British Expats
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British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   Moving back or to the UK (https://britishexpats.com/forum/moving-back-uk-61/)
-   -   Language Differences between USA and UK (https://britishexpats.com/forum/moving-back-uk-61/language-differences-between-usa-uk-837126/)

Karrie72 Jun 23rd 2014 1:06 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
This is a bit rude, sorry...but the expression that always used to make me giggle here is 'he's so spunky!' and the Otis spunkmeyer cookies.

There, I've put you all off your breakfast now.

Sally Redux Jun 23rd 2014 1:09 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Karrie72 (Post 11312620)
This is a bit rude, sorry...but the expression that always used to make me giggle here is 'he's so spunky!' and the Otis spunkmeyer cookies.

There, I've put you all off your breakfast now.
Have never seen them :ohmy:

"Hi, I'm Randi" sometimes still takes me aback.

moneypenny20 Jun 23rd 2014 1:30 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 11312623)
Have never seen them :ohmy:

"Hi, I'm Randi" sometimes still takes me aback.
Do you hear that a lot then? :lol:

Sally Redux Jun 23rd 2014 1:33 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by moneypenny20 (Post 11312645)
Do you hear that a lot then? :lol:
You do, hope springs eternal :lol:

Karrie72 Jun 23rd 2014 3:09 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 11312623)
Have never seen them :ohmy:

"Hi, I'm Randi" sometimes still takes me aback.
Yes, Randi isn't a name you hear much in the UK...:blink:

Sally Redux Jun 23rd 2014 3:21 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
There is a Randi Ave and a Ponce Ave near us.

Karrie72 Jun 23rd 2014 5:32 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Ponce is another one no-one gets here.

Bugger too. In England its a casual form of exasperation, as in' Oh bugger, I forgot to switch off the iron.' Here it means something a bit different.:eek:

lansbury Jun 23rd 2014 6:16 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by robin1234 (Post 11312585)
It's that piece of cardboard and black sharpie that you carry.
The only time I couldn't translate UK to US was once at work. They had moved the left luggage office in T2 at LHR to a portacabin outside the terminal. The American couple who I was trying to direct to it couldn't understand portacabin. I had to phone the wife at work and ask what is American for portacabin, which as we all know is trailer. That solved the problem for them.

Sally Redux Jun 23rd 2014 6:50 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Karrie72 (Post 11312854)
Ponce is another one no-one gets here.

Bugger too. In England its a casual form of exasperation, as in' Oh bugger, I forgot to switch off the iron.' Here it means something a bit different.:eek:
Ya daft bugger :lol:

I muttered something about a 'big pansy' under my breath once and my son thought it was great :o, not sure if they use that here.

Pulaski Jun 23rd 2014 8:30 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by windsong (Post 11311804)
Now that I am moving back to the UK next month, I wonder what "reverse" language differences I will notice. When I first moved to the USA I was teaching, and the students often laughed at some of the things I said - in a nice way - so we agreed I'd teach them English and they would teach me American. ;) The example that comes to mind is "eraser" and "rubber"!

Maybe now that I am going back to the UK, there are certain Americanisms I should avoid. Can you think of any?
Every other sentence needs to include the word "brilliant". :nod:

Novocastrian Jun 23rd 2014 9:03 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 11313005)
Every other sentence needs to include the word "brilliant". :nod:
Makes a change from "awesome".

Pulaski Jun 23rd 2014 9:05 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 11313040)
Makes a change from "awesome".
Same difference and equally irritating! :unsure:

Novocastrian Jun 23rd 2014 9:10 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 11313043)
Same difference and equally irritating! :unsure:
Totally.

lgabriel73 Jun 23rd 2014 9:14 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
I am definitely not going to miss the Bostonians description of everything being "wicked"or "wicked pissa".

Sally Redux Jun 23rd 2014 9:25 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 11313040)
Makes a change from "awesome".
Ahsome.

BEVS Jun 23rd 2014 4:33 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
If you don't want to cook or eat out in a restaurant then you order a take-away, not a take out.

'Going forward' means to physically move oneself along a little by some means It does not mean in the future or from now on. 'In the future' means in the future. 'From now on' means from now on.

moneypenny20 Jun 23rd 2014 8:36 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by BEVS (Post 11313350)
If you don't want to cook or eat out in a restaurant then you order a take-away, not a take out.
I didn't realise I was using 'odd' terminology until last year back in the UK and I suggested to my sister about getting take out and she looked confused and I had to explain what I meant. However, she's a bit strange so maybe it was just her ;)

backtomypast Jun 24th 2014 5:12 am
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 11312919)
Ya daft bugger :lol:

I muttered something about a 'big pansy' under my breath once and my son thought it was great :o, not sure if they use that here.
My Mum is always calling someone a 'silly buggar' or some such. She is 87 and hasn't given up any of her British sayings for all the time she has been in Canada.

I use to use 'pansy' all the time 'what a pansy'. Now it would be considered homophobic so best not to be used anymore.

When we first came to Canada my Mum was at the neighbours and they were making plans for the next day, my Mum said to the neighbour 'come and knock me up in the morning', after having a giggle at this the neighbour explained what it meant here, needless to say my Mum never used that expression again.

Another difference is the spelling of words for example Mum they spell it Mom here. I actually had someone ask me what Mum meant.

Sally Redux Jun 24th 2014 12:16 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by backtomypast (Post 11313875)
My Mum is always calling someone a 'silly buggar' or some such. She is 87 and hasn't given up any of her British sayings for all the time she has been in Canada.

