Americanisms

Terrier · Post by **Terrier** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 6:20 pm

Seem to be Seeping into the english language more and more but what i want to know is,is it due to my age( nearly 60) that i get irritated when i hear a bloke over 50 born in britain use the word guys or when going to the pictures they say going to the movies!!

conyoviejo · Post by **conyoviejo** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 6:22 pm

Stop being a Fanny.. Lol

HelloHiGoodbye · Post by **HelloHiGoodbye** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 6:23 pm

I don't mind Americanisms. Language is an ever-changing thing.

What does wind me up though? Is when? People? Go up? At the end? Of Sentences? And break? It all? Up? So? Like? Everything sounds like? A philosophical? Question?

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 6:25 pm

HelloHiGoodbye wrote:What does wind me up though? Is when? People? Go up? At the end? Of Sentences? And break? It all? Up? So? Like? Everything sounds like? A philosophical? Question?

Don't go to Australia!

South West Claret. · Post by **South West Claret.** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 6:28 pm

Sadly there are more sheep in this country by the day Terrie, you only have to look at some other areas of society.

Firthy · Post by **Firthy** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 6:39 pm

The English language is full of obscure sayings. Like the wife said to me before "put the kettle on" We all know what it means but if a foreigner heard it, he'd be thinking to himself "put the kettle on what?"

The most annoying americanisms though are calling football soccer and referring to crisps as chips.

Imploding Turtle · Post by **Imploding Turtle** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 6:43 pm

OP is clearly racist.

Oh god, he's one of those Terrierists that the right-wing is terrierfied of.

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 6:52 pm

I'm with Terrier.

You do the math - I'll do the maths and the English thank you.

Trash - British people who say that want punching in the face.

ATM - Hole in t' wall you dummies, or cash machine if you live further south than Macclesfield.

john'sroseyspecs · Post by **john'sroseyspecs** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:03 pm

Can I get ???

Rick_Muller · Post by **Rick_Muller** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:06 pm

john'sroseyspecs wrote:Can I get ???

No you fecking can't...!

cloughyclaret · Post by **cloughyclaret** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:07 pm

Bin Ont Turf wrote:I'm with Terrier.

You do the math - I'll do the maths and the English thank you.

Trash - British people who say that want punching in the face.

ATM - Hole in t' wall you dummies, or cash machine if you live further south than Macclesfield.

Cashpoint. Is that ok? Or Ive got to "get some money out"which is usually what I say.

normandeeley · Post by **normandeeley** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:16 pm

Just a few - even writing them out annoys me;
gotten
off of
get-go
train station (rather than railway station)
start over (rather than start again)

spadesclaret · Post by **spadesclaret** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:17 pm

The one that annoys me crops up in books rather than the spoken word and that is 'envisioned' instead of 'envisaged'.

"he did it in spades" meaning he went over the top is one Americanism that doesn't annoy me. Well, it wouldn't, would it?

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:18 pm

Yes I will allow cashpoint Cloughy.

"get some money out"....... Are you wearing a balaclava and holding a sawn off shotgun when you say that?

We know how influential the Stoopers can be.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:20 pm

Spades, I'm sure I remember reading that you were retired. Ever thought about doing some article writing on the side?

normandeeley · Post by **normandeeley** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:21 pm

Sorry - remembered another
couples 'fighting' when they mean arguing,
(I'll try and stop now.)

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:24 pm

I remember when friends would say, "Are you dossing?"

cloughyclaret · Post by **cloughyclaret** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:24 pm

Bin Ont Turf wrote:Yes I will allow cashpoint Cloughy.

"get some money out"....... Are you wearing a balaclava and holding a sawn off shotgun when you say that?

We know how influential the Stoopers can be.

I forgot to say wi mi bank card. Balaclavas give me a menopausal flush.

spadesclaret · Post by **spadesclaret** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:26 pm

FactualFrank wrote:Spades, I'm sure I remember reading that you were retired. Ever thought about doing some article writing on the side?

Frank, there are too many good books waiting for me to read for me to have time to write articles. I worry that I will die before I have read enough books

Mr. spades laughs at me because I am not happy if I don't have ten or a dozen books waiting to be read.

What subject(s) were you thinking these articles might cover?

