tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post5453004178017028913..comments2024-03-28T16:11:36.465+00:00Comments on Separated by a Common Language: Briticisms in AmElynneguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10171345732985610861noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-57424571238388417692016-12-04T02:42:03.738+00:002016-12-04T02:42:03.738+00:00I've noticed an increase in Americans using cu...I've noticed an increase in Americans using <em>cunt</em> and <em>twat</em> on the internet in the past few years. I (a twentysomething American) am not a fan of this, I have to say. Mark Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08432465232946983705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-772323475943017612014-04-24T03:52:26.493+01:002014-04-24T03:52:26.493+01:00Massachusetts age 25-
Slightly off topic here,RE:...Massachusetts age 25-<br /><br />Slightly off topic here,RE: using foreign swears to substitute for overused and shocking native ones, I'm rather fond of using entirely made up swears like Frell, or (I think) D'arvit.<br /><br />I also enjoy creative insults, the more poetic or nonsensical the better. "thou art more vile than the apostrophe of catas'rophe"<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02138260302522477243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-30693196217996319322013-03-24T08:24:06.060+00:002013-03-24T08:24:06.060+00:00I am an American female who co-opted "bloody&...I am an American female who co-opted "bloody" and "bleeding" back in High School (70s) when I absolutely meant "f***ing" (don't know the policy for using such words here) but couldn't possibly get away with it. It was a great relief to be able to be so emphatic without anyone quite realizing how strongly I felt. After a while it just became habit, but still comes in handy for the same reason. There are lots of expressions from British English that are colorful and fun to use, and vice versa, I imagine. Saying someone is a "one-off" is less formal than using the word "unique", for example. But my main point is that after so many years of English Literature and especially watching British television, particularly comedy (which is full of current slang), many words or phrases simply pop into my head without my even knowing where they've originated. I've said, "Crikey!" for as long as I can remember, but had no idea it was a British-ism until recently when I heard it on "Green Wing" (where they say EVERYTHING!). Because they watch "The Simpsons" in England and we watch "Coupling" here now, it seems that the two versions of English will naturally bleed together, without anyone deliberately adopting words and phrases to try to sound exotic or cool. Having friends from around the world influences me, too, as I imagine it does others, just as world travel does. English is a living language, bound to change in many ways as the world shrinks.MirrorGirlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-22388712482738703482013-01-18T11:08:24.057+00:002013-01-18T11:08:24.057+00:00My late father (b. 1907) used "fussy" to...My late father (b. 1907) used "fussy" to mean "attentive" as in "making a fuss of someone", but I've never heard anyone else use it that way.<br />In the Mr. Men cartoons, Mr. Pernickety's name was changed to Mr. Fussy, presumably because children didn't understand the old name.<br />Kate (Derby, UK)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-87732242740557414262013-01-06T14:56:58.746+00:002013-01-06T14:56:58.746+00:00Steve, that is because to my AmE (and Mothers) ear...Steve, that is because to my AmE (and Mothers) ears, fussy is when a baby/child and sometimes adult is whinny or crabby.Mindynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-27847812725974404452012-12-22T03:27:08.966+00:002012-12-22T03:27:08.966+00:00American's say picky and don't understand ...American's say picky and don't understand me when I say fussy. This annoys me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-34661154823963659362012-11-28T13:40:39.870+00:002012-11-28T13:40:39.870+00:00I'm an American who recently naturalised in th...I'm an American who recently naturalised in the UK, and it was with some rather startling horror that I realized six years too late how strong a word "bastard" is over here. I'd never really internalized the fact that it always gets asterisked-out as "B*STARD" in headlines, and it was always a real C-list insult to me as a child.<br /><br />But one day a friend of mine who'd made the opposite life path (she's British, now living in America) heard the word used on Spongebob Squarepants in the after-school timeslot, and thought she was going crazy. She directed me to Figure 1 of <a href="http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/itc/uploads/Delete_Expletives.pdf" rel="nofollow">this ofcom document</a>, which ranks terms by perceived "severity".<br /><br />So it's not just the newer derogatory terms that have a strong Atlantic gradient. I kind of grimace now when I recall some situations in which I'd used a mild derogatory term that must have come across as far more vulgar.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-22846541924950773362012-11-25T21:03:30.320+00:002012-11-25T21:03:30.320+00:0024-year-old American geek here, and I'd like t...24-year-old American geek here, and I'd like to offer up a possible reason that "bollocks" means something different here than in Britain: the graphic novel/movie V for Vendetta, with the little girl in glasses announcing that television propaganda is "bollocks." When the movie came out, many of my friends had only ever heard the word in that context, and assumed it meant the same as "what a load!" or "bullshit!" The sexual meaning has traveled a little bit because of the Internet, but when I hear it (not often and usually among geeks), it's in the sense of "BS-ing somebody" (e.g. "He said she had the hots for him, but that's a load of bollocks--she's a lesbian").Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-34711958944090852342012-11-24T00:35:34.742+00:002012-11-24T00:35:34.742+00:00Since moving back to the US from the UK, I have no...Since moving back to the US from the UK, I have noticed that Americans use "spot on" a lot, as well as ginger. (Although I've yet to hear an American use the more derogatory pronunciation that rhymes with wringer.) And I swear this was all before the BBC and NY Times articles, which I did enjoy quite a bit given my experiences on both sides of the pond! (Hah. I said "quite.") Kristahttp://www.passportdelicious.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-47648874934721439592012-11-16T06:07:38.370+00:002012-11-16T06:07:38.370+00:00In some ways it's a shame that we understand e...In some ways it's a shame that we understand each other better now. Confusion can be frustrating but it can also be fun. Visiting the States for the first time in 1982 I had arranged to meet someone in a bar. When she didn't turn up I phoned her and she said 'Sorry, I couldn't make it, are you pissed?' to which I replied 'No, I've only had a beer' and she said 'What? But are you pissed?' and I said 'No, just one beer, why are you asking?' etc., etc. I suspect that we couldn't have that confused conversation today, where she didn't know that pissed could possibly mean drunk and I didn't know that pissed could possibly mean angry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-54981508719032491342012-11-16T05:56:50.528+00:002012-11-16T05:56:50.528+00:00As a Brit, I've always understood and used ...As a Brit, I've always understood and used 'wonky' for something not in line, not straight, facing a different direction. As in 'that painting's a bit wonky' or 'he's got a wonky eye'. Didn't know it had evolved so much that nobody here mentioned that meaning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-36659570214875341332012-11-09T14:31:13.624+00:002012-11-09T14:31:13.624+00:00@ Anon
Its funny that you said a gentleman'...@ Anon <br /><br />Its funny that you said a gentleman's gentleman for valet.(which it is) But to AmE if you say valet, we mean like in Valet Parking! I would not even think of it in the other way unless I was reading a novel set in the past!Mindynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-24742964442487158552012-11-08T22:13:25.573+00:002012-11-08T22:13:25.573+00:00I once came up with a phrase involving Fanny that ...I once came up with a phrase involving Fanny that is completely and 100% innocent, if not cute, to American ears, but is so unbelievably crude and inappropriate to BrE ears that I won't even write it here.Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-51548761744687577222012-11-06T21:21:43.000+00:002012-11-06T21:21:43.000+00:00@Shaun Clarkson, the pronunciation of "valet&...@Shaun Clarkson, the pronunciation of "valet" also comes up in Laurie and Fry's <i>Jeeves and Wooster</i> TV series, although Jeeves prefers the term "gentleman's gentleman".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-29187449389886737372012-10-30T00:55:04.099+00:002012-10-30T00:55:04.099+00:00Fanny Pack in the USA makes me laugh every time I ...Fanny Pack in the USA makes me laugh every time I hear it. Fanny in the UK refers to a womans private parts, whereas in the US it refers to the butt (or bum in the UK). That is why in the UK, it is known as the Bum Bag, and most definitely not known as the much more crude "fanny pack"!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-16788158738345768512012-10-27T16:06:44.505+01:002012-10-27T16:06:44.505+01:00"Anyway at first I thought the use of the Sco..."Anyway at first I thought the use of the Scot didn't make any sense especially in a country that frequently adds subtitles on the news when anyone other than an american is speaking, which I find pretty consescending but then I realized that the ad people said:<br /><br />The concept of a Scotsman promoting Scotts to his neighbors in middle America may seem silly or corny, but “there’s so much noise out there,” he adds. “You need a little something to break through the clutter.” <br /><br />It's just a play on words. The company was founded by a guy whose last name was Scott. The pun was probably the ad company's inspiration to use the Scottish guy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-79470559565673374392012-10-27T09:50:13.418+01:002012-10-27T09:50:13.418+01:00@Steve Haynes
"I gather that in AmE "nig...@Steve Haynes<br />"I gather that in AmE "niggardly" has become a taboo word,"<br /><br />Not commonly used, but not taboo as far as I know.<br />Vashbulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-13613344354479697772012-10-26T04:00:41.614+01:002012-10-26T04:00:41.614+01:00@Dru
