British And Australian English Vs. American English

[7by7]

Gramma? Do you really mean your grandmother; or are you talking about grammar?

Everyone knows a grandmother is graNma

Oxford Dictionaries

Definition of gramma

noun

North American informal

• 
  one’s grandmother: things I had inherited from Gramma
  

[Thaddeus]

Oh re gah no

Ah loo min ih um

Yes I agree Taddy. Reading and writing English was taught phonetically in the home as small kids by our mothers. Why anyone seems to believe there are better ways to do this is beyond my comprehension.

I really made a Thai teachers's head spin the other day, he asked me how to spell something and I asked him which one, he asked what I meant and I said, well, is it steak or stake, the one that you eat or the one you bang in the ground (or at the bookies) this baffled him a little about pronunciation rules of the English language.

So, I thought I would make his day even better, got a piece of paper and wrote 'ough' on it and asked how he thought that letter combination should be said.

Blank stare.

I then wrote down Bough, Cough, Rough, Dough, Through, Ought and said "ok, repeat after me"

When I finished he looked like I'd just told him motorbikes are carved from blocks of cheese, and said "English is crazy" to which my reply was "yes, we know"

[fasteddie]

Australians are the most difficult to understand.

American english has pretty much become the international standard.

I worked alongside some UK teachers in an international school and I honestly could hardly understand a word they said because of their strong accents. American English is easier to understand but not neutral in tone, inflection,. By and large, IMHO, well spoken Australians have the most neutral accent.

''Well spoken Australians''?? Ha Ha, good one.

[Thaddeus]

Australians are the most difficult to understand.

American english has pretty much become the international standard.

I worked alongside some UK teachers in an international school and I honestly could hardly understand a word they said because of their strong accents. American English is easier to understand but not neutral in tone, inflection,. By and large, IMHO, well spoken Australians have the most neutral accent.

''Well spoken Australians''?? Ha Ha, good one.

Australian airline pilots have possibly the most pleasant accent going.

[7by7]

Lowland Scots, that's a nice accent.

Like Niel Oliver's

Edited October 8, 2012 by 7by7

[kblaze]

There are many other examples but as English from England is the origin, the rest is just local adjustments or laziness and wishing to make it their own "version". But the true English is obviously the correct version as anything else is merely diluted and done so in many cases to make it easier for them to understand.

Sorry, you're incorrect.

When the first Americans colonized North America from England, they took their English language with them. Whilst the language evolved and changed in England, in the North American colonies it changed a lot slower.

You will find that a lot of the words and spellings of English words that we associate with the USA are actually they words and spellings found in England in an earlier time.

Point of clarification as North America is a pretty large place the Americans never colonized Canada, in fact Canada/Britain won the War of 1812 & the Head of State remains as HM Queen Elizabeth.

Words in Canada are generally the same as the UK except the Z (zed) does appear in realize etc.

I find it hilarious that you have to address something that is not relevant at all to the poster's main point, simply to make sure that an American doesn't get too high and mighty. Really you think that Yanks don't know that Canada is not and never was part of the States? I know that typically our geography skills lack, but if there is one thing US kids learn very early is about their closest neighbors, Canada and Mexico. Oh and sorry but the overall consensus is that the war of 1812 was a stalemate (if a true winner was named, it would be Canada as it successfully repelled American invasions). "In recent decades the view of the majority of historians has been that the war ended in stalemate"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812#Memory_and_historiography

[7by7]

If we're going to be pedantic; the first Americans arrived in the continent from Asia via a land bridge across what is now the Bering Strait. They didn't speak English.

[chiangmaikelly]

If we're going to be pedantic; the first Americans arrived in the continent from Asia via a land bridge across what is now the Bering Strait. They didn't speak English.

Of course not they were Canadians.

[qdinthailand]

I found the most arrogant Americans about gramma were those in their early 20's and usually women, The blokes were usually more illiterate

It's their 'school marm' instincts, bred into them. Guys can't be bothered with <deleted> English.

[WilliaminBKK]

There are many other examples but as English from England is the origin, the rest is just local adjustments or laziness and wishing to make it their own "version". But the true English is obviously the correct version as anything else is merely diluted and done so in many cases to make it easier for them to understand.

Sorry, you're incorrect.

When the first Americans colonized North America from England, they took their English language with them. Whilst the language evolved and changed in England, in the North American colonies it changed a lot slower.

You will find that a lot of the words and spellings of English words that we associate with the USA are actually they words and spellings found in England in an earlier time.

Point of clarification as North America is a pretty large place the Americans never colonized Canada, in fact Canada/Britain won the War of 1812 & the Head of State remains as HM Queen Elizabeth.

Words in Canada are generally the same as the UK except the Z (zed) does appear in realize etc.

