When did aeroplane become airplane?
Mar 7th 2005, 2:30 am
#31
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by ImHere
Why dont we all just walk? 
Mar 7th 2005, 2:41 am
#32
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by Jenney & Mark
I don't understand why so many people are surprised that English in the US is spelled and pronounced differently than it is in Britain, or that the vocabulary is different. I mean, seriously, they are two different countries separated by an ocean.
Language is fluid, flexible. It will change and adapt over time and distance. Even though I am a native US citizen, there are times when I've heard other native US citizens talk, who are from other parts of the country (especially those from the deep, DEEP south) and I can't understand them to save my life. So what?
The same holds true for other languages as well. I remember years ago befriending a couple from Argentina while on a cruise. I was living in Chile at the time, and since my Spanish was better than their English, we conversed in Spanish. During one conversation, I mentioned that I like to collect t-shirts from the countries I travel to. When I told them that I had lots of t-shirts -- "tengo muchas poleras" -- their eyes got very wide and their mouths dropped open.
With very confused looks on their faces, they asked me to repeat myself, and I said "Tengo muchas poleras... erm, camisetas" -- and upon hearing me say camisetas they looked a bit relieved and started laughing. It turned out that while polera means "t-shirt" in Chile, in Argentina polera means "a slit throat"!! Does that mean that Chilean Spanish is better than Argentine Spanish, or vice versa? No -- it just means their dialects are different.
Same goes for American vs British English. To me, lorry will always, first and foremost, be a girl's name -- not a truck. To you, hearing someone use the word pants to describe the trousers they're wearing sounds odd. YOU may think American English sounds strange, just like WE think your British English sounds strange, but it doesn't mean one is better than the other.
~ Jenney
Language is fluid, flexible. It will change and adapt over time and distance. Even though I am a native US citizen, there are times when I've heard other native US citizens talk, who are from other parts of the country (especially those from the deep, DEEP south) and I can't understand them to save my life. So what?
The same holds true for other languages as well. I remember years ago befriending a couple from Argentina while on a cruise. I was living in Chile at the time, and since my Spanish was better than their English, we conversed in Spanish. During one conversation, I mentioned that I like to collect t-shirts from the countries I travel to. When I told them that I had lots of t-shirts -- "tengo muchas poleras" -- their eyes got very wide and their mouths dropped open.
With very confused looks on their faces, they asked me to repeat myself, and I said "Tengo muchas poleras... erm, camisetas" -- and upon hearing me say camisetas they looked a bit relieved and started laughing. It turned out that while polera means "t-shirt" in Chile, in Argentina polera means "a slit throat"!! Does that mean that Chilean Spanish is better than Argentine Spanish, or vice versa? No -- it just means their dialects are different.
Same goes for American vs British English. To me, lorry will always, first and foremost, be a girl's name -- not a truck. To you, hearing someone use the word pants to describe the trousers they're wearing sounds odd. YOU may think American English sounds strange, just like WE think your British English sounds strange, but it doesn't mean one is better than the other.
~ Jenney
Mar 7th 2005, 2:50 am
#33
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by Yorkieabroad
My 3 year old son had a speech assessment recently at his school - they were showing him pictures and he had to put words to them. When they got to a sandwich with a jar of PB and a jar of strawberry "stuff" next to it, I was just about to jump in and explain that we was about to say something they wouldn't understand, when he came out with "Peanut butter and jelly sandwich". I had NEVER heard him say that - seems he uses Jam at home when he's in an English speaking environment and Jelly at school when he's in an american-english speaking environment. I was kinda proud that he could make the distinction, although it did bring it home to me that if we stay here long enough, eventually he's gonna start saying "y'all" :scared:
scares the shit out of me as well, my 2 year old son described his nappy as a diaper the other day, I have never used that expression...no idea where he heard it
Mar 7th 2005, 2:51 am
#34
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by Yorkieabroad
My 3 year old son had a speech assessment recently at his school - they were showing him pictures and he had to put words to them. When they got to a sandwich with a jar of PB and a jar of strawberry "stuff" next to it, I was just about to jump in and explain that we was about to say something they wouldn't understand, when he came out with "Peanut butter and jelly sandwich". I had NEVER heard him say that - seems he uses Jam at home when he's in an English speaking environment and Jelly at school when he's in an american-english speaking environment. I was kinda proud that he could make the distinction, although it did bring it home to me that if we stay here long enough, eventually he's gonna start saying "y'all" :scared:
My 10 yr old put COLOUR in a spelling test and got marked down. She then proceeded to have a fairly hefty argument with the teacher that she had spelt it correctly. Eventually he let her have the mark as she is English. LOL.
Shes already started coming out with the Americanisms and we've only been here 3 months.
Mar 7th 2005, 2:55 am
#35
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by ImHere
My 10 yr old put COLOUR in a spelling test and got marked down. She then proceeded to have a fairly hefty argument with the teacher that she had spelt it correctly. Eventually he let her have the mark as she is English. LOL.
Mar 7th 2005, 2:58 am
#36
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by woodsey
scares the shit out of me as well, my 2 year old son described his nappy as a diaper the other day, I have never used that expression...no idea where he heard it
Mar 7th 2005, 3:02 am
#37
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by Yorkieabroad
Get mighty wet feet on the way back to blighty.....
Mar 7th 2005, 3:04 am
#38
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by ImHere
My 10 yr old put COLOUR in a spelling test and got marked down. She then proceeded to have a fairly hefty argument with the teacher that she had spelt it correctly. Eventually he let her have the mark as she is English. LOL.
Shes already started coming out with the Americanisms and we've only been here 3 months.
Shes already started coming out with the Americanisms and we've only been here 3 months.
Don't worry, we have to put up with the Californications ....
Mar 7th 2005, 3:15 am
#39
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Ohh shes not a shy one when it comes to making her point about something 
I did read that right....Im still wondering about the true meaning though
Originally Posted by snowbunny
Don't worry, we have to put up with the Californications ....
Mar 7th 2005, 3:22 am
#40
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by ImHere
I did read that right....Im still wondering about the true meaning though
Pondering the true meaning of something? You've already been Californicated!
Mar 7th 2005, 3:22 am
#41
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by snowbunny
Television adverts? I'm continually surprised by what my 5 year old picks up (good and bad) from telly.
Mar 7th 2005, 3:44 am
#42
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by snowbunny
Pondering the true meaning of something? You've already been Californicated!
LOL eek! now im scaredificated
Mar 7th 2005, 4:02 am
#43
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by Yorkieabroad
My 3 year old son had a speech assessment recently at his school - <snip>
a preserve made with whole fruit = jam / conserve
a preserve made with juice but no whole fruit = jelly
a preserve made with juice but no whole fruit = jelly
Mar 7th 2005, 4:08 am
#44
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by AdobePinon
But isn't the usage the same in both the UK and the US. That is:
a preserve made with whole fruit = jam / conserve
a preserve made with juice but no whole fruit = jelly
a preserve made with juice but no whole fruit = jelly
I think you'll find jelly, in the UK at least, is more something made with hot water and sugar plus a load of artifical colourings and flavