Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
May 12th 2006, 2:45 am
#76
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Location: Stepford
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Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
Originally Posted by Elvira
I am sorry but I just CANNOT say it! My mouth and tongue cannot do it! Been here 5 years and I doubt I'll ever get to grips with "wadder".
Anyone else or is it just me?
Anyone else or is it just me?
May 12th 2006, 3:05 am
#77
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Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
Originally Posted by jumping doris
I can't say it either although it is still early days. Sometimes I think it would be easier but I would feel so stupid if they still didn't understand!
May 12th 2006, 10:41 am
#78
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Location: Hawaii
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Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
I can't say water with the 'd' sound either, I tried sounding it out just now and my hubby is laughing at me LOL
These days I occasionally forget I sound different to the people I talk to often, and one person pointed out the way I said a certain company name the other day, I said it again and then she said it, and I couldn't hear the difference, I feel like Fez on 'That 70's Show' ... "I'm no hearing the difference" LOL
Another word that causes problems is coffee. My kids love it when we go through the drive through. One day I was trying to order coffee with my food and the conversation went something like this:
"Can I have a burger, regular fries and a coffee please"
"Burger and regular fries, yes, ma'am would you like a drink with that?"
"yes coffee please"
...... long pause.....
"Was that a coke?"
"no coffee"
"Sorry ma'am could you repeat that?"
"COFFEE"
"what type of soda is that?"
"It's coffee"
"sorry ma'am we don't sell that would you like anything else?"
"I just want a coffeeeee" by this time my kids are rolling in the back of the van with tears streaming down their faces!
"oh, sorry yes ma'am please pull up to the next window"
I pull up to next window, get my order and check it, no drink but a chocolate sundae! lol
Now my daughter orders the drink for me and calls out "cawwfeee".
I walk around muttering 'caawwfee' to myself, and 'coffee', and can't for the life of my understand why it is so hard to understand! I thought only New Yorkers said it like that!
These days I occasionally forget I sound different to the people I talk to often, and one person pointed out the way I said a certain company name the other day, I said it again and then she said it, and I couldn't hear the difference, I feel like Fez on 'That 70's Show' ... "I'm no hearing the difference" LOL
Another word that causes problems is coffee. My kids love it when we go through the drive through. One day I was trying to order coffee with my food and the conversation went something like this:
"Can I have a burger, regular fries and a coffee please"
"Burger and regular fries, yes, ma'am would you like a drink with that?"
"yes coffee please"
...... long pause.....
"Was that a coke?"
"no coffee"
"Sorry ma'am could you repeat that?"
"COFFEE"
"what type of soda is that?"
"It's coffee"
"sorry ma'am we don't sell that would you like anything else?"
"I just want a coffeeeee" by this time my kids are rolling in the back of the van with tears streaming down their faces!
"oh, sorry yes ma'am please pull up to the next window"
I pull up to next window, get my order and check it, no drink but a chocolate sundae! lol
Now my daughter orders the drink for me and calls out "cawwfeee".
I walk around muttering 'caawwfee' to myself, and 'coffee', and can't for the life of my understand why it is so hard to understand! I thought only New Yorkers said it like that!
May 12th 2006, 11:28 am
#79
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 103
Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
There are a few words that always get me - which are said differently over there, i say them "The British way" and get laughed at! lol
The dont have mobile phones - they have cell phones - and besides, its not "Mobile" - its "Moble" - apparrently the "I" is silent??
"Here at the scooter store, we'll make you moble"
I had to do some lighting connections on my partners caravan (ooops i mean trailer
) and wanted to get a soldering iron from the local hardware store - the guy looked dumbstruck - "You want a soldering iron" - he has a bemused look on his face - "yes, the thing that you make electrical connections with - it gets very hot and you use flux with it" - "Ohhhhhhhhhh, you want a sodder iron" - I do?? It turnes out that the "L" in the middle of the word is silent too! lol
Really friendly people though - and i can't wait to join them
The dont have mobile phones - they have cell phones - and besides, its not "Mobile" - its "Moble" - apparrently the "I" is silent??