JohnMac · Post by **JohnMac** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:30 pm

Dived not bloody 'Dove'

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:31 pm

spadesclaret wrote:What subject(s) were you thinking these articles might cover?

To be honest - anything you're interested in. I run a website that covers pretty much everything. If it's something that would be of interest to a decent % of the World, the choice is yours.

conyoviejo · Post by **conyoviejo** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:53 pm

Semaye finals when it's semi finals

Aluminum when its Aluminium

cloughyclaret · Post by **cloughyclaret** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:56 pm

Ok.....lets flip it and see what Americanisms we do use without realising.

Lets flip it
Yo Dude
Hey (insert name here)

Firthy · Post by **Firthy** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:01 pm

When they say "Shuttup" or "Shut your mouth" when they're surprised. Usually on a game show.

Imploding Turtle · Post by **Imploding Turtle** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:02 pm

conyoviejo wrote:Semaye finals when it's semi finals

Aluminum when its Aluminium

Also, "finals" when it's just the ******* final! It's one match. Not plural you ******* illiterate *****.

Imploding Turtle · Post by **Imploding Turtle** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:03 pm

Firthy wrote:When they say "Shuttup" or "Shut your mouth" when they're surprised. Usually on a game show.

Shut yer face!

conyoviejo · Post by **conyoviejo** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:03 pm

You're welcome ...

Imploding Turtle · Post by **Imploding Turtle** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:04 pm

No wonder terrorists hate them. They're probably doing all this to their languages too.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:07 pm

Don't we just copy America anyway?

Croydon Claret · Post by **Croydon Claret** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:18 pm

Winningest

Imploding Turtle · Post by **Imploding Turtle** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:22 pm

Croydon Claret wrote:Winningest

Now i'm triggered.

MACCA · Post by **MACCA** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:24 pm

Dude
Sure
Guys
Start over
Elivator... no lift!
Lever... it's lee-ver!

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:30 pm

Like I say, how can we take the **** out of America when we suddenly now have Proms and Black Friday? They might be 3 stones heavier than us, but they also come up with the ideas that we then copy.

BFCmaj · Post by **BFCmaj** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:31 pm

I've noticed a lot of pupils (and other teachers) referring to the toilet as "the bathroom".
Eg. "Sir, can I go to the bathroom"?
To which I reply,
"I think you mean "please may I go to the toilet?". No you can't, you should've gone at break time.

Imploding Turtle · Post by **Imploding Turtle** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:32 pm

FactualFrank wrote:Like I say, how can we take the **** out of America when we suddenly now have Proms and Black Friday? They might be 3 stones heavier than us, but they also come up with the ideas that we then copy.

It's kind of embarrassing. Black Friday inparticular.

Sarum · Post by **Sarum** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:34 pm

The flaming "get go" for a start.

lakesclaret · Post by **lakesclaret** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 9:02 pm

" Can I get" does my head in as it's not only grammatically wrong it doesn't fit our conversation flow. Yanks have always used the phrase so it works well for them.

Was in a bar in Manchester and a group of birds 25-30ish ( all sharing 1 bottle of prosecco and taking selfies etc) were constantly saying " can I get" when they ordered food ,but it seems false and very " try hard" imo

Claretforever · Post by **Claretforever** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 9:10 pm

"I could care less"

Over here we say, and rightly, "I couldn't care less"

Surely if you could care less then you are bothered rather than not bothered about something? Always annoyed me.

https://youtu.be/om7O0MFkmpw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 9:29 pm

john'sroseyspecs wrote:Can I get ???

That is just about the worst one. I had to leave the butchers the other day on account of a woman using it repeatedly.

That said, 'holy mackerel' has always struck me as quite amusing.

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 9:54 pm

Terrier wrote:Seem to be Seeping into the english language more and more but what i want to know is,is it due to my age( nearly 60) that i get irritated when i hear a bloke over 50 born in britain use the word guys or when going to the pictures they say going to the movies!!

Hi Terrier, I'm guilty, there are a few times I've said "guys" on this mb. ("mb" btw, is that another Americanism...?).

I'm 63. My first excuse is I've worked for American companies for over 20 years, mostly based in London, but I've lived in NY for a few months and made many visits to US - for work and "vacations," sorry, I mean holidays.

