" Americanism's " Changing the British language.
Jul 22nd 2011, 5:22 pm
#76
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
I have to agree. While I personally would never use abbreviations like 'r u' (for 'are you'), it does smack of efficiency and one wonders why we ddn't think of it earlier! Think of how much paper and ink would have been saved had these abbreviations been used! I know I have readily adapted to 'program' instead of 'programme', 'analog' instead of 'analogue', etc - there is zero added value/benefit to using the longer forms. I would expect the official "English" language (being inherently adaptable) to adopt these improvements.
And I have to confess, it is very convenient to use ':' and ")" together in a sentence to indicate a smile or humor. I do use them now in semi-formal communications (emails to people at work, etc).
And I have to confess, it is very convenient to use ':' and ")" together in a sentence to indicate a smile or humor. I do use them now in semi-formal communications (emails to people at work, etc).
Why the hell would we want to make what a bunch of angst ridden, spotty oiks use on their mobile phones a legitimate part of the vernacular?
Makes me wish my dad had just had a wank, stuff like that.
Jul 22nd 2011, 6:34 pm
#77
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: WA state
Posts: 3,061
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
My kids watch a lot of the PBS Sprout channel, so they pick up a lot of English pronunciations since most of the shows are imported from the UK. Still had my two-year-old trying to tell me I pronounce "dance class" wrongly, although I expect a northerner would tell me that too. Looks like a double episode of Angelina Ballerina is required.
Jul 22nd 2011, 6:46 pm
#79
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: WA state
Posts: 3,061
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
Preschool tv channel. The Goodnight Show (after about 4pm) is hosted by a woman who is far too hot to be on kids tv. And then she bends over doing yoga, saying "I love how my body feels after a good stretch".
Jul 22nd 2011, 6:49 pm
#80
Senior Moment
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,008
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
But she's an idiot.
Jul 22nd 2011, 6:52 pm
#81
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
There are sprouts on it too, right?
Mmmmm.... sprouts and hotties... together at last!
Jul 22nd 2011, 7:55 pm
#82
Not here much
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Highland Park, NJ
Posts: 2,452
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
I was laughing at a friend here who said Nootella, he sent me a link to their official site which said that's how you say it; I sent him back a link to a British advert from youtube (searching nutella advert uk also brings back an australian one that says it the same way)
The Americanism that annoys me more than anything else is "a savings of", shouldn't that be "a saving of" or just "savings of"?
The Americanism that annoys me more than anything else is "a savings of", shouldn't that be "a saving of" or just "savings of"?
Jul 22nd 2011, 8:15 pm
#83
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Google Town
Posts: 7,532
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
I was laughing at a friend here who said Nootella, he sent me a link to their official site which said that's how you say it; I sent him back a link to a British advert from youtube (searching nutella advert uk also brings back an australian one that says it the same way)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AFptxyklptE
The Americanism that annoys me more than anything else is "a savings of", shouldn't that be "a saving of" or just "savings of"?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AFptxyklptE
The Americanism that annoys me more than anything else is "a savings of", shouldn't that be "a saving of" or just "savings of"?
Jul 22nd 2011, 9:48 pm
#84
Badger Badger Badger
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Montpelier, Vermont
Posts: 491
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
IT'S BACK!!! This is so funny ...
http://www.dack.com/web/bullshit.html
(Web economy bullshit generator). Maybe you have to be in the business, but I can't tell you how many sentences I've seen like this in print!
http://www.dack.com/web/bullshit.html
(Web economy bullshit generator). Maybe you have to be in the business, but I can't tell you how many sentences I've seen like this in print!
Jul 23rd 2011, 12:08 am
#85
Boomshacalaca!!
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: South of the North Pole.......Colorado
Posts: 5,066
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
On the subject of languages... how crappy would it be if Morse code was our primary spoken language?? - Utterly up river if someone had a stammer ....
I was thinking along those lines too! I am willing to bet that if they were around during the time, they would be the ones outraged about Latin bastardizing indigenous languages ... 
Blessed are those cheesemakers. Languages evolve!... if you will, natural selection of linguistics - the only word I can think of surviving the Neanderthal era is "UGH" 
was it someone's name, an expression, first evidence of language?? ....
Zed and Zee ... same theme can also be said for the two ways for "H" and HeyH/Ayech/Huh-a-ch .... (
)
... but does one have a problem eating Uncle Joe's Mint Balls??
That is precisely where customer and waitstaff at a Little Chef find common ground... from either side of the table, each find themselves in complete doubt, bewilderment and can't understand "what it is" - especially once one sees it on the plate, if you're the one in the seat...
I don't know why, but, I cringe when I hear or read "...., just sayin' ". It is like hearing fingernails dragged over a blackboard (I suppose I should be writing chalkboard) ...
Even, I'm just popping out to - bugs me ... are you a weasel or something??
Blessed are those cheesemakers. Languages evolve!... if you will, natural selection of linguistics - the only word I can think of surviving the Neanderthal era is "UGH" was it someone's name, an expression, first evidence of language?? ....)
And doesn't want to go to Bald Knob, AR.I don't know why, but, I cringe when I hear or read "...., just sayin' ". It is like hearing fingernails dragged over a blackboard (I suppose I should be writing chalkboard) ...
Even, I'm just popping out to - bugs me ... are you a weasel or something??
Jul 23rd 2011, 1:09 am
#86
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,520
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
Our local public radio station recently acquired a new transmitter, WSLZ Cape Vincent. One of the announcers started pronouncing the final letter "zed" when he recites the station identification. Now they are all saying zed.. (mind you it is just this side of the border.)
Jul 23rd 2011, 1:58 am
#87
BE Commentator
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 8,416
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
I'm a native Angeleno and I have never liked "happy holidays" -- I am one Jew who is not offended being told "Merry Christmas." In fact, I am annoyed that that minor winter festival is assumed to be really important because of its time of year.
Jul 23rd 2011, 2:01 am
#88
BE Commentator
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 8,416
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
[That said, I think of this Joisy song as very California. I think a 69 Chevy with 396, fuelie heads and a Hurst on the floor]
Last edited by S Folinsky; Jul 23rd 2011 at 2:15 am.
Jul 23rd 2011, 2:07 am
#89
BE Commentator
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 8,416
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
Our local public radio station recently acquired a new transmitter, WSLZ Cape Vincent. One of the announcers started pronouncing the final letter "zed" when he recites the station identification. Now they are all saying zed.. (mind you it is just this side of the border.)
Jul 23rd 2011, 2:10 am
#90
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: DFW, TX
Posts: 508
Re: " Americanism's " Changing the British language.
The only meaning _I_ knew "Happy Holiday" to have was "Well, good day, good fellow citizen, and have an awesome Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, a whole week off, New Years' Eve, New Years' Day, and another week off, and Happy Epiphany Day, too!" which didn't roll as smoothly off the tongue as necessary, especially when your lips were frozen and the queue behind you at the hot spiced wine stand was getting longer.
Somehow BOR got it into his pointy head that "Happy Holidays" meant that people were waging a "War on teh Krismasse! Wah! Santa is for reeelz!" and ever since then, when somebody wishes you "Merry Christmas" in the US, it's with a sneer to see if you're offended by it.
I'd advocate putting little badges on these wankers, but they've already taken care of this themselves.
