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-   -   Things you'll never say... (https://britishexpats.com/forum/trailer-park-96/things-youll-never-say-889448/)

Leslie Jan 2nd 2017 8:02 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by Nutmegger (Post 12141188)
I've never understood why people get so bent out of shape about saying "Happy Holidays." In what way is it different from the equally neutral "Season's Greetings" that has been used in the UK on non-commital greetings cards since the fifties to my personal knowledge and most likely far longer.

Right. And I'm supposed to say Merry ****ing Christmas before Thanksgiving? And after Christmas? Just keep saying Merry Christmas no matter where we are on the calendar? I say Merry Christmas for the couple of weeks before Christmas so it's not like I hate Jesus or Santa. But saying it any other time just looks and sounds ridiculous.

It's a made up problem. Made up by the same bunch of assholes who made up the non-existent war on Christmas.

EDIT: The irony doesn't escape me that the same people who are "against the PC brigade" are actively getting the hump because other people choose to a different greeting than what they do.

Pulaski Jan 2nd 2017 8:05 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by tom169 (Post 12140636)
..... Continuing to write British words won't help me in an office when writing a report. ....

Not exactly grammar or idiom, but I write "the UK and Europe" in e-mails, memos and reports as often as I can. :rofl: .... Well it amuses me. :o

Originally Posted by petitefrancaise (Post 12141117)
..... What Pulaski said about accepting idioms/venacular and staying long term in a country... I can't be bothered to find it but there is actually research demonstrating exactly that. IIRC it was making the mental/emotional adjustment to your new abode as "home" which helped you switch on "assimilate" mode for the new language. ......

I have managed to adopt almost all the local words, spellings, and idiom while somehow, but certainly not deliberately, absorbing little, if any, of the accent. :lol:

tom169 Jan 2nd 2017 9:10 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 12141195)
Not exactly grammar or idiom, but I write "the UK and Europe" in e-mails, memos and reports as often as I can. :rofl: .... Well it amuses me. :o

I have managed to adopt almost all the local words, spellings, and idiom while somehow, but certainly not deliberately, absorbing little, if any, of the accent. :lol:

Does Miss P pick up on her dad's accent being different to hers? :p

scrubbedexpat091 Jan 2nd 2017 10:19 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by anotherlimey (Post 12141151)
Not quite the same, but I never thought I'd ever use "y'all", but it's so useful.

Those who say y'all or hear it, what state are you in? I am from So. California and I don't think I have ever heard anyone from So. Cal say it, those who do are usually from Texas or another southern state. Wondering if its common outside the south, or if it's a southern thing.


Originally Posted by dc koop (Post 12141186)
Something like how my Sheffield accent ended up as a cab driver in London summed up pretty well.

"you have a northern accent mate but you use words and phrases that the Yanks use all the time"

Believe me after so many years words like "petrol" and "lift" (elevator) will disappear entirely from your vocabulary along with many others.

Before I came here I lived in Canada for five years. By the time I left I was saying "eh" after every sentence. Fortunately that didn't last very long

Were you in Eastern Canada? Middle part?

I can't say I ever hear anyone say eh. I do on occasion to be funny, but it's certainly not normal conversation out here in BC.

dc koop Jan 2nd 2017 10:30 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by Jsmth321 (Post 12141284)
Those who say y'all or hear it, what state are you in? I am from So. California and I don't think I have ever heard anyone from So. Cal say it, those who do are usually from Texas or another southern state. Wondering if its common outside the south, or if it's a southern thing.



Were you in Eastern Canada? Middle part?

I can't say I ever hear anyone say eh. I do on occasion to be funny, but it's certainly not normal conversation out here in BC.

Engllsh speaking Canadians in Montreal and the Province of Quebec Eastern Townships to be exact.

kins Jan 2nd 2017 10:30 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by mrken30 (Post 12141070)
There are also some US pronunciations that I cannot hear the difference
Pastor and Pasta
Pawn and porn

I'll preface this story by saying that I don't watch much US TV, and I'd never seen Pawn Stars.

I was with some co-workers in a casino, and one of them said 'OHMYGOD isn't that the guy from PORN STARS over there at the bar?! He's my biggest hero! Let's go get his autograph!'

At least, that's what I could've sworn she'd said.

I was very confused.

kins Jan 2nd 2017 10:31 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by anotherlimey (Post 12141151)
Not quite the same, but I never thought I'd ever use "y'all", but it's so useful.

I love "y'all" and "all y'all". I use them as often as I can.

dc koop Jan 2nd 2017 10:47 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by Nutmegger (Post 12141188)
I've never understood why people get so bent out of shape about saying "Happy Holidays." In what way is it different from the equally neutral "Season's Greetings" that has been used in the UK on non-commital greetings cards since the fifties to my personal knowledge and most likely far longer.

