Fellow Brits, do you find yourself doing this?
Jan 1st 2013, 8:34 pm
#61
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: Fellow Brits, do you find yourself doing this?
I have never been in the States but have been exposed to "International English" and work with people from the US/Canada. I often find myself using American expressions. Language is fluid and changes - expesially with the new electronic media.
Jan 2nd 2013, 2:13 am
#62
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 1,204
Re: Fellow Brits, do you find yourself doing this?
Me too, they were funny and I 'tuned' in to see what they were up to. I was a bit worried about Ethel for a while, I know he got a bit carried away, but don't we all. I think this was a good support network fir him, hope he's alright
Jan 2nd 2013, 4:04 pm
#63
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Fellow Brits, do you find yourself doing this?
Will miss the new blood both of them brought.
Jan 3rd 2013, 5:24 am
#64
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2012
Location: Austin, Tx (From Northern Ireland)
Posts: 37
Re: Fellow Brits, do you find yourself doing this?
I'm a little disappointed with how quickly I adapted to US English. Not only in speech, but also spelling. I guess it's a good thing as far as integrating goes, but I feel like I lost a part of 'me'.
Jan 27th 2013, 6:19 pm
#65
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 129
Re: Fellow Brits, do you find yourself doing this?
I first used the term 'go on then' when my fiancee asked if I wanted a cup of tea..... I then had to explain that it was short for 'go on then I would love a cuppa'.....'What's a cuppa?' she asked....that's short for a 'cup of tea' ....she is learning!
Jan 27th 2013, 6:34 pm
#66
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,847
Re: Fellow Brits, do you find yourself doing this?
Add in a random letter 'u' wherever you feel one is needed.
Remember that it is aluminIum.
And if there is an opportunity for adding 1 or 2 letters at the end of any word, letters that wouldn't change the pronunciation, then add them - e.g. 'me' on the end of 'program'.
Lastly, when pronouncing anything, just read it out carefully, so you say 'carAmel' instead of 'carmel' for the sugar-based yummy stuff, and 'GraHAM' for the chap's name, not 'gram'.
Good luck!
Jan 28th 2013, 1:30 am
#68
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: Fellow Brits, do you find yourself doing this?
It's quite easy to get back in the swing of things really...
Add in a random letter 'u' wherever you feel one is needed.
Remember that it is aluminIum.
And if there is an opportunity for adding 1 or 2 letters at the end of any word, letters that wouldn't change the pronunciation, then add them - e.g. 'me' on the end of 'program'.
Lastly, when pronouncing anything, just read it out carefully, so you say 'carAmel' instead of 'carmel' for the sugar-based yummy stuff, and 'GraHAM' for the chap's name, not 'gram'.
Good luck!
Add in a random letter 'u' wherever you feel one is needed.
Remember that it is aluminIum.
And if there is an opportunity for adding 1 or 2 letters at the end of any word, letters that wouldn't change the pronunciation, then add them - e.g. 'me' on the end of 'program'.
Lastly, when pronouncing anything, just read it out carefully, so you say 'carAmel' instead of 'carmel' for the sugar-based yummy stuff, and 'GraHAM' for the chap's name, not 'gram'.
Good luck!
Jan 28th 2013, 1:47 am
#69
Life goes on.
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 23,661
Re: Fellow Brits, do you find yourself doing this?
I don't know what all the fuss is about. If I'm writing business emails or letters, I use US spellings, of course. Away from work, my spelling is UK English.
Spoken word, I'll use British pronunciation - aluminium, tomaaato, etc. As for other random words, it depends who I'm talking to - US family and friends, "gas", UK family and friends, "petrol". I don't find it difficult switching between the two.
Spoken word, I'll use British pronunciation - aluminium, tomaaato, etc. As for other random words, it depends who I'm talking to - US family and friends, "gas", UK family and friends, "petrol". I don't find it difficult switching between the two.
Jan 28th 2013, 2:20 am
#71
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 129
Re: Fellow Brits, do you find yourself doing this?
Like in Gram Parsons?
Jan 28th 2013, 11:53 am
#72
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,847
Re: Fellow Brits, do you find yourself doing this?
I don't know what all the fuss is about. If I'm writing business emails or letters, I use US spellings, of course. Away from work, my spelling is UK English.
Spoken word, I'll use British pronunciation - aluminium, tomaaato, etc. As for other random words, it depends who I'm talking to - US family and friends, "gas", UK family and friends, "petrol". I don't find it difficult switching between the two.
Spoken word, I'll use British pronunciation - aluminium, tomaaato, etc. As for other random words, it depends who I'm talking to - US family and friends, "gas", UK family and friends, "petrol". I don't find it difficult switching between the two.
Jan 28th 2013, 1:07 pm
#73
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Jan 28th 2013, 1:19 pm
#74
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: CT
Posts: 33,495
Re: Fellow Brits, do you find yourself doing this?
Craig is another one I hear (on the radio) *mispronounced every day. it took me a few days to even figure out what he was actually saying.
* Not pronounced the way I would know it which, obviously, would be the correct way.