Second excuse, "guys" can be used in a gender neutral sense, so I could say "hey you guys" to all my work colleagues, "where's the restroom" (though "bathroom" is probably more common these days) and also "any of you guys coming for a drink?" (That was always welcome).

It took me some time to learn to say "can I get" when I was living in NY - but when you are hungry and "rushed" for lunch, you learn to use the American phrase when in NY or Houston or wherever, otherwise you will go hungry and it takes a long time to get served. However much the Americans like an "English" accent (their term, though I was often asked was I "English or Irish," often accompanied by an apology "I don't want to offend" - because they believed the Brits and the Irish were at war with each other...).

So, I'm a little multi-lingual: by 'eck, I can speak Lancashire, some English and a little bit of American!

Spiral · Post by **Spiral** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:04 pm

I can't be the only one doubting the sincerity of the hostility towards evolving language? How can hearing an Englishman say "guys" be so vexing?

ecc · Post by **ecc** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:33 pm

Living abroad you notice just how many American expressions have crossed the Atlantic and are no embedded in the English of the UK. I should state straight away that some of my favourite writers are American so I have no "agenda" per se about Americans and their variant of English.

They have a much more pragmatic and flexible attitude towards language. For instance, if there is a noun they use a lot but no verb then they'll invent one.

English - wherever it's spoken - is not a phonetic language but they have tried to make some common words "phonetic".

They don't see why we spell "colour" in that way. To them, the "u" isn't heard so out comes the knife and it becomes "color".

Most people would say "Who cares?". Well, a British child who spells the word "color" will (or should) be told it's wrong. Conversely, an American child who throws a "u" in the word will be marked down.

Where the American influence is leading to problems is younger people making spelling mistakes like this:

"program" - again their concern for a more phonetic version of spelling leads them to lop off the second "m" and the "e".

The only instance when this spelling is now deemed acceptable by the leading British dictionaries is when it's used in the computing field;

But I see people write "I saw a great program on TV last night".

Awesome, isn't it?

Dazzler · Post by **Dazzler** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:51 pm

It irritates me when folk say "American Football"...Grrrŕrŕ

yTib · Post by **yTib** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:52 pm

i suppose i guess is the new i suppose.

Spiral · Post by **Spiral** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:52 pm

There's an argument to be had that shunning the significance of the abstract hinders cognitive growth, ecc. Legibility aside, (to be fair, legibility of American English isn't an issue whatsoever, no matter how proud an Englishman one may be), it is probably more beneficial to teach kids to understand why colour is spelled differently in the US rather than to merely hammer the point that Americans are, apparently, spelling it wrong.

Bop · Post by **Bop** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:55 pm

Period.

JohnMac · Post by **JohnMac** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:57 pm

Burglarized and any other 'ized' instead if 'ed'

yTib · Post by **yTib** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:59 pm

i agree, spiral. english, as wonderful as it is is wound up in its own importance. the arbitrary nature of translating the spoken word into written keys is bound to be problematic.

Dazzler · Post by **Dazzler** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 11:09 pm

ecc wrote:Living abroad you notice just how many American expressions have crossed the Atlantic and are no embedded in the English of the UK. I should state straight away that some of my favourite writers are American so I have no "agenda" per se about Americans and their variant of English.

They have a much more pragmatic and flexible attitude towards language. For instance, if there is a noun they use a lot but no verb then they'll invent one.

English - wherever it's spoken - is not a phonetic language but they have tried to make some common words "phonetic".

They don't see why we spell "colour" in that way. To them, the "u" isn't heard so out comes the knife and it becomes "color".

Most people would say "Who cares?". Well, a British child who spells the word "color" will (or should) be told it's wrong. Conversely, an American child who throws a "u" in the word will be marked down.

Where the American influence is leading to problems is younger people making spelling mistakes like this:

"program" - again their concern for a more phonetic version of spelling leads them to lop off the second "m" and the "e".

The only instance when this spelling is now deemed acceptable by the leading British dictionaries is when it's used in the computing field;

But I see people write "I saw a great program on TV last night".

Awesome, isn't it?

Fair points I suppose.
There is no F in Lieutenant.

COBBLE · Post by **COBBLE** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 11:25 pm

We have got it wrong according to the convention describing aluminum, as aluminium. But having worked in the automotive industry both here and in the US I've got to mention things like, fender, hood and generator, for .......