Separated by a common language

[Tiam]

As an American I am often amused by British irritation over "Americanisms" or usage of the English language. Often examples such as "Do the math" instead of "Do the maths" or "alternate" instead of "alternative" or "I'm good" instead of "I'm well." are given. It seems to irritate some Brit's no end. (Wait was 'no end' an Americanism???) Anyway, I'm amused because I think most Americans find British-isms either charming or just different and don't treat it with irritation. So,my question is: Is it just Americanisms that irritate Brits, or is it also Australianisms, or New Zealandisms or South Africanisms that irritate as well, and if so, whatever could they be?

[ToomuchStuff]

Go into a book store, and ask for a English to English translation dictionary and watch the stares you get! (BTDT) I found out, years later, they call it the British to American dictionary.
Been watching some British stuff on YouTube, and it does seem weird on some of the terms, I was not familiar with.

[Dhiana]

I've learned more Brit English over here in Japan than I ever did in the states. Many of the English teachers are not from the US so the vocabulary used is what their teacher taught them.

I received a compliment on my muffler and immediately looked at my car thinking my friend was being facetious

Was looking for an int'l moving company here with no luck until about 4 weeks into my search I thought to look for REmovers! And there they were

Thought I'd pick up a copy of the first Harry Potter book at a used bookstore here but wasn't sure if the first book was "The Sorcerer's Stone" or "The Philosopher's Stone"? Of course, this bookstore had both available

When a Japanese friend chooses to speak English I often will use both the Brit & US term in a sentence because I am unsure which English they know...such as chemist/pharmacy...

It's been an interesting learning experience

[IshbelRobertson]

It doesn't irritate me. In fact, I find it interesting to note the slight variations in word usage and grammar. For instance Americans I've met have used 'gotten'. Whilst I know it was used in British English in the past, it is no longer, although I have seen it creeping into spoken English by some who are obviously watching a lot of US television programmes. Some of my online American friends have commented on the word 'whilst'. I smile and continue to use it!

I am actively involved in the preservation of Lallans and the Doric. Two 'other' languages in Scotland, which are sadly being lost due to standardised English, overlayed by some with Aussie and American slang. Whilst there is disagreement whether they are different languages or merely dialects, I fall into the first category.

Live and let live, say I!

What I DO hate, however is to be called a Brit. This expression was coined by the IRA as a derogatory term for the authorities in Northern Ireland and parliament. I know it is in common parlance, but I still hate it!

[Miss Cellane]

IshbelRobertson--I think a lot of Americans have no idea what to call people who live in the United Kingdom. (I'm one of them.) If you know someone is from Scotland, or England, or Wales, it is easy to call them Scottish or English or Welsh.

But if you are referring to the people of the United Kingdom as a whole--what do you call them? What name do you use when you suspect someone is from the UK, but you don't know which part?

And the whole British thing? I have no idea who, exactly, that is supposed to apply to.

As for US vs. the English spoken on the other side of the pond--I used to work in a translation agency. We had to translate some things into Canadian English, UK English, Australian English, New Zealand English, Hong Kong English. Just enough subtle variations that our clients wanted native speakers of those areas to "fix" the language. Which wasn't nearly as difficult as dealing with the many different versions of Spanish that there are.

[IshbelRobertson]

We are all british and from the UK, at least for the present, if independence comes to fruition, then there would be a dissolution of these United Kingdoms!

If you know the British person's nationality, ie English or Scots, or Welsh or Northern Irish, then we appreciate it if we are called by our real nationality. However, what we from the Celtic fringes of our nation dislike is when 'English' is used as a synonym for British. I certainly don't mind being called British, because that's what I am, but as I've said... Just don't call me a Brit!

ETA. When I say I don't mind being called British, I am speaking only for myself, many of my fellow Scots And Welsh and Norn Irish DO MIND!)

[fidgiegirl]

In my travels it was interesting to notice that when it came up - which wasn't often, but it did - that it was NON-native speakers of English who were ready to lecture me on how British English is superior to American English. As you can imagine, that didn't go over very well. Like me telling someone how Mexican or Costa Rican Spanish is inferior to Spain's own Castellano.

I'm with Ishbel! Live and let live! At least we don't have an official committee deciding what's right and wrong in English like Spanish does. Do other languages have that?

[IshbelRobertson]

France used to, but they repealed some parts of it, I believe. Every year some French institution abhors the anglicisation of their language, to little avail, I suspect.

I know a few Spaniards who affect not to understand what non-Spanish Spanish speakers are saying. Ditto with
Portugese hearing Brazilians speak their language. I believe Iceland still has a Law stating what words can be used if they are of foreign origins and they used to be particularly fussy regarding the inclusion of foreign names, no Britneys or Kylies on Iceland!

And, talking of Britney. I cannot stand non-standard spellings of ordinary names and place names. The place is Brittany. Is it considered clever, one wonders, or an inability to spell?

[SteveinMN]

I always find it interesting to see/hear English words used in another language that you would think had equivalent words for the item/idea. For instance, it's hard to believe the French did not have useful words for Saturday and Sunday as an entity, but you hear 'le weekend' instead. We were in the Azores a couple of years ago and saw a car advertising a firm that did public relations. Every word on the car was in Portuguese except 'marketing'. I have to think people are marketed to in the Azores and Portugal. Technical terms -- 'furopi disuku' in Japanese (the small removable storage media people used to have on their PCs) I can understand. But 'weekend'? 'Marketing'? 'Sci-fi'?

[ToomuchStuff]

And, talking of Britney. I cannot stand non-standard spellings of ordinary names and place names. The place is Brittany. Is it considered clever, one wonders, or an inability to spell?

In this country, it is probably from one, either with bad spelling, or a wanting to be unique. As an example, how would you say this name (yes, it is an actual name):
L-a ?
Not a typo, the name is L-a.






A teacher was being yelled at, by this girls mom, who couldn't understand why no one could ever pronounce her daughters name, Ladasha.