tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post5883035033466670056..comments2024-03-28T16:11:36.465+00:00Comments on Separated by a Common Language: Words of the Year 2008 - nominationslynneguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10171345732985610861noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-61849312053337842162008-12-09T21:57:00.000+00:002008-12-09T21:57:00.000+00:00it appears to have gained a new preposition in its...it appears to have gained a new preposition in its translation across the pond - "in" is more natural with "queue" than "on", even in that new online settingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-10001923344000457142008-11-26T21:45:00.000+00:002008-11-26T21:45:00.000+00:00So I just found this blog today and it's great! I’...So I just found this blog today and it's great! I’m an American living in America with British other half living in Britain and he had never heard the word ‘antsy’… so google led me to you!<BR/><BR/>Anyway, for the BrE to AmE word I would like to nominate ‘queue.’ It has gained widespread usage in the US as it relates to Netflix (if you are unfamiliar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netflix) and refers to the list of movies you would like to receive/watch. If you mention a good TV show or movie to someone, they might respond by saying ‘I’ll put that on my queue!’ or ‘That’s already on my queue!’ which doesn’t just mean ‘I’ll put it on a list of things to watch,’ it quite literally means ‘I will put it on my list of movies to receive from Netflix.’ The power of the consumer!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-54821669687659989072008-11-24T10:54:00.000+00:002008-11-24T10:54:00.000+00:00Bruddy hairu, as Bill Bryson's possibly apocryphal...Bruddy hairu, as Bill Bryson's possibly apocryphal Asian friend would say. That's <A HREF="http://www.avclub.com/content/blog/please_resolve" REL="nofollow">year ago</A>.Jonathan Bogarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12642591944483957225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-18590859998070827492008-11-24T10:53:00.000+00:002008-11-24T10:53:00.000+00:00In certain AmE-speaking circles (I don't know that...In certain AmE-speaking circles (I don't know that they'd be "linguistic communities," per se; what do you call online hipsters?), "meh" is seen as so overused as to have triggered a backlash nearly a [url=http://www.avclub.com/content/blog/please_resolve]year ago[/url].<BR/><BR/>(Please read as evidence for the AmE-to-BrE side of what is too mild to be called a dispute. And I'll put in another vote for BrE-to-AmE "dodgy," which seems to have taken over AmE talk-radio unawares.)Jonathan Bogarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12642591944483957225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-23278806866140906792008-11-23T16:32:00.000+00:002008-11-23T16:32:00.000+00:00Regarding the use of SMS vs. Text, my iPhone has a...Regarding the use of SMS vs. Text, my iPhone has a icon with SMS on it and underneath is the word text. Take your pick.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10390386422182379201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-63456996724481693462008-11-23T03:58:00.000+00:002008-11-23T03:58:00.000+00:00I probably shouldn't contribute to the text/SMS di...I probably shouldn't contribute to the text/SMS discussion but I did notice when watching the Australian Mole 3 that SMS was used instead of text, so that may be where the confusion is.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14708599658301706496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-40773788368038514482008-11-22T12:34:00.000+00:002008-11-22T12:34:00.000+00:00I think 'meh' is one of those internet words and h...I think 'meh' is one of those internet words and hence is spreading from the wired outwards rather than geographically. See also lolspeak. Perhaps a new category? Although as the US is still the epicentre of the internet (discuss) perhaps that counts as an BrA to BrE import?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-89538129450620193162008-11-22T12:17:00.000+00:002008-11-22T12:17:00.000+00:00Second subprime (it's largely misunderstood over h...Second <I>subprime</I> (it's largely misunderstood over here (Br), and apparently used as a synonym for 'credit crunch', which is bizarre for the economy-minded. Misunderstood then, but it has gained majestic heights of cultral capital in the last year.). <BR/>Strongly vote against <I>pants</I> (extremely non-recent) and <I>meh</I> (which direction is it travelling in? Without more documentary evidence of its recency and origin etc, would have to say Collins' press efforts are the main factor in its popularity).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15091878725089200945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-71736475640688294692008-11-21T14:13:00.000+00:002008-11-21T14:13:00.000+00:00@ Cinders : Brace yourself for a slap when used in...@ Cinders : Brace yourself for a slap when used in conjunction with the american for trousers. <BR/>The first time I read of a portly gentleman wearing pants and red suspenders was not pretty - brainwipe please<BR/>jAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-89594925154390340922008-11-21T13:50:00.000+00:002008-11-21T13:50:00.000+00:00I'll nominate "dodgy" for BrE to AmE. It wasn't un...I'll nominate "dodgy" for BrE to AmE. It wasn't unknown in AmE before this year, but the mortgage crisis seems to have brought it to the fore. NPR news has been using it a lot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-28046971133509656312008-11-20T19:34:00.000+00:002008-11-20T19:34:00.000+00:00I'm new here, but I nominate SatNav which is a GPS...I'm new here, but I nominate SatNav which is a GPS in the US. I had no idea what they were talking about! <BR/>Curiously, I mentioned someone wearing suspenders and he went red and told me that in the UK suspenders were what I know as a Garter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-16823528152851370372008-11-20T10:02:00.000+00:002008-11-20T10:02:00.000+00:00Watercooler - not only are the devices more commo...Watercooler - not only are the devices more common in British offices - but the watercooler is apparently where we discuss last night's TV show. <BR/>The watercooler moment (standing up in the corner of an open-plan area) has apparently replaced the tea-break (a hot cuppa and KitKat, sitting at a table in the canteen....)