What do I think about it, well it is language. Language changes over time and is quite natural for this to happen.
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Is it acceptable to use British English in United States??
- Thread starter kabunaru
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What do I think about it, well it is language. Language changes over time and is quite natural for this to happen.
But don't you think some people might say: "Your English spellings are wrong."?
Most of us have grown up and are steeped in American culture: TV, music, movies, books etc... We generally have no problem understanding or using the vernacular, especially those who have travelled a lot, who work with American colleagues or have American friends and partners.
I'll occasionally use American terms here on MR to avoid having to answer questions about what I mean, because the forum is predominantly American. Some of them are closer to what they say in New Zealand anyway... for instance, in the UK, they call a potato chip a 'crisp', in New Zealand they call them potato chips, so it's all much of a muchness.
Although, once on this forum, I was curious enough to query the American use of the word 'golfing' as used as an action verb of golf. In the UK, people will usually say 'I'm going to play golf' rather than 'I'm going golfing'.
American English was less changed than British English since late 1700's. Sure American English changed in some ways (musick---->music example and the British accepted this word change as well) but has retained more stable from changes than British English. The American Southern accent is what I heard that the British of the 1700's would have sounded like and maybe even Shakespeare. It is the British that changed a lot of words and in accents:
Aluminum---->Aluminium
Gray----->Grey
Fall----->Autumn
I think there some others that I forgot to mention.
Both languages are going their separate ways. Someday Americans and British need to learn each other dialects or languages by then to understand each other.
Both are beautiful dialects now.
My favorite misunderstanding between us and you Brits was when I regrettably used the term "bumf*** Egypt". Skunk was lamenting the homophobia in the statement and I didn't understand what he meant. We in the US always thought it meant screwing a vagrant. It took a few of us to say that before you all believed us.
It's amazing the differences.Who gives a crap what other people say? Live your life like that and you're going to be miserable.
I know the difference between a bum and a butt. Although you have to watch yourself when using the word 'fanny' in the UK.
I'm starting to notice a lot of Americans on various boards here and there using the term 'wanker', which you wouldn't have maybe seen twenty years ago. It's a really useful and descriptive word.
Guess the internet spreads stuff around.
My favorite misunderstanding between us and you Brits was when I regrettably used the term "bumf*** Egypt". Skunk was lamenting the homophobia in the statement and I didn't understand what he meant. We in the US always thought it meant screwing a vagrant. It took a few of us to say that before you all believed us.
on that note, my Australian friend could not stop laughing when he saw a t-shirt that said "I (heart) roots kids" or somehting like that, apparently teh Canadian apparel name also means soemthing else in australian slang...
I'm starting to notice a lot of Americans on various boards here and there using the term 'wanker', which you wouldn't have maybe seen twenty years ago. It's a really useful and descriptive word.
Hmm...I think "wank" has been used here for about 20 years at least. While not common, I've heard people here use it at least as far back as when I was in college.
And yes, it's a good word.
American English was less changed than British English since late 1700's. Sure American English changed in some ways (musick---->music example and the British accepted this word change as well) but has retained more stable from changes than British English. The American Southern accent is what I heard that the British of the 1700's would have sounded like and maybe even Shakespeare. It is the British that changed a lot of words and in accents:
Aluminum---->Aluminium
Gray----->Grey
Fall----->Autumn
I think there some others that I forgot to mention.
Both languages are going their separate ways. Someday Americans and British need to learn each other dialects or languages by then to understand each other.
Both are beautiful dialects now.
I understand that the language has eveloved but I don't get the point of this post.
I also find it hard to believe that a country that has 5x the population and a vast size in comparision to England has had fewer changes to the language in use.
I know the difference between a bum and a butt. Although you have to watch yourself when using the word 'fanny' in the UK.
I can't help but laugh when I hear the phrase fanny-pack And the english have to be careful when using the slang term for a cigarette.
And the english have to be careful when using the slang term for a cigarette.
LOL i just found out why this is funny... man that would have been quite the laugh if i went to the uk. I always carry my passport well, in my fanny-pack..
Why is fanny-pack funny? Fanny means "butt" here, although that term was more commonly used by the WW2 generation. What does it mean there?
why?
If everyone who spoke English switched to Esperanto the geographic separation would cause it to evolve in to American Esperanto and English Esperanto, welcome back to square one.
In that case, I wish the French influenced United States more and United States spoke French. American/Canadian French to European French would be as Australian English to British English. No big difference. Besides, French is the 2nd universal language after English.
I am getting more and more confused. Do you want America and England to speak a different language? Why can't we leave it as it is? If you convert America to French the geographic/cultural differences between France and America will once again cause differences to appear in the language.
Then how come there is hardly, if any difference between Australian English and British English besides slang? Those two countries are on the opposite sides of the world and are in different hemispheres as well.
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