British Expats
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British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   The Trailer Park (https://britishexpats.com/forum/trailer-park-96/)
-   -   A language question (https://britishexpats.com/forum/trailer-park-96/language-question-729870/)

kimilseung Aug 26th 2011 5:17 am
Re: A language question
 
Originally Posted by SultanOfSwing (Post 9583634)
Usually it's 'go potty'. I don't like that expression very much.

Admittedly, I usually get a few funny looks when I say "I'm off to the gents'". I would try "I'm away for a Geoff Hurst" but I'd end up wetting myself by the time I'd be able to explain it.
Mine is "I've got to see a man about a dog" and only my wife has any idea what I am talking about

edit: Which is odd, because I have read that it is supposed to be an Americanism too.

SultanOfSwing Aug 26th 2011 5:19 am
Re: A language question
 
Originally Posted by kimilseung (Post 9583639)
Mine is "I've got to see a man about a dog" and only my wife has any idea what I am talking about
I'll make my son laugh from time to time by saying "I'm away to count my knobs", which was a favourite expression of a friend of mine back in Blighty.

Bob Aug 26th 2011 5:25 am
Re: A language question
 
Originally Posted by S Folinsky (Post 9583526)
Don't know. However, when Americans "queue up" -- people on the East Coast tend to say "stand on line" while West Coast people tend to say "stand in line." I've heard people actually argue about that one.
But, but, but.....people don't stand in/on line in the East Coast, they horde, and rabble browse their way to the front :lol:

Egg and Cress Aug 26th 2011 6:39 am
Re: A language question
 
The epitome of proper (American) word usage and sentence structure used to be the newspaper - now I read (and hear on the local TV news) that windows were "busted" - irritates the crap out of me! :eek:

Scott33 Aug 26th 2011 7:24 am
Re: A language question
 
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...gcontinuum.png

Lion in Winter Aug 26th 2011 7:37 am
Re: A language question
 
Originally Posted by nethead (Post 9583270)
My kids have a habit of saying something happened 'on' accident instead of 'by' accident which doesn't sound right to me. I thought it was just them and some type of kid talk then I heard an adult the other day say it, so don't know whether it's an American thing or a regional thing??
Mine has been saying that too. Midwest?

SultanOfSwing Aug 26th 2011 7:40 am
Re: A language question
 
Originally Posted by Lion in Winter (Post 9583823)
Mine has been saying that too. Midwest?
Again can confirm. In Illinois here, my American stepson says it like that, no matter how many times I correct him, or kick his arse . . .

Lion in Winter Aug 26th 2011 7:45 am
Re: A language question
 
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 9583462)
'I won't be beat' is the catchphrase for a local mattress store.

I don't know if it's 'wrong' or just different usage, Americans seem to say things like "I wish I would have done that".
Americans don't seem to use the subjunctive much. They tend to use two conditionals.

"If the first baseman would have caught the ball, the batter would have been out." Instead of "If the first baseman had caught the ball, the batter would have been out."

Lion in Winter Aug 26th 2011 7:47 am
Re: A language question
 
Originally Posted by SultanOfSwing (Post 9583828)
Again can confirm. In Illinois here, my American stepson says it like that, no matter how many times I correct him, or kick his arse . . .

I haven't tried the arse-kicking method.

I just explain that language often changes, it isn't a static thing, but that there is always current accepted correct usage, and then there is colloquial usage, and then there is just plain wrong, and he has to know which is which.

SultanOfSwing Aug 26th 2011 7:50 am
Re: A language question
 
Originally Posted by Lion in Winter (Post 9583838)
I haven't tried the arse-kicking method.

I just explain that language often changes, it isn't a static thing, but that there is always current accepted correct usage, and then there is colloquial usage, and then there is just plain wrong, and he has to know which is which.
Arse kicking doesn't work when they're almost as tall as you are :(

But I do try to do the same as you, in teaching him the differences between a regional variation, and correct English.

Interestingly, speaking of regional varations, my wife thinks it was funny that when she asked for a 'pop' in LA nobody knew what she meant, but I knew exactly what a 'pop' was.

Then my mum and sister call everything 'juice', which confuses the shit out of SWMBO when they're over for a visit :D

Lion in Winter Aug 26th 2011 7:53 am
Re: A language question
 
Originally Posted by SultanOfSwing (Post 9583843)
Arse kicking doesn't work when they're almost as tall as you are :(

But I do try to do the same as you, in teaching him the differences between a regional variation, and correct English.

Interestingly, speaking of regional varations, my wife thinks it was funny that when she asked for a 'pop' in LA nobody knew what she meant, but I knew exactly what a 'pop' was.

Then my mum and sister call everything 'juice', which confuses the shit out of SWMBO when they're over for a visit :D
Given the various meanings of "juice" and "being juiced" that should make for an interesting time.

SultanOfSwing Aug 26th 2011 7:56 am
Re: A language question
 
Originally Posted by Lion in Winter (Post 9583850)
Given the various meanings of "juice" and "being juiced" that should make for an interesting time.
Not as interesting as you might think :lol:

nethead Aug 26th 2011 9:52 am
Re: A language question
 
Originally Posted by Lion in Winter (Post 9583823)
Mine has been saying that too. Midwest?
No we're in PA.

nethead Aug 26th 2011 11:36 am
Re: A language question
 
Another one I've noticed is the pronunciation of wolf, loads of people here say woof :confused:

Sally Redux Aug 26th 2011 11:44 am
Re: A language question
 
Originally Posted by nethead (Post 9584183)
Another one I've noticed is the pronunciation of wolf, loads of people here say woof :confused:
Yes I think it's woof here as well.

That reminds me of a posh boy at school who said 'dorf' for 'dwarf'


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