American words you HAVE adopted
Sep 2nd 2011, 8:19 am
#286
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: American words you HAVE adopted
Don't know but I find if I pronounce things propertly it just doesn't work. As for the Dos Equis thing, I think she had just never heard of it therefore had no idea what I was tlaking about, doubt that was an accent thing. Either that or the fact I said in a broad Glasgow accent, "eeehhhh Ah'l huv a 2 exes please doll !!"
Sep 2nd 2011, 9:13 am
#287
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Carlsbad , Ca
Posts: 472
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. 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.
to have American accents within the year. They just won't survive at school without it.
Sep 2nd 2011, 9:16 am
#288
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Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,174
Re: American words you HAVE adopted
I never really had a problem with it living up in Maine, and now we're further out in the burbs, I've not really had a issue with it all that much. When we did live right in the burbs though, it would drive me mental and it only got worse in Boston.
It's similar for other t in the middle words like butter...but perhaps it is more about context, they expect to hear certain things in a restaurant and get thrown by it, but if out in a grocery store they might now
Sep 7th 2011, 5:35 am
#289
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Manhattan
Posts: 2,913
Re: American words you HAVE adopted
In true New York fashion my husband now says "schmuck" and "schmutz".
Sep 7th 2011, 6:12 am
#290
Heading for Poppyland
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Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
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Sep 7th 2011, 8:48 am
#291
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Mar 1st 2012, 12:56 pm
#293
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Maine
Posts: 39
Re: American words you HAVE adopted
My wife calls the furry little rat things that live in trees squirls (rhymes with 'curls')...and the thing you look in, a murr (rhymes with 'purr')....hahaha ahh how the cold winter evenings just fly by.....
Mar 2nd 2012, 11:32 pm
#294
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: American words you HAVE adopted
My grandfather, a mainuh used to say spun instead of spoon and would say ott instead of zero.
Mar 3rd 2012, 1:58 am
#295
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Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 983
Re: American words you HAVE adopted
Must try and say "debris" instead of muck! It sounds so much more hygienic!
Mar 3rd 2012, 2:12 am
#296
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,686
Re: American words you HAVE adopted
Always sounds weird to me.. a bit Stygian or Victorian. Somehow I imagine a seance being convened, "loved ones" contacting those "on the other side" who've "passed on."
Mar 3rd 2012, 2:48 am
#297
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Location: North Yorkshire
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Re: American words you HAVE adopted
Yes, it has an air of unreality about it as if its a generally accepted thing that theres another realm somewhere after death. It feels so straightforward to say someones died!
Mar 3rd 2012, 3:51 am
#298
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,686
Re: American words you HAVE adopted
An example is smell, as a noun. Americans generally prefer "odor."
Mar 3rd 2012, 4:33 am
#299
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,262
Re: American words you HAVE adopted
... ''does a bomb-sniffing dog smell?" could be read two ways
