American/british Prose Style

[cm-happy]

I'm American and use standard American English or colloqial American English in my prose. However, since becoming a TV member I find myself

picking up and sometimes using everyday British English. ie spot on, right then, tosser, dosh, yob,Pub, tube, bonnet,lift,football, a few others that I'm reluctant to use here in lieu of equivalent American English. Don't use British spelling, its always "OR" never "OUR".

I rationalize using my new found vocabulary for clarities sake since most Amerians are familiar with and understand the few British words that I do use in my everyday prose.

To make this Thai related, wanted to comment on the influence of British TV members or expats living in LOS have had on others, particularly myself.

Please, no American bashing.

didn't GBS or Churchhill say the Americans and British are two people separated by a common language.

I'm thinking to myself <deleted> is the point of this post? I'm just rambling, but will post it anyway.

[MeaMaximaCulpa]

cm-happy,

Since I am in a good mood this morning, out lurking, and also today on a rambling-spree myself, I say that you did launch a potentially interesting thread, but did it in a not so good way...

How about asking for readers' contributions in the exciting field of (English) language?

I'll help you start it:

For instance, in South Africa, traffic lights are called "robots". And that is still English. They have by now another 10 official languages, Africaans and 9 African languages. Should give translation services a good base for doing business!

Next please!

And someone, please help make this Thailand related.

Edit: Because I can never finish a post before I hit the "submit" button...

Edited December 11, 2007 by MeaMaximaCulpa

[Prakanong]

Quite a few of my American pals have picked up on British words or phrases just like you have (while in Thailand - see Thai related).

ie pissed meaning drunk not angry

I also use American terms as well.

I do stop at calling a Router, ie Brtitish rooter, an American rowter

I can also remember when we brought over some South African programmers to BSkyB and they called 3.5 inch floppies "Stiffies"

One girl used to shout across the office, "Hey Jez give me a stiffie, I need a stiffie now"

We started calling them stiffies for a while till the joke wore off.

Edited December 11, 2007 by Prakanong

[chiang mai]

American English has come a long way in the past thirty years. I'm a Brit and I worked for a bank in the US in the late seventies and was the only Brit around. One day the President of the bank called me and asked the meaning of the word "penultimate". I told him and he hung up. It seems someone had used the word in one of his meetings and he didn't understand what it meant and rather than look it up or ask any of his exec's he called me because I am a Brit and he figured I would know. Luckily I did but that was the only time he ever spoke to me in four years there. So what does this have to do with the OP, nothing, but it's a cute story. OK, now carry on.

[canuckamuck]

As a Canadian, I am happy to use British colloquialisms whenever they fit nicely, American slang is useful occasionally but rarely sophisticated or witty. As far as spelling though I prefer American, because it makes more sense phonetically and is usually more efficient.

One term I find aggravating and gross is: taking the piss or variations thereof. I have no idea how that phrase became such an important part of some people's vocabulary but it has quite a few friends here.

I doubt I will be picking that one up for my own usage.

[Jingthing]

Great topic. I have definitely picked up some British usage, and I like it. I knew the usage before but I never felt comfortable with using it before spending time in Thailand. For example, spot on, wanke_r, punter, bloody (used that already), and brilliant. However, there are some places I won't go. I won't ever use bonnet or lift or spell color colour. I will continue to say pissed off but now I also think this angry man may also be very drunk.

Edited December 11, 2007 by Jingthing

[Stephen Cleary]

The problem wi fookin American English is nae wan can <deleted> understand it, ya know what a mean like?

Even the Thais are pickin up bleedin words from American, now what the friggers is a 'condominium' man? Before i came tae Thailand a thought it wis something ye bought for a quid in the toilet, tae stick on yer wee willy before a good old session wi some slapper doon the park!

In ma idea like, thai-visa should make it policey that aw the posters right in proper decent English-english, nun of that American lubbish!

Edited December 11, 2007 by Stephen Cleary

[PeaceBlondie]

Whilst we're amongst the spanners in the works, let me lift me bonnet and lower the top of me drop-head coupe. You can think you're a well educated American until you teach EFL out of a British textbook. Teaching the plurals for clothing, the Brits think only Superman wears his pants outside his uniform. And men wear jumpers, and anaraks! I'm sure Anarak was a young playmate of Luke Skywaker.

Do green-grocers work at wet markets? Is there really a difference in intent between "I will" and "I am going to"?

