dear members!

 

[GoesStation]

When I was looking up "coolie" I saw the word "laborer". I think this word is much better because it sounds much more modern.

It's too vague for the context. Anyone who does any kind of manual labor is a laborer.

 

[jutfrank]

To answer your question, Silver: Yes, your sentences are natural English.

 

[Rover_KE]

They are, but in writing, 'Pullman' should be capitalised.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

The only mistake in your italisized sentence is that Pullman should be capitalized.

I don't know the context, but I assume you both know that Pullman porters work in train sleeper cars. They're called Pullman cars because they were originally manufactured by George Pullman. (Maybe they still are.)

To learn more about Pullman porters, Google A. Philip Randolf.

 

[probus]

We used to refer to such people as coolies, a word used only in the context of China. It's probably offensive now, but that's the only word I can think of that really fits.

Regrettably, perhaps, coolie is also used in Indian English.

 

[probus]

In American English, hotel emplyees who handle luggage (baggage in AmE) are called bellboys rather than porters.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

In American English, hotel emplyees who handle luggage (baggage in AmE) are called bellboys rather than porters.

Yes, or bellhops.

When they hear the desk clerk's bell, they hop.