You know I really could care less but I care so little as it stands that I just can't bring my self to try.
50 Americanisms That Brits Apparently Hate
- Thread starter Shock and Awe
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A bunch of these I don't really consider American imports - I think some may have evolved over here too. I bet some people complain about the Westcountry "where are you to?".
I've never heard "deplane". Does that really exist anywhere?
Mrgh, some of the magazine-stuff that the BBC do is really rather rubbish.
I've never heard "deplane". Does that really exist anywhere?
Mrgh, some of the magazine-stuff that the BBC do is really rather rubbish.
These all seem to fall into one of four categories:
1. Things who's opposites we would consider "Britishisms"
2. Retarded slang that few people use seriously.
3. Corporate speak, which sounds dumb to anyone who isn't an executive.
4. Stereotypes, from people whose experiences with people from the US is clearly limited to TV.
Also, a couple of the listed "Americanisms" whose corresponding "Britishism" annoy me:
"Maths", as those you have some sort of unit of math- "I'll take three maths, please".
Saying "zed" instead of "zee"; no good reason for it to bother me; just does.
The "Season vs Series" thing for TV shows just started out as parallel developed lexicons, but as we globalize television more and more, you have to admit that the US nomenclature just makes more sense.
1. Things who's opposites we would consider "Britishisms"
2. Retarded slang that few people use seriously.
3. Corporate speak, which sounds dumb to anyone who isn't an executive.
4. Stereotypes, from people whose experiences with people from the US is clearly limited to TV.
Also, a couple of the listed "Americanisms" whose corresponding "Britishism" annoy me:
"Maths", as those you have some sort of unit of math- "I'll take three maths, please".
Saying "zed" instead of "zee"; no good reason for it to bother me; just does.
The "Season vs Series" thing for TV shows just started out as parallel developed lexicons, but as we globalize television more and more, you have to admit that the US nomenclature just makes more sense.
Heh, not all of the e-mails are from Brits, some even come from people in the states.
Purists, purists be, but a language is in a perpetual state of change, whether you like it or not. All of the natural languages had evolved from the tongues and dialects that came before them, except perhaps for the elusive "ultimate" proto-language and even that one evolved from the most basic forms of communication.
I see nothing wrong of the Americanisms per se, even though I still prefer a more elegant British equivalent (I am nor a Brit, nor an American, mind you).
Purists, purists be, but a language is in a perpetual state of change, whether you like it or not. All of the natural languages had evolved from the tongues and dialects that came before them, except perhaps for the elusive "ultimate" proto-language and even that one evolved from the most basic forms of communication.
I see nothing wrong of the Americanisms per se, even though I still prefer a more elegant British equivalent (I am nor a Brit, nor an American, mind you).
Yes clearly racists represent the majority of us, just like how Americans are all fat. Taking this silly report as an indication of anything is as silly as taking that youtube video of American pedestrians being interviewed on trivia as proof that Americans are somehow stupid, unlike what we is right? Cause they are different and things yeah? Cause we got this tiny island full of Big Brother fans who talk gangsta cause they wish they was black which is somehow better ok?Goldeneye103X2 said:
Of course the British would know, they use 100% accurate and perfectly sensible sounding phrases and words like Blimey, bloody.... ohhhhh
oooooohhhhhhh....... You almost had me going there, I thought this was serious for a second.
oooooohhhhhhh....... You almost had me going there, I thought this was serious for a second.
IT'S TROLLEY!JaceArveduin said:
SHOPPING TROLLEY!
Anyway, some of those are absoultely ridiculous.
Other than the 'could care less' one (at the bottom)
I have a viideo for that.
And i've probably been ninj'd but i don't care!
Wait a second! I disagree with 50. Other peers and I seem to use the phrase "I could care less" in a sense of shrug it off or I suppose I'll get to it.
I am a Brit, a rather fussy one who likes to keep his country free from the taint of America! I kid, I kid... but really I think we should be aware of these culture slippages. Anyhoo this is what I think:
Wow, EVERYONE and his dog uses this phrase. I have no problem with it. Do you REALLY want to say the whole thing?Shock and Awe said:
Really? What's the alternative? BUM BAG, that is what we call ours.Shock and Awe said:
I too find myself using American terms at some points, it's unavoidable when we're surrounded by so much of the US culture. I try to always use "Season" when referring to US TV show but stick to "Series" for our own TV programmes, you know, out of respect. I actually prefer to say "Elevator" instead of our own "Lift" and occassionally I've said "garbage/trash" instead of "rubbish" as well as "Hood/Trunk" instead of "Bonnet/Boot"... Ahh well, I guess that'll learn meShock and Awe said:
Heads up always said to me that you gave someone an advanced warning, like, "Hey, thanks for the heads up!" I've never heard it used in a business sense, that just worries me slightly.Shock and Awe said:
I don't really get this one... my dad's always going on about it. So what we just use "Station" now? In Britain we have Train Stations, Bus Stations, Police Stations, Power Stations, Petrol Stations... So "Hey mum, I'm just going down the station," doesn't seem to cut it any more.Shock and Awe said:
This always confused me too. Surely Bi-Weekly should mean TWICE a week?Shock and Awe said:
This irritates me in a way I can't describe. What use is there for dropping (or adding) the s? I don't know why but it always feels like you should pronounce the s.Shock and Awe said:
Yeah, one of my friends argued black was white that "Could care less" was more powerful than "Couldn't care less." I had to point out that if you "Could care less" then the ability to care was evidently still inside you and therefore your entire point is moot.Shock and Awe said:
You sir, just ninja'd me! Thank you for that! I Love David Mitchell! Demonstrating here that, if there is anything Brits can do better than anything else, it is be sarcastic in order to get our (superior) point across.Sizzle Montyjing said:
The point was that shopping carts are an American invention, so if there is to be a "correct" way of referring to them--which is perfectly absurd--then it would be by the American title.UberaDpmn said:
Again, it's ridiculous to claim that since they're invented in America the American term's the only proper one, but I'm pretty sure the poster's point was that it's doubly ridiculous to claim that a term coined across the pond after the cart's invention is the only correct one.
I agree with a few, the most obvious being the math one. Due to the word Mathematics ending with an s it only makes sense to shorten it to a word with the same ending.
I just love how many American's are responding to a silly little article with racism. That's a GREAT way to make your point...
Clearly, all the examples (that are actually from the UK) are from upper class morons and are hardly representative of the entire populace.
The train station thing...I've lived in Scotland my entire life and I have never ONCE heard of a train station being called anything other than a train station.
Clearly, all the examples (that are actually from the UK) are from upper class morons and are hardly representative of the entire populace.
The train station thing...I've lived in Scotland my entire life and I have never ONCE heard of a train station being called anything other than a train station.