I use to use 'pansy' all the time 'what a pansy'. Now it would be considered homophobic so best not to be used anymore.

When we first came to Canada my Mum was at the neighbours and they were making plans for the next day, my Mum said to the neighbour 'come and knock me up in the morning', after having a giggle at this the neighbour explained what it meant here, needless to say my Mum never used that expression again.

Another difference is the spelling of words for example Mum they spell it Mom here. I actually had someone ask me what Mum meant.
There are some new (to me) ones in England. Apparently 'nosh' means more than eating now.

I know this because hilarity ensued when my mum sent a card to my nephew saying, "Happy Birthday, hope you have a good nosh!"

moneypenny20 Jun 24th 2014 12:42 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by backtomypast (Post 11313875)

Another difference is the spelling of words for example Mum they spell it Mom here. I actually had someone ask me what Mum meant.
Depends on where in the UK. People from The Midlands use Mom.

Sally Redux Jun 24th 2014 12:43 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by moneypenny20 (Post 11314262)
Depends on where in the UK. People from The Midlands use Mom.
Geordies use mam.

Jerseygirl Jun 24th 2014 12:52 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 11314264)
Geordies use mam.
Not only Geordies...I think quite a few people in the north of England used to say mam.

Sally Redux Jun 24th 2014 1:00 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Jerseygirl (Post 11314272)
Not only Gordies...I think quite a few people in the north of England used to say mam.
Yes I wasn't sure how far that goes. I don't remember what people said in Leeds.

"Y'all roight, bab?" is a nice Midlands expression. :unsure:

robin1234 Jun 24th 2014 1:10 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 11314237)
There are some new (to me) ones in England. Apparently 'nosh' means more than eating now.

I know this because hilarity ensued when my mum sent a card to my nephew saying, "Happy Birthday, hope you have a good nosh!"
Don't know about new meaning of nosh, but it is Yiddish in origin. Seems to be general in the UK (noun or verb, to snack, eat, a meal.). In the US, in my experience, it's used among Jews but not so much among the general population.

Sally Redux Jun 24th 2014 1:20 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by robin1234 (Post 11314286)
Don't know about new meaning of nosh, but it is Yiddish in origin. Seems to be general in the UK (noun or verb, to snack, eat, a meal.). In the US, in my experience, it's used among Jews but not so much among the general population.
I didn't realize that; now I look it up, this local place is a kosher pizza restaurant.

Pizza Nosh - Pizza, Subs, Salads -- Agoura,California

Novocastrian Jun 24th 2014 1:21 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 11314264)
Geordies use mam.
I can confirm that. As in, "Nah ah canna dee tha' noo, me mam sez I gorra gan hyem"

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl (Post 11314272)
Not only Gordies...I think quite a few people in the north of England used to say mam.
Gordies? WTF are those?

Jerseygirl Jun 24th 2014 1:29 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 11314296)



Gordies? WTF are those?
Wey aye man. Typo what can I say? ;):o

Sally Redux Jun 24th 2014 1:36 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 11314296)
I can confirm that. As in, "Nah ah canna dee tha' noo, me mam sez I gorra gan hyem"
Divvent be sah soft man.

Novocastrian Jun 24th 2014 1:39 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 11314316)
Divvent be sah soft man.
Canny try, hinny.

Novocastrian Jun 24th 2014 1:43 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Jerseygirl (Post 11314305)
Wey aye man. Typo what can I say? ;):o
Gordy is at least homophonic with Gaudy, which is a disgustingly self indulgent feast at a certain Oxford College which this Geordie was unfortunate enough to be imprisoned in for several years.

Look it up.

Sally Redux Jun 24th 2014 1:45 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 11314318)
Canny try, hinny.
:o

I can't think of it exactly now, there is something here with 'home' in it that OH jocularly calls 'yem'. It might be Yem Depot, but it seems funnier than that when he says it.

Sally Redux Jun 24th 2014 1:48 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 


I think that was a fictitious women's college though.

Novocastrian Jun 24th 2014 1:59 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 11314325)
Perhaps I'm a fictitious woman then. What a relief.

Sally Redux Jun 24th 2014 2:03 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 11314332)
Perhaps I'm a fictitious woman then. What a relief.
:p

Is this the real life?

Novocastrian Jun 24th 2014 2:08 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 11314334)
:p

Is this the real life?
Ask your avatar.

Sally Redux Jun 24th 2014 2:11 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 11314341)
Ask your avatar.
Some people seem to think it is :lol:

Novocastrian Jun 24th 2014 2:14 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 11314344)
Some people seem to think it is :lol:
Yes, true. Pity really.

bigglesworth Jun 24th 2014 8:21 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 11314296)
I can confirm that. As in, "Nah ah canna dee tha' noo, me mam sez I gorra gan hyem"

?
When I was young living in Germany for a while I learnt a bit of Swabian

I' gan alloy hime. (My version of pronunciation)

Was/Is "I am going home"

Strange as from my distant memory of philology at college, the Geordie accent is due to Scandinavian roots.

Bud the Wiser Jun 24th 2014 9:09 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
1 Attachment(s)
...oooOOO

Gozit Jun 25th 2014 3:04 pm
Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 
The 's' vs 'z' is always a good one... Recognise vs recognize... Mom vs mum has been mentioned.

I use bugger a lot, people don't quite get it... "Right" sets people aback sometimes.


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