American words you HAVE adopted
Superb.
Aug 31st 2011, 12:32 am
#272
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Re: American words you HAVE adopted
I tell no word of a lie, the same happened to me up in London. (I knew nothing of Canada or America back then ... save for Bonanza on the telly). I was asked by two American youths —circa my age at the time— with rucksacks, probably ‘Doing Europe for the summer’. So I pointed out the subway to them. They walked to the other side, came out, then walked back to where I was still waiting for a bus ... and then proceeded to become VERY shirty about it. I didn't know what they were on about, until one actually said ‘They call it the metro here’ —as if ... 
— and he then made a stab at French —don't ask me why— by attempting to say: Où est le métro? At this point I was somewhat ticked myself, so I said ‘Paris’.
— and he then made a stab at French —don't ask me why— by attempting to say: Où est le métro? At this point I was somewhat ticked myself, so I said ‘Paris’.
Sep 2nd 2011, 6:00 pm
#273
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Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 42
Re: American words you HAVE adopted
Pronouncing middle t as ds is a challenge but I'm getting there. I agree with those who say we should be pronouncing words the American way and using American words that are different from British ones. You wouldn't move to Spain and refuse to speak Spanish. What bugs me though is people (adults) who have lived here for 10 minutes and have developed a ridiculous mid atlantic accent, that just isn't necessary. I know many people who have lived here for 15 years, have a British accent and have no problems with communication, it just takes practice. I say adults because kids are different, I fully expect my dodders
to have American accents within the year. They just won't survive at school without it.
Sep 2nd 2011, 6:10 pm
#274
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Re: American words you HAVE adopted
As a Creg recently moved to the US this is the frieken bain of my life, (frieken, there's a good one). "Can I have a name for the order sir?" "Craig", "Jake?" I try hard to say the Creg thing but either my mind can't bring myself to pronounce my own name wrongly or I just need to work on it more.
Pronouncing middle t as ds is a challenge but I'm getting there. I agree with those who say we should be pronouncing words the American way and using American words that are different from British ones. You wouldn't move to Spain and refuse to speak Spanish. What bugs me though is people (adults) who have lived here for 10 minutes and have developed a ridiculous mid atlantic accent, that just isn't necessary. I know many people who have lived here for 15 years, have a British accent and have no problems with communication, it just takes practice. I say adults because kids are different, I fully expect my dodders to have American accents within the year. They just won't survive at school without it.
Pronouncing middle t as ds is a challenge but I'm getting there. I agree with those who say we should be pronouncing words the American way and using American words that are different from British ones. You wouldn't move to Spain and refuse to speak Spanish. What bugs me though is people (adults) who have lived here for 10 minutes and have developed a ridiculous mid atlantic accent, that just isn't necessary. I know many people who have lived here for 15 years, have a British accent and have no problems with communication, it just takes practice. I say adults because kids are different, I fully expect my dodders
to have American accents within the year. They just won't survive at school without it.
Sep 2nd 2011, 6:14 pm
#275
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,580
Re: American words you HAVE adopted
As a Creg recently moved to the US this is the frieken bain of my life, (frieken, there's a good one). "Can I have a name for the order sir?" "Craig", "Jake?" I try hard to say the Creg thing but either my mind can't bring myself to pronounce my own name wrongly or I just need to work on it more.
Pronouncing middle t as ds is a challenge but I'm getting there. I agree with those who say we should be pronouncing words the American way and using American words that are different from British ones. You wouldn't move to Spain and refuse to speak Spanish. What bugs me though is people (adults) who have lived here for 10 minutes and have developed a ridiculous mid atlantic accent, that just isn't necessary. I know many people who have lived here for 15 years, have a British accent and have no problems with communication, it just takes practice. I say adults because kids are different, I fully expect my dodders to have American accents within the year. They just won't survive at school without it.
Pronouncing middle t as ds is a challenge but I'm getting there. I agree with those who say we should be pronouncing words the American way and using American words that are different from British ones. You wouldn't move to Spain and refuse to speak Spanish. What bugs me though is people (adults) who have lived here for 10 minutes and have developed a ridiculous mid atlantic accent, that just isn't necessary. I know many people who have lived here for 15 years, have a British accent and have no problems with communication, it just takes practice. I say adults because kids are different, I fully expect my dodders
to have American accents within the year. They just won't survive at school without it.