I associate the period Dec 15 thru Dec 30 as being the Christmas season. It's not sure if J.C was actually born at this time. Some say a Roman Emperor fixed his date of birth at that time while compiling the 12 month calendar. Anyway it suits me to say Merry Christmas and that's all there is to it. If the reason that "Happy Holidays" came about for fear of offending non-Christians then all I can say is Bollacks with knobs on !! I mean no offence when I say "Merry Christmas" The Mexicans say "Felice Navidad" Nobody goes around making an issue of that so what the hell is really going on?

The popular English way of abbreviating Christmas to "Xmas" is on my stupid list. What the hell does Xmas mean anyway? Is it just sheer laziness? A problem with saying the word Christ? Or a belief that Jesus Christ shouldn't be the name he's known as and that therefore he should be known as Mister X instead ?

Plain ridiculous

Leslie Jan 2nd 2017 10:52 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by kins (Post 12141294)
I love "y'all" and "all y'all". I use them as often as I can.

:goodpost:

CaliforniaBride Jan 2nd 2017 10:54 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by anotherlimey (Post 12141151)
Not quite the same, but I never thought I'd ever use "y'all", but it's so useful.

No!! You didn't go that far! It's been a while but mate. Y'all? Really? Like, really?

:rofl: :p :rofl:

dc koop Jan 2nd 2017 10:59 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 
Anyone with a pronounced British accent sounds stupid using "y'all" If I went back to the old country and started saying that to my relatives in Sheffield they'd laugh their heads off and rightfully call me a Gormless Twat.

Nutmegger Jan 2nd 2017 11:00 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by dc koop (Post 12141303)
I associate the period Dec 15 thru Dec 30 as being the Christmas season. It's not sure if J.C was actually born at this time. Some say a Roman Emperor fixed his date of birth at that time while compiling the 12 month calendar. Anyway it suits me to say Merry Christmas and that's all there is to it. If the reason that "Happy Holidays" came about for fear of offending non-Christians then all I can say is Bollacks with knobs on !! I mean no offence when I say "Merry Christmas" The Mexicans say "Felice Navidad" Nobody goes around making an issue of that so what the hell is really going on?

The popular English way of abbreviating Christmas to "Xmas" is on my stupid list. What the hell does Xmas mean anyway? Is it just sheer laziness? A problem with saying the word Christ? Or a belief that Jesus Christ shouldn't be the name he's known as and that therefore he should be known as Mister X instead ?

Plain ridiculous

You don't say if you find season's greetings just as troublesome. It's just as neutral.

CaliforniaBride Jan 2nd 2017 11:02 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by Leslie (Post 12141306)
:goodpost:

Oops! My bad. Lol

scrubbedexpat091 Jan 2nd 2017 11:04 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by dc koop (Post 12141303)
I associate the period Dec 15 thru Dec 30 as being the Christmas season. It's not sure if J.C was actually born at this time. Some say a Roman Emperor fixed his date of birth at that time while compiling the 12 month calendar. Anyway it suits me to say Merry Christmas and that's all there is to it. If the reason that "Happy Holidays" came about for fear of offending non-Christians then all I can say is Bollacks with knobs on !! I mean no offence when I say "Merry Christmas" The Mexicans say "Felice Navidad" Nobody goes around making an issue of that so what the hell is really going on?

The popular English way of abbreviating Christmas to "Xmas" is on my stupid list. What the hell does Xmas mean anyway? Is it just sheer laziness? A problem with saying the word Christ? Or a belief that Jesus Christ shouldn't be the name he's known as and that therefore he should be known as Mister X instead ?

Plain ridiculous

Xmas Abbreviation : snopes.com

CaliforniaBride Jan 2nd 2017 11:06 am

Re: Things you'll never say...
 

Originally Posted by dc koop (Post 12141303)
I associate the period Dec 15 thru Dec 30 as being the Christmas season. It's not sure if J.C was actually born at this time. Some say a Roman Emperor fixed his date of birth at that time while compiling the 12 month calendar. Anyway it suits me to say Merry Christmas and that's all there is to it. If the reason that "Happy Holidays" came about for fear of offending non-Christians then all I can say is Bollacks with knobs on !! I mean no offence when I say "Merry Christmas" The Mexicans say "Felice Navidad" Nobody goes around making an issue of that so what the hell is really going on?

The popular English way of abbreviating Christmas to "Xmas" is on my stupid list. What the hell does Xmas mean anyway? Is it just sheer laziness? A problem with saying the word Christ? Or a belief that Jesus Christ shouldn't be the name he's known as and that therefore he should be known as Mister X instead ?

Plain ridiculous

Not all Mexicans say Felice Navidad. Some say Happy Holidays too. Just the same as non-Mexicans.

X is Greek for 'chi' or Christ.


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