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-6568241601695304782008-11-19T11:10:00.000+00:002008-11-19T11:10:00.000+00:00Miriam - it's very common among people my age (28 ...Miriam - it's very common among people my age (28 for four more days) and youngerGinger Yellowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06103410278129312943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-31091026643880334592008-11-19T03:59:00.000+00:002008-11-19T03:59:00.000+00:00For US to UK import, I suggest "meh." I'm not sur...For US to UK import, I suggest "meh." I'm not sure how far it has penetrated into the UK, but its inclusion in the Collins English dictionary is an indicator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-84638821498604572592008-11-18T20:21:00.000+00:002008-11-18T20:21:00.000+00:00@Bill: I had to look up bromance. I hope I never ...@Bill: I had to look up bromance. I hope I never hear it used in anger.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-59191168627607717812008-11-18T20:06:00.000+00:002008-11-18T20:06:00.000+00:00I don't know if neologisms are allowed but my favo...I don't know if neologisms are allowed but my favourite word at to moment it twunt, courtesy of petite anglaise.<BR/>jAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-61666858205300239662008-11-17T21:01:00.000+00:002008-11-17T21:01:00.000+00:00Has "Bromance" made it across th epond yet?Has "Bromance" made it across th epond yet?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-81436790205537135802008-11-17T17:36:00.000+00:002008-11-17T17:36:00.000+00:00I would like to nominate "meh", because it's a gre...I <I>would</I> like to nominate "meh", because it's a great word and becasue of the Collins thing, but it was in widespread use while I was at university in the UK at the turn of the century, so I can't in good faith.Ginger Yellowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06103410278129312943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-34608438618845609052008-11-17T17:06:00.000+00:002008-11-17T17:06:00.000+00:00I learned "SMS" about seven years ago from a Frenc...I learned "SMS" about seven years ago from a French software manual that had been translated into English and which I was editing. I've seen it since in U.S. cell phone manuals, but the standard U.S. term is to text.<BR/><BR/>(It stands for "Short Message Service," by the way.<BR/><BR/>-hAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-62521731965840204912008-11-17T14:50:00.000+00:002008-11-17T14:50:00.000+00:00Looks like the evidence is swinging your way, moll...Looks like the evidence is swinging your way, mollymooly, since Collins agrees with you about "meh" - <A HREF="http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article5168029.ece" REL="nofollow"> here's</A> the link to today's <I>Times</I> story about "meh" getting in the dictionary.Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01703548364118364764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-1209436474923336752008-11-17T14:33:00.000+00:002008-11-17T14:33:00.000+00:00nominations - I suggest "meh" there's a article ab...nominations - I suggest <BR/>"meh" there's a article about it in today's Times, has been added to british dictionary by popular demand. Was featured on The Simpson's. See also<BR/>http://www.macmillandictionaries.com/wordoftheweek/archive/080107-meh.htm<BR/>From Deborah Evans<BR/>17th November 2008Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-4121443675757084112008-11-17T09:53:00.000+00:002008-11-17T09:53:00.000+00:00@hips unhinged ltd: the UK tabloids have been usin...@hips unhinged ltd: the UK tabloids have been using the -gate suffix for many years now. The examples that come to mind involve scandals within the Royal Family; Camillagate and Squidgygate (!) date back to the early 1990s.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-39049584696935213652008-11-16T20:35:00.000+00:002008-11-16T20:35:00.000+00:00@terrycollmann: meh has been around in the US, but...@terrycollmann: meh has been around in the US, but not so much on this side of the pond. Which is my point.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-14608793920622929792008-11-16T18:39:00.000+00:002008-11-16T18:39:00.000+00:00I'm not sure if this counts as it's a morpheme rat...I'm not sure if this counts as it's a morpheme rather than an actual word, but I'd like to nominate the suffix -gate to denote a scandal for the AmE-BrE WOTY. Before this year, I'd only heard it used over here to refer to the American scandals themselves, eg 'Monicagate', but 'Sachsgate' is the first solely British usage of it I've heard.Hips Unhinged Ltdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12347221689390797013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28787909.post-79031263242778229722008-11-16T17:29:00.000+00:002008-11-16T17:29:00.000+00:00anne t., meh is almost the opposite of gah!, since...anne t., <I>meh</I> is almost the opposite of <I>gah!</I>, since as the <A HREF="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/meh" REL="nofollow">Wiktionary</A> explains, <I>meh</I> expresses utter indifference. I agree with mollymooly that it's an extremely useful word, but as it's been around since at least 1995, when it appeared in an episode of <I>The Simpsons</I>, I'm not sure it's eligible for WOTY 2008.Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01703548364118364764noreply@blogger.com