[chanchao]

The problem wi fookin American English is nae wan can <deleted> understand it, ya know what a mean like?

Even the Thais are pickin up bleedin words from American, now what the friggers is a 'condominium' man? Before i came tae Thailand a thought it wis something ye bought for a quid in the toilet, tae stick on yer wee willy before a good old session wi some slapper doon the park!

In ma idea like, thai-visa should make it policey that aw the posters right in proper decent English-english, nun of that American lubbish!

LOL..!!! Brilliant!

[Crossy]

Always fun mixing with our friends from across the Pond. The classic "just nipping outside for a quick fag" gets a sideways glance even now.

My gripe is finding the two spelling conventions mixed together, I'm happy that you spell colour or flavour with no 'u' or even aluminium with a missing 'i' or for goodness sake 'nucular' (now where did that come from?), but please don't mix them in the same document.

Of course we Brits are just as bad, 'router' as a network device is pronounced 'rooter', whereas 'router' as a woodworking tool is a 'rowter', I suppose the US usage of 'rowter' for all at least adds consitency and of course 'rooting' to our aussie friends means something totally different to the activities performed by a 'rooter'

[WaiWai]

Not to mention "fanny" ?

The rate of linguistic cross-pollination must have *gotten* accelerated vastly with the internets and other communication technologies, such as mobile ferns.

In the past, I think it's fair to say that non-U.S. native English speakers were considerably more familiar with US usage than US speakers were of usage in other Englishes, largely because of the prevalence of US television programs and films ("movies" ) and possibly because many N.Americans were more familiar with the literature of their own nation than of others. That's certainly changing now.

Bugger me , there must be thousands of language projects awaiting eager researchers in our expat communities, too, where English is the lingua franca. Do international schoolkids here use rubbers or erasers ? Do they like bangs (or fringes) ?

Ruta - bloody - baga ! What do youse all call the item of clothing you wear for swimming ? What do you call the midday meal and the evening meal ? Care for some prawns (or shrimp) ? How's the ute going ? How's tricks ?

Interesting and enriching.

Edited December 11, 2007 by WaiWai

[Naam]

However, there are some places I won't go. I won't ever use bonnet or lift or spell color colour. I will continue to say pissed off but now I also think this angry man may also be very drunk.

good that you are not my neighbour although i live in a colourful neighbourhood unfortunately i picked up quite a number of words and expressions of that dialect called "american", got rid of some but receive still a frown or sometimes an angry grimace from my wife when i use those which are still stuck

[Prakanong]

I forgot about "Fanny" - In my youth when we had been anywhere the first question from the lads would be "Whats the fanny like?" - meaning were there many girls and were they good looking.

There was also the classic scene in "The Office (UK) where Keith is explaining about Fanny Packs to Dawn saying

"Word of warning... Out there, they call them 'fanny packs'. 'Cause a fanny means your arse over there... not your minge."

[Crossy]

There was also the classic scene in "The Office (UK) where Keith is explaining about Fanny Packs to Dawn saying

"Word of warning... Out there, they call them 'fanny packs'. 'Cause a fanny means your arse over there... not your minge."

Absolute classic

IMHO The Office is one of the few UK shows that crossed the Atlantic and remained funny.

I remember (in a Cleese interview IIRC) that the US TV syndicates when discussing porting Fawlty Towers to US format, wanted to remove a character because he was superfluous. The character? Basil Fawlty

[Prakanong]

There was also the classic scene in "The Office (UK) where Keith is explaining about Fanny Packs to Dawn saying

"Word of warning... Out there, they call them 'fanny packs'. 'Cause a fanny means your arse over there... not your minge."

Absolute classic

IMHO The Office is one of the few UK shows that crossed the Atlantic and remained funny.

I remember (in a Cleese interview IIRC) that the US TV syndicates when discussing porting Fawlty Towers to US format, wanted to remove a character because he was superfluous. The character? Basil Fawlty

Totally agree about The Office being one of the few shows that crossed over - I really like both shows and will be buying the complete set of the USA show to go hand in hand with my UK set.

I can remember the first time the UK one was on and my boss thought it was a real fly on the wall documentary

[cm-happy]

The problem wi fookin American English is nae wan can <deleted> understand it, ya know what a mean like?

Even the Thais are pickin up bleedin words from American, now what the friggers is a 'condominium' man? Before i came tae Thailand a thought it wis something ye bought for a quid in the toilet, tae stick on yer wee willy before a good old session wi some slapper doon the park!