"Here at the scooter store, we'll make you moble"
I had to do some lighting connections on my partners caravan (ooops i mean trailer
) and wanted to get a soldering iron from the local hardware store - the guy looked dumbstruck - "You want a soldering iron" - he has a bemused look on his face - "yes, the thing that you make electrical connections with - it gets very hot and you use flux with it" - "Ohhhhhhhhhh, you want a sodder iron" - I do?? It turnes out that the "L" in the middle of the word is silent too! lol Really friendly people though - and i can't wait to join them
May 12th 2006, 1:19 pm
#80
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Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
Originally Posted by Chrisw1968
The dont have mobile phones - they have cell phones - and besides, its not "Mobile" - its "Moble" - apparrently the "I" is silent??
in American English, that "i" in mobile isn't truly silent but is short, and the second syllable tends to collapse. "Missile" is similar; but nearly every other -ile word has a long "i" -- crocodile, tile, bile. Try reminding people of that. Ask them if they remember what "cell" is short for.
May 12th 2006, 1:28 pm
#81
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Posts: 103
Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
Originally Posted by snowbunny
How do you pronounce 'solder'? (curious)
in American English, that "i" in mobile isn't truly silent but is short, and the second syllable tends to collapse. "Missile" is similar; but nearly every other -ile word has a long "i" -- crocodile, tile, bile. Try reminding people of that. Ask them if they remember what "cell" is short for.
in American English, that "i" in mobile isn't truly silent but is short, and the second syllable tends to collapse. "Missile" is similar; but nearly every other -ile word has a long "i" -- crocodile, tile, bile. Try reminding people of that. Ask them if they remember what "cell" is short for.
We pronounce Solder - exactly as its spelled sol-der - good point about the Long I words tho - ill remind a few people of that! lol
May 12th 2006, 1:32 pm
#82
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Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
Originally Posted by Chrisw1968
We pronounce Solder - exactly as its spelled sol-der - good point about the Long I words tho - ill remind a few people of that! lol
May 12th 2006, 2:03 pm
#83
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Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
Originally Posted by snowbunny
with a short or long "o" -- I'm guessing short like parasol rather than long like soldier.
May 12th 2006, 5:54 pm
#84
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Location: Stepford
Posts: 3,098
Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
Re...cawfeee. Everytime I order a mocha for my daughter we have the same thing. I say mokka, they say mowcar. They ask me to repeat myself, still they don't understand, sometimes they are rude , sometimes they just tell me they don't sell them (in Starbucks?!!!!) What's my daughter doing at this point.....laughing like a drain. BUT if I make her order her own, she pronounces it the same way as I do and they understand her. It must be my cut glass accent
May 14th 2006, 1:53 pm
#85
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Location: Baltimore, USA
Posts: 526
Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
Originally Posted by Smaug
Hey,
Background: I'm British, and I moved from the UK to the US last year to marry and live with my (US Citizen) wife.
I'd like to hear from others about how they handle differences in spelling/pronunciation of words, and grammar of sentences.
With informal conversion and Internet chat when talking to Americans, I use English spellings, (but American date format) and so on. I use 'American-English' spellings when I'm writing formal communication such as documentation, or emails to those that do not know I am British.
Recently I used the word 'colour' in informal chat and received this reply:
'and color is spelled color...not colour'
.. and this conversation drew me into somewhat of a battle between 'When in Rome do as the Romans do' and my English Heritage, which I'm proud of.
I'd like to hear how other non-American English-speaking/spelling choose which Dictionary to spell from, and how they 'defend' their decision to use whichever spelling in a work environment?
And if I'm told to change my spelling, should I put on a fake 'American' accent too?
-----
On another note, I'm also uncomfortable at the beginning of sports events(and events like these) where the crowd is expected to stand and sing the US National Anthem. For those that aren't US Citizens - do you stand? Sing?
Currently I choose to stand out of respect, but I don't sing (I don't actually know the words, just the tune).
-----
I guess I am still in the 'adjusting' phase that many other British Expats are in. Most people here that know me can understand what I say, but they like to make a joke when they have to 'translate' my English to American-English to others (At restaurants, on conference calls, in business meetings) and it is becoming frustrating, and making me want to talk less.
Smaug
Background: I'm British, and I moved from the UK to the US last year to marry and live with my (US Citizen) wife.
I'd like to hear from others about how they handle differences in spelling/pronunciation of words, and grammar of sentences.
With informal conversion and Internet chat when talking to Americans, I use English spellings, (but American date format) and so on. I use 'American-English' spellings when I'm writing formal communication such as documentation, or emails to those that do not know I am British.