Sep 2nd 2011, 6:51 pm
#276
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Re: American words you HAVE adopted
What bugs me though is people (adults) who have lived here for 10 minutes and have developed a ridiculous mid atlantic accent, that just isn't necessary. I know many people who have lived here for 15 years, have a British accent and have no problems with communication, it just takes practice.
Sep 2nd 2011, 7:57 pm
#278
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Re: American words you HAVE adopted
True!Until now I've never had trouble when asking for water, but oddly enough, I usually have to repeat 'lemonade' a few times. I think it is because I say lemon-ADE, rather than LEM-onade (don't know if that's a British thing or just a me thing!) and it seems to throw people off. I do try and remember to change the emphasis, but end up forgetting all the same.
Sep 2nd 2011, 7:58 pm
#279
I have a comma problem
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Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
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Re: American words you HAVE adopted
Fun unfolded on my sister's first trip to Chicago though, when she confused a waiter by asking for a Mountain Dew, but in her Belfast accent he must have thought she was trying to order some sort of high altitude Rabbi. Once he finally understood her, it turned out they didn't have any in the first place
Sep 2nd 2011, 7:59 pm
#280
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Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 42
Re: American words you HAVE adopted
True!Until now I've never had trouble when asking for water, but oddly enough, I usually have to repeat 'lemonade' a few times. I think it is because I say lemon-ADE, rather than LEM-onade (don't know if that's a British thing or just a me thing!) and it seems to throw people off. I do try and remember to change the emphasis, but end up forgetting all the same.
Sep 2nd 2011, 8:05 pm
#281
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Location: Cypress, TX
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Re: American words you HAVE adopted
Is that an east coast thing? I haven't noticed people saying it that way here.
Fun unfolded on my sister's first trip to Chicago though, when she confused a waiter by asking for a Mountain Dew, but in her Belfast accent he must have thought she was trying to order some sort of high altitude Rabbi. Once he finally understood her, it turned out they didn't have any in the first place
Fun unfolded on my sister's first trip to Chicago though, when she confused a waiter by asking for a Mountain Dew, but in her Belfast accent he must have thought she was trying to order some sort of high altitude Rabbi. Once he finally understood her, it turned out they didn't have any in the first place
Sep 2nd 2011, 8:08 pm
#282
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Re: American words you HAVE adopted
Is that an east coast thing? I haven't noticed people saying it that way here.
Fun unfolded on my sister's first trip to Chicago though, when she confused a waiter by asking for a Mountain Dew, but in her Belfast accent he must have thought she was trying to order some sort of high altitude Rabbi. Once he finally understood her, it turned out they didn't have any in the first place
Fun unfolded on my sister's first trip to Chicago though, when she confused a waiter by asking for a Mountain Dew, but in her Belfast accent he must have thought she was trying to order some sort of high altitude Rabbi. Once he finally understood her, it turned out they didn't have any in the first place
.
Sep 2nd 2011, 8:10 pm
#283
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: American words you HAVE adopted
Can't speak for the East Coast but it's definately the way they say things here in Texas. I had a similar experience in Papa Deux, asked for a boddle of Dos Equis and the waitress didn't understand. This time though I think it's because she was new, when I eventually got her to understand what I was asking for she didn't know if they sold it or not. I tried to tell her they did but she had to go and check anyway. Happy ending though, I got my Dos Equis evenually.
How did you say the Spanish 'Dos Equis' in a way that the waitress didn't understand you?? Spanish is pretty regular in it's rules of pronounciation so she must have been rather thick
Sep 2nd 2011, 8:13 pm
#284
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Re: American words you HAVE adopted
Sep 2nd 2011, 8:15 pm
#285
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Re: American words you HAVE adopted
Even then, how the hell can they not know it is water irrespective of how it is said? Now I'm worried that in my NI accent I do make the 't' sound like a 'd'
How did you say the Spanish 'Dos Equis' in a way that the waitress didn't understand you?? Spanish is pretty regular in it's rules of pronounciation so she must have been rather thick
How did you say the Spanish 'Dos Equis' in a way that the waitress didn't understand you?? Spanish is pretty regular in it's rules of pronounciation so she must have been rather thick