Subject: Divided by a common language
Posted by: lesley153
Date: Sep 27 12
Us limeys - well, some of us - grumble about American infiltrating our language. Here are fifty examples:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14201796
Guess what! (some) Americans are now grumbling about English infiltrating theirs.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19670686
(Here you will see P Obama chuffed to bits at the prospect of a top-notch natter with PM Cameron.)
Are we bothered?
Posted by: lesley153
Date: Sep 27 12
Us limeys - well, some of us - grumble about American infiltrating our language. Here are fifty examples:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14201796 Guess what! (some) Americans are now grumbling about English infiltrating theirs.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19670686 (Here you will see P Obama chuffed to bits at the prospect of a top-notch natter with PM Cameron.)
Are we bothered?
37 replies. On page 1 of 2 pages. 1 2
13LuckyLady
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I think it's wonderful. Reply #1. Sep 27 12, 4:15 PM |
| lesley153
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Which way is wonderful, or both? I rather enjoyed the first comment on the first article: " Hwæt! Wé Gárdena in géardagum " þéodcyninga þrym gefrúnon " hú ðá æþelingas ellen fremedon. " I trust everyone who has complained about Americanisms creeping in to the English language will have no trouble understanding the above. That's what English looked like around 1,300 years ago. " Language evolves. " Reply #2. Sep 27 12, 4:46 PM |
pyonir
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I didn't read through the entire lists, but really, most of those things are annoying everywhere, USA included. Some of the things listed are just people that don't know proper grammar to begin with statements like "a half hour" or "a million and a half". Because one person said it to another person doesn't mean it's infiltrated American vernacular on a common basis. I'd just be happy if people would learn the difference between 'your, you're' and 'there, their, and they're'. Reply #3. Sep 27 12, 5:09 PM |
daver852 
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I'd say this is pretty much a one-way exchange. I don't know anyone who uses "Britishisms" in his or her everyday speech, although we understand most of them from watching BBC America. By the way, what is wrong with "gotten?" I's say you Brits have gotten a bit touchy lately. Reply #4. Sep 27 12, 6:06 PM |
| 13LuckyLady
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I thought hú ðá was húð á. I really should brush up on my Icelandic. Reply #5. Sep 27 12, 6:15 PM |
REDVIKING57
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Only 'lately'? We've always been 'touchy' - and very proud of it! We tend to call it 'bloody minded', though. Reply #6. Sep 27 12, 6:27 PM |
Jabberwok
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Nothing is wrong with gotten if you are an American, it isn't the Queen's English though. I wouldn't accept it in a piece of writing from a student, or in their speech in a lesson. Unless they were an American. Reply #7. Sep 27 12, 6:42 PM |
| Jabberwok
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I forgot, I read this book a while ago and found it interesting. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Made-In-America-Bill-Bryson/dp/0552998052 Reply #8. Sep 27 12, 6:44 PM |
| daver852
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Then you would be wrong. After doing research on the matter, I found that many famous British writers used the word "gotten," right up through the 1920s. The recent prejudice against this perfectly good word is just amother manifestation of the decline of British English in general. No worries, though; we are quite tolerant of your quaint dialects, and find them to be, on the whole, quite charming. Reply #9. Sep 27 12, 7:03 PM |
trojan11
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Which, unfortunately, Daver, is rather more than we can say about yours. Reply #10. Sep 27 12, 7:24 PM |
| REDVIKING57
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Where would we be without your 'research', Dave? And I'm so pleased that you're 'quite tolerant of our quaint dialects'. Just wondering - is one of your many college degrees a Ph.D in Condescension and Provocation? Reply #11. Sep 27 12, 7:45 PM |
| daver852
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Get a life - and sense of humor. Reply #12. Sep 27 12, 8:40 PM |
| lesley153
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Isn't gotten a throwback to German? We've simplified our language too - it's not only Mr Webster who decided to drop letters he regarded as irrelevant. We've dropped conjugations, declensions, inflexions... I did agree with the first one - "can I get?" meaning "I would like you to get," but sounding like a request to go in the kitchen, or behind the counter, and pick it up myself. Nobody seems to have mentioned the odd things that really can lead to confusion, like American cotton and English cotton wool. Perhaps that's because Americans tended to see it growing and fluffy, and most English didn't see it till it was woven. What do Americans call woven cotton? Reply #13. Sep 27 12, 9:32 PM |
| lesley153
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Handbags at dawn, anyone? Reply #14. Sep 28 12, 6:05 AM |
| trojan11
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Isn't that just a tad too early? Reply #15. Sep 28 12, 6:34 AM |
| lesley153
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'Tis a bit. :D Handbags after lunch? Reply #16. Sep 28 12, 7:21 AM |
| trojan11
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If you can get Daver and RV out of tbeir rocking chairs. :) Reply #17. Sep 28 12, 7:33 AM |
Greatguggly
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Lesley, cotton is still called cotton here after it's woven. I don't think there's any cause for alarm in someone's choice of words as long as you can understand the meaning and as long as they're not just flat-out the wrong words to use. I guess in writing it bothers me more so than when spoken. By that I mean, when Americans can't write properly. I often have trouble deciphering British "slang" but I enjoy the challenge and I find it intriguing and endearing. It's not something I've ever GOTTEN angry about. Reply #18. Sep 28 12, 8:56 AM |
| lesley153
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We can but try, Trojan! And the tartan rugs off their knees? Jolly good show, Rick. I suppose the difference between looking for cotton (fluffy) and cotton (woven) wouldn't be too much of a problem, because it would usually be clear from the context which one you wanted. Glad you enjoy the challenge of deciphering, without getting cross. Spiffing! Not sure about endearing, though. :) Reply #19. Sep 28 12, 10:12 AM |
jabb5076
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Although GOTTEN as used in conversational speech is perfectly acceptable, if a student used it in a formal piece of writing (say a literary analysis essay) out would come my red pen! Reply #20. Sep 28 12, 1:17 PM |
37 replies. On page 1 of 2 pages. 1 2
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