'on line' to mean 'in a queue...@Dru<br /><br />'on line' to mean 'in a queue' is a N.AmE regionalism. I think it's mostly associated with the US North East.<br /><br />Totally anecdotal, but somewhat related to your comment - my pronunciation of 'ballet' with the stress on the first syllable has prompted NAmE people to comment that that's how they 'know' that I've been trained in ballet (I have, in fact) though in my case it's mostly my childhood BrE interfering with when I speak NAmE (I am bi-dialetal)<br /><br />*NAmE = North American English - I live in Canada, so AmE is inappropriate.ellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13036209994244477176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-92202496203972154962012-10-25T23:34:39.051+01:002012-10-25T23:34:39.051+01:00It would never have been 'valeT' with the ...It would never have been 'valeT' with the emphasis on the second syllable, more like 'val't'. It is, though, more upper class to pronounce the 't'. Shifting the stress forward to the second syllable of a word originally of French origin is totally west of the Atlantic Ocean, as in 'b'lay' for English 'ballé' (spelt I think by everyone 'ballet'). The same difference exists for 'beret' as in 'Green B'ray', and for 'plateau'.<br /><br />Garage is more complicated with two pronunciations in the UK, slightly socially self-identificative, both with the stress on the first syllable and both different from what I think is the normal US one.<br /><br />What are people in New York using 'on line' as distinct from 'in line' to mean? If it means to queue, nobody here says 'on line'. 'On line' means 'connected to the internet'. So it cannot have been around as long as most of us have been alive. Doesn't it mean that everywhere?<br /><br />It can also be used, and this is older, to mean 'with hope of' as in 'in line for promotion'.<br /><br />Nice to think that a wandering Scotsman can earn a bit of pocket money taking off his own accent in a far away country. Did everyone notice the set of pipes hanging on the wall to give colour? It's surprising he doesn't wear the kilt to do the gardening.Drunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-60236596727743227902012-10-25T23:00:18.896+01:002012-10-25T23:00:18.896+01:00Not here, I can't. (See my comments policy.) B...Not here, I can't. (See my <a href="http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.co.uk/2006/07/comments-policy.html" rel="nofollow">comments policy</a>.) But Google 'lieutenant pronunciation' and you'll do well...lynneguisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171345732985610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-34700535119325428242012-10-25T22:50:21.381+01:002012-10-25T22:50:21.381+01:00Can you please talk about why the word lieutenant ...Can you please talk about why the word lieutenant has 2 different pronunciations? :)Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12404587638500438146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-76990258020286516962012-10-25T15:15:45.618+01:002012-10-25T15:15:45.618+01:00I live in the USA (but am born in Britain) and am ...I live in the USA (but am born in Britain) and am usually puzzled by the wierd sort of hybrid British-American adverts they have here that would mean nothing to an English person but seem to hit home here. One puzzling one is the use of a Scot to sell grass seed http://www.youtube.com/user/ScottsMiracleGro<br />He uses an expression 'that's dandy rot' which may or may not be a Scottish expression (do you know)<br /><br />Anyway at first I thought the use of the Scot didn't make any sense especially in a country that frequently adds subtitles on the news when anyone other than an american is speaking, which I find pretty consescending but then I realized that the ad people said:<br /><br />The concept of a Scotsman promoting Scotts to his neighbors in middle America may seem silly or corny, but “there’s so much noise out there,” he adds. “You need a little something to break through the clutter.” <br /><br />So they use the Scot just to make an impact amongst so many american voices on the tv when people are channel hopping.MommyHeadachehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03924035710478459520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-50837596470911803152012-10-25T00:51:03.730+01:002012-10-25T00:51:03.730+01:00As a Brit, I am completely at home with the word &...As a Brit, I am completely at home with the word "Wonky" (erratically malfunctioning), to the point that I had always asumed it to be BRE, not AME, and I watch enough US TV to be familiar with "Wonkish" (pertaining to a [policy] Wonk), but I still think the word Naya Reviera is using is "Wanky" (and a quick Google of "Naya Rivera Wanky" - try it for yourself, watch the video - would seem to confirm my suspicions).Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01942222357271077212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-19662811837407370412012-10-25T00:31:24.833+01:002012-10-25T00:31:24.833+01:00" I don't mind pronouncing "valet&qu..." I don't mind pronouncing "valet" as "valeT" (instead of "valEY" as in US); "<br /><br />That's the influence of Downton Abbey. Widespread UK pronunciation of valet was similar to the US one, but with a more even stress. The film Gosford Park (written by Julian Fellows, creator of Downton) makes a point of sending up some middle class assumptions of upper class behaviour, one of them being a character trying to be right by saying 'valey' and being corrected. The people who had, or were, valets pronounced the t. <br /><br />The film probably had limited impact, but the tv series has had much more.Shaun Clarksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16290670832534929741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-23783170346965682902012-10-24T16:01:02.399+01:002012-10-24T16:01:02.399+01:00@Other Anonymous:
"I only mind those that a...@Other Anonymous: <br /><br />"I only mind those that are the result of pretension: "in line" is the American version, but now New Yorkers say "on line" (thinking they sound more British, I suppose?)." <br /><br />New Yorkers saying "on line" rather than "in line" is a regionalism that's been around as long as I have been alive (that's more years that than I care to own); it has nothing to do with wanting to sound more British.<br /><br />An Older NYCerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com