I find it hilarious that you have to address something that is not relevant at all to the poster's main point, simply to make sure that an American doesn't get too high and mighty. Really you think that Yanks don't know that Canada is not and never was part of the States? I know that typically our geography skills lack, but if there is one thing US kids learn very early is about their closest neighbors, Canada and Mexico. Oh and sorry but the overall consensus is that the war of 1812 was a stalemate (if a true winner was named, it would be Canada as it successfully repelled American invasions). "In recent decades the view of the majority of historians has been that the war ended in stalemate"http://en.wikipedia...._historiography

Glad you found it funny...........in terms of a stalemate that is not what is taught in schools in Canada. Here is a Government tv commercial, leaves no doubt in my mind what Canadians believe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38BO7GI0vQQ

[sgunn65]

I still smile about the look an American gave me in a bar in Greenwich Village when I told him I was going outside to smoke a fag!

[7by7]

There is, of course, the spelling/pronunciation of English place names. For example:-

Bicester

Leicester

Shrewsbury

Towcester

Worcester

Any town ending in 'borough'

Any county ending in 'shire'

It's not really done so we can laugh at Americans when they get it wrong; is it?

Do the Welsh add all those extra consonants so they can laugh at the English when we get it wrong!

[KarenBravo]

One American I met in an office was searching for a manager called Mr. Loogbaroog.

Turned out he was looking for Mr. Loughborough.

[thehelmsman]

aren't Americans always right and they own the world , so why not change the English language . Lived there for 3 years and couldn't wait to get out ..

Happy you're gone as well - I'm sure.

When referring to American accents which are people speaking of .......... The Cajun accent, the New York accent, Boston accent, southern accents are different by region or perhaps the Valley accent of Calif.

[7by7]

Further to above, when refferring to an English accent; what do Americans mean?

From films and TV it would appear that they think we either all speak like the Queen or like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins!

They also seem to think that all Scots speak like Sean Connery, the Irish all speak with a soft brogue, (ever heard an Ulster accent?) and don't seem to have heard of Wales at all!

[kblaze]

Further to above, when refferring to an English accent; what do Americans mean?

From films and TV it would appear that they think we either all speak like the Queen or like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins!

They also seem to think that all Scots speak like Sean Connery, the Irish all speak with a soft brogue, (ever heard an Ulster accent?) and don't seem to have heard of Wales at all!

Of course they don't know all the dialects of the UK. Do you know all the dialects in Germany? Or lets say...most countries in the world? No of course not.

[7by7]

No, I don't. But I'm not an actor playing a German. Were I such I would do my research and try and use the proper accent; as Meryl Streep appears to do.

[David48]

Sent to me by a friend this morning ...

A MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN

To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary.)

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except North Dakota, which she does not fancy).

Your new Prime Minister, David Cameron, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.

Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect ...

Edited November 7, 2012 by David48

[David48]

1. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour,' 'favour,' 'labour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise.' Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up 'vocabulary').

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2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ''like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter 'u'' and the elimination of '-ize.'

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3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

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4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot grouse.

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5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

[David48]

6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

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7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

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8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

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9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. New Zealand beer is also acceptable, as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

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10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialect in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

[David48]

11. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).

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12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

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13.. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

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14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).

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15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

God Save the Queen!

[overherebc]

Further to above, when refferring to an English accent; what do Americans mean?

From films and TV it would appear that they think we either all speak like the Queen or like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins!

They also seem to think that all Scots speak like Sean Connery, the Irish all speak with a soft brogue, (ever heard an Ulster accent?) and don't seem to have heard of Wales at all!

Of course they don't know all the dialects of the UK. Do you know all the dialects in Germany? Or lets say...most countries in the world? No of course not.

Don't forget that most still believe that London is shrouded in fog three hundred days a year and the reason there are different accents around London is so that people know where they are in all that fog.

[SimonD]

Don't forget that most still believe that London is shrouded in fog three hundred days a year and the reason there are different accents around London is so that people know where they are in all that fog.

The proper term for it is 'pea soup'. 'Fog' is such an execrable word.

It makes navigating the gold-encrusted streets to one's club hazardous at the best of times, what with all the cheeky cockney lavender girls and the speeding Hansoms...

[overherebc]

Don't forget that most still believe that London is shrouded in fog three hundred days a year and the reason there are different accents around London is so that people know where they are in all that fog.

The proper term for it is 'pea soup'. 'Fog' is such an execrable word.

It makes navigating the gold-encrusted streets to one's club hazardous at the best of times, what with all the cheeky cockney lavender girls and the speeding Hansoms...

And, Sir, take a care for muggers and footpads

[KarenBravo]

And, Sir, take a care for muggers and footpads

That should be cut-purses and footpads.

[Mosha]

When I worked in the states the funniest term/names I came across was the term "fanny pack" and the name of a mortgage company called "Fanny Mae"

The American guys I was working with couldnt understand why I had a smirk on my face everytime one of these terms/names was mentioned..

An American fanny is used completely different to Brit fanny, Fags come in packets, I could go on but I don't want a ban

Edited November 14, 2012 by Mosha