In ma idea like, thai-visa should make it policey that aw the posters right in proper decent English-english, nun of that American lubbish!

Say what??? I've no idea what you said. Some one please translate. Thanks

[jaidam]

I find it amusing when our American friends talk about doing some "soddering", when speaking about electronics repair.

In the UK it refers more to what the likes of Chris Langham and Paul Gadd do to young boys.

[ukjackthai]

The problem wi fookin American English is nae wan can <deleted> understand it, ya know what a mean like?

Even the Thais are pickin up bleedin words from American, now what the friggers is a 'condominium' man? Before i came tae Thailand a thought it wis something ye bought for a quid in the toilet, tae stick on yer wee willy before a good old session wi some slapper doon the park!

In ma idea like, thai-visa should make it policey that aw the posters right in proper decent English-english, nun of that American lubbish!

Ya fookin norvenar!

[Mosha]

When I'm talking to Aussies I can talk in Broad Yorkshire, when my American friend is visiting I have to talk English.

[Crossy]

When I'm talking to Aussies I can talk in Broad Yorkshire, when my American friend is visiting I have to talk English.

Something to do with the first Aussies being Yorkie transportees per-chance??

Alarmingly, Broad Lancashire (Wigan) seems to work rather well with our Antipodean friends too

Edited December 11, 2007 by Crossy

[JetsetBkk]

I rationalize using my new found vocabulary for clarities sake

Did you mean: "for clarity's sake".

[buffcoat]

Vaguely Thai related but it is interesting to hear Thais use English and then identify which version of the language they were taught/exposed to.

Very few of them are aware of the differences and will therefore use English and American in the same sentence creating yet another version of the language.

Obviously "you handsome man" works well regardless.

[tgeezer]

I find it amusing when our American friends talk about doing some "soddering", when speaking about electronics repair.

In the UK it refers more to what the likes of Chris Langham and Paul Gadd do to young boys.

Do they actually spell it with a 'd' in the place of the 'l' or just say it that way? Funny how the first sylable of three letters is sufficient to define the verb, 'Soddery' for 'sodomize' why not sodding?

[Jingthing]

Soldering is the spelling. How do you Brits pronounce it?

[WaiWai]

Soldering is the spelling. How do you Brits pronounce it?

Brits, Aussies, and perhaps others say "sold" as in "old"; not as in "odd", oddly .

[Jingthing]

Sounds like they are marching off to war, soldering indeed.

Edited December 11, 2007 by Jingthing

[Maestro]

...You can think you're a well educated American until you teach EFL out of a British textbook...

Just the other day I was wondering whether the Thai Ministry of Education had a policy regarding which version of English is to be taught in Thai government schools, the British or American variety. So it is British English, is it?

--

Maestro

[WaiWai]

QUOTE (Mosha @ 2007-12-11 17:53:45) *

When I'm talking to Aussies I can talk in Broad Yorkshire, when my American friend is visiting I have to talk English. laugh.gif

Something to do with the first Aussies being Yorkie transportees per-chance?? smile.gifsmile.gif

Alarmingly, Broad Lancashire (Wigan) seems to work rather well with our Antipodean friends too sad.gif

Ha .

Phonologically, many US dialects do remain close to that of the Brits who migrated there some centuries ago; closer than the contemporary UK versions of those dialects.

[Prakanong]

Vaguely Thai related but it is interesting to hear Thais use English and then identify which version of the language they were taught/exposed to.

Very few of them are aware of the differences and will therefore use English and American in the same sentence creating yet another version of the language.

Obviously "you handsome man" works well regardless.

I often jokingly correct Thai colleagues spelling from the American to the English - did it today for ass and arse

Problem is though this girl grew up in Canada and uses the American spelling

The others it depends where they went to Uni - England (or Aus) or USA

[PeaceBlondie]

Methinks the British publishing houses like Oxford and Cambridge have the edge on TEFL textbooks. The front lawn is a garden, names are more likely to be Liam or Hermione than Bubba or Peggy Sue, the nouns end in -our, winters are always freezing, and Kensington's more often mentioned than Miami. Exams in Thailand are more likely invigilated than proctored, with the results being marks rather than grades. Toilets don't have bathtubs, nor do water closets. My hair has bangs, not fringes, and I say y'all properly for the second person plural, and bought station wagons rather than estate wagons, sedans rather than saloons, convertibles rather than drophead coupes. That's not one tenth of the things I've learned since becoming an EFL teacher in my 60's.