Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

Some people seem to think it is :lol:

Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

Yes, true. Pity really.

Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

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.

Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

...oooOOO

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.

Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

I'm not sure if soccer versus football has ever been discussed on BE?

Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

I don't believe so, or at least not today so far. :rolleyes:

Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

Not sure why soccer should be discussed. It is an English word, I am sure. My school certainly referred to it as soccer back in the 30s or earlier
There used to be a board in the Hall for the captains of all the sports teams, and
soccer was there.

Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

There's a vociferous minority of BE members in the US who hold an unshakable belief that "soccer" is an abominable US word, and completely ignore it's widespread use in the UK.

I am not sure if the revulsion is caused by the word itself, or because the word "football" has been coopted in the US for a local debased form of rugby. :unsure:

Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

I never hear football referred to as soccer here, either personally in Scotland or on telly. I have got strange looks before when I have reverted to the US "soccer" term. I think it is looked at as an outdated term these days - a bit like "rugger".

Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

Yes, I would say outdated over there. Have never heard it used in the normal run of conversation.

Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

"The USA are in the knockout rounds of the Soccerball World Trophy" = "England **** up in the World Cup".

Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

Interesting. Perhaps its adoption by the US also led to a reaction against that word in the UK. :unsure: I seem to remember it being widely used when I was at school, but unfortunately that was, er, several years ago now. :rolleyes:

Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

Hmm. The plot thickens.
I have looked online, and the origin of soccer is defined as British late nineteenth century abbreviation of Association.

HOWEVER, my ancient printed edition of the Complete Oxford has NO mention of soccer.
My main complaint about the OED is that it includes too many words of uncertain origin. I would really be surprised if the word did exist but was not mentioned in the OED.

Anyone have any better origin?

Re: Language Differences between USA and UK
 

This would explain it then. I myself live in the 1950s.