Recently I used the word 'colour' in informal chat and received this reply:
'and color is spelled color...not colour'
.. and this conversation drew me into somewhat of a battle between 'When in Rome do as the Romans do' and my English Heritage, which I'm proud of.
I'd like to hear how other non-American English-speaking/spelling choose which Dictionary to spell from, and how they 'defend' their decision to use whichever spelling in a work environment?
And if I'm told to change my spelling, should I put on a fake 'American' accent too?
-----
On another note, I'm also uncomfortable at the beginning of sports events(and events like these) where the crowd is expected to stand and sing the US National Anthem. For those that aren't US Citizens - do you stand? Sing?
Currently I choose to stand out of respect, but I don't sing (I don't actually know the words, just the tune).
-----
I guess I am still in the 'adjusting' phase that many other British Expats are in. Most people here that know me can understand what I say, but they like to make a joke when they have to 'translate' my English to American-English to others (At restaurants, on conference calls, in business meetings) and it is becoming frustrating, and making me want to talk less.
Smaug
Good luck!
May 14th 2006, 3:44 pm
#86
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Posts: 2,289
Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
Originally Posted by jumping doris
Re...cawfeee. Everytime I order a mocha for my daughter we have the same thing. I say mokka, they say mowcar. They ask me to repeat myself, still they don't understand, sometimes they are rude , sometimes they just tell me they don't sell them (in Starbucks?!!!!) What's my daughter doing at this point.....laughing like a drain. BUT if I make her order her own, she pronounces it the same way as I do and they understand her. It must be my cut glass accent
"American" I said
"what? I can't hear you" he said
"American" I said a bit louder
"what?" he said
"American" I said even louder
"Mocha?
" he said!!!LOL
May 14th 2006, 3:58 pm
#87
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Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
Originally Posted by simongb
...I was actually proud of being a US citizen! The head of the then INS in Baltimore said, 'You can get German citizenship, but you'll never really be German, or French citizenship, but you'll never really be French, but in the US when you get citizenship you really are American!' (or something like that, I thought that was a really good thing to say and true too).
Personally I have never understood this concept of being proud to be American, British, Chinese or whatever...
May 14th 2006, 5:14 pm
#88
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Posts: 853
Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
Originally Posted by Elvira
I think what this guy said was (a) presumptious - how does he know? and (b) total bollocks.
Personally I have never understood this concept of being proud to be American, British, Chinese or whatever...
Personally I have never understood this concept of being proud to be American, British, Chinese or whatever...
Way to go Elvira!!! I couldn't agree more. How can you be proud of an accident of birth? You can be grateful, but not proud! Personally I'm grateful to be British. I cannot say "wahder" and have difficulty making my fingers type color and recognize or skeptic- the most I've managed so far is to type: colour/color etc - LOL!
In the great scheme of things, does any of this truly matter? I think not.
As Noel Coward once said in that wonderfully lethargic posh British accent
"Everything matters.....but nothing matters terribly."
May 14th 2006, 5:23 pm
#89
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Posts: 23,181
Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
Originally Posted by Dimsie
Way to go Elvira!!! I couldn't agree more. How can you be proud of an accident of birth? You can be grateful, but not proud! Personally I'm grateful to be British. I cannot say "wahder" and have difficulty making my fingers type color and recognize or skeptic- the most I've managed so far is to type: colour/color etc - LOL!
In the great scheme of things, does any of this truly matter? I think not.
As Noel Coward once said in that wonderfully lethargic posh British accent
"Everything matters.....but nothing matters terribly."
In the great scheme of things, does any of this truly matter? I think not.
As Noel Coward once said in that wonderfully lethargic posh British accent
"Everything matters.....but nothing matters terribly."
May 15th 2006, 2:39 am
#90
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Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Stepford
Posts: 3,098
Re: Spelling of words across the pond, National Anthem, Adjusting
Originally Posted by ladyofthelake
That's funny! Yesterday I was in Subway, and the guy asked what cheese I wanted. "American, Provalone or Swiss?"
"American" I said
"what? I can't hear you" he said
"American" I said a bit louder
"what?" he said
"American" I said even louder
"Mocha? " he said!!!
LOL
"American" I said
"what? I can't hear you" he said
"American" I said a bit louder
"what?" he said
"American" I said even louder
"Mocha?
" he said!!!LOL