American words/expressions you don't like
#226
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: American words/expressions you don't like
Did you? Because I wasn't aware of there being a pissing contest. Just a bunch of bored middle aged women that should be cleaning their bathrooms, or something more exciting..
#228
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: American words/expressions you don't like
If this is directed at me, I'm not taking it personally at all. This thread, and many like it, have been going for ages and they don't bother me at all. Sometimes I even agree.
I just found kimilseung's comment interesting. It made me wonder why a Brit would take exception to a disparaging remark about African American speech patterns exclusively. And, I do agree with what he said but I'm not quite sure why.
I just found kimilseung's comment interesting. It made me wonder why a Brit would take exception to a disparaging remark about African American speech patterns exclusively. And, I do agree with what he said but I'm not quite sure why.
http://english.stackexchange.com/que...pronounced-aks
#229
Re: American words/expressions you don't like
I did find that interesting too. As for 'aks', I have only heard it used by black speakers in England, but apparently it goes back to Old English.
http://english.stackexchange.com/que...pronounced-aks
http://english.stackexchange.com/que...pronounced-aks
It probably goes back to when I was a kid and we would have out-of-town middle class teachers criticising us for not talking right, when we were using dialect and accent. Nothing wrong with educating people about ways to speak in specific culural situations, but even back then I took offence to beiing told it was wrong. I think this is one of the first things that gave me an awarness of class.
These days my social milieu is middle class, probably 90% white; at work I work with working class kids, 80% African American; I work for a not-for-profit, promoting technology and training in technology skills in a community center. There are some who think this is to encourage them all to become mddle class; I think I get a bit protective of the kids I work with, and I want what they already have to be valued, as I try to give them access to new skills that they can then chose to use in whatever way works best for them.
#230
Re: American words/expressions you don't like
Orrrrr.....it could simply be a sincere wish that the speaker bestows, ending a casual conversation on the elevator, bus or check-out line at the grocery store. I often say to people I've been talking to briefly while waiting in a line or discussing styles of clothing with another shopper, "I hope you have a good day.", - and - I mean it! However, I can understand irritation with that phrase if the people hearing it are unhappy being where they are and have developed a jaded point of view.
#231
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: American words/expressions you don't like
I think I am being asked by Leslie and Sally "why a Brit would take exception to a disparaging remark about African American speech patterns exclusively"?
It probably goes back to when I was a kid and we would have out-of-town middle class teachers criticising us for not talking right, when we were using dialect and accent. Nothing wrong with educating people about ways to speak in specific culural situations, but even back then I took offence to beiing told it was wrong. I think this is one of the first things that gave me an awarness of class.
These days my social milieu is middle class, probably 90% white; at work I work with working class kids, 80% African American; I work for a not-for-profit, promoting technology and training in technology skills in a community center. There are some who think this is to encourage them all to become mddle class; I think I get a bit protective of the kids I work with, and I want what they already have to be valued, as I try to give them access to new skills that they can then chose to use in whatever way works best for them.
It probably goes back to when I was a kid and we would have out-of-town middle class teachers criticising us for not talking right, when we were using dialect and accent. Nothing wrong with educating people about ways to speak in specific culural situations, but even back then I took offence to beiing told it was wrong. I think this is one of the first things that gave me an awarness of class.
These days my social milieu is middle class, probably 90% white; at work I work with working class kids, 80% African American; I work for a not-for-profit, promoting technology and training in technology skills in a community center. There are some who think this is to encourage them all to become mddle class; I think I get a bit protective of the kids I work with, and I want what they already have to be valued, as I try to give them access to new skills that they can then chose to use in whatever way works best for them.
Orrrrr.....it could simply be a sincere wish that the speaker bestows, ending a casual conversation on the elevator, bus or check-out line at the grocery store. I often say to people I've been talking to briefly while waiting in a line or discussing styles of clothing with another shopper, "I hope you have a good day.", - and - I mean it! However, I can understand irritation with that phrase if the people hearing it are unhappy being where they are and have developed a jaded point of view.
A few Brits want to let off steam sometimes, and then have to enter into a prolonged justification of every ****ing word they say.
#232
Re: American words/expressions you don't like
I did find that interesting too. As for 'aks', I have only heard it used by black speakers in England, but apparently it goes back to Old English.
http://english.stackexchange.com/que...pronounced-aks
http://english.stackexchange.com/que...pronounced-aks
I think I am being asked by Leslie and Sally "why a Brit would take exception to a disparaging remark about African American speech patterns exclusively"?
It probably goes back to when I was a kid and we would have out-of-town middle class teachers criticising us for not talking right, when we were using dialect and accent. Nothing wrong with educating people about ways to speak in specific culural situations, but even back then I took offence to beiing told it was wrong. I think this is one of the first things that gave me an awarness of class.
These days my social milieu is middle class, probably 90% white; at work I work with working class kids, 80% African American; I work for a not-for-profit, promoting technology and training in technology skills in a community center. There are some who think this is to encourage them all to become mddle class; I think I get a bit protective of the kids I work with, and I want what they already have to be valued, as I try to give them access to new skills that they can then chose to use in whatever way works best for them.
It probably goes back to when I was a kid and we would have out-of-town middle class teachers criticising us for not talking right, when we were using dialect and accent. Nothing wrong with educating people about ways to speak in specific culural situations, but even back then I took offence to beiing told it was wrong. I think this is one of the first things that gave me an awarness of class.
These days my social milieu is middle class, probably 90% white; at work I work with working class kids, 80% African American; I work for a not-for-profit, promoting technology and training in technology skills in a community center. There are some who think this is to encourage them all to become mddle class; I think I get a bit protective of the kids I work with, and I want what they already have to be valued, as I try to give them access to new skills that they can then chose to use in whatever way works best for them.
#233
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: American words/expressions you don't like
Oh bloody hell stop spoiling our fun.
#234
Re: American words/expressions you don't like
I regret that you took what I had to say as an offense. As I’ve said before in a previous post, as an American, and hostess to you, as guests, I want you to be pleased to be in my home. I was trying to say that I understand why there are so many Americanisms that irritate our guests, thereby mitigating the irritation to some degree. If I have a pressure cooker on the stove and the temperature gauge shows the pressure is too high, I lower the heat. I see this website as a sort of pressure cooker with the vent singing away, but the pressure seems to be building, and I’m trying to lower the heat. I’m sorry if that irritates you………
#235
Re: American words/expressions you don't like
I regret that you took what I had to say as an offense. As I’ve said before in a previous post, as an American, and hostess to you, as guests, I want you to be pleased to be in my home. I was trying to say that I understand why there are so many Americanisms that irritate our guests, thereby mitigating the irritation to some degree. If I have a pressure cooker on the stove and the temperature gauge shows the pressure is too high, I lower the heat. I see this website as a sort of pressure cooker with the vent singing away, but the pressure seems to be building, and I’m trying to lower the heat. I’m sorry if that irritates you………
#236
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: American words/expressions you don't like
I regret that you took what I had to say as an offense. As I’ve said before in a previous post, as an American, and hostess to you, as guests, I want you to be pleased to be in my home. I was trying to say that I understand why there are so many Americanisms that irritate our guests, thereby mitigating the irritation to some degree. If I have a pressure cooker on the stove and the temperature gauge shows the pressure is too high, I lower the heat. I see this website as a sort of pressure cooker with the vent singing away, but the pressure seems to be building, and I’m trying to lower the heat. I’m sorry if that irritates you………
#237
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,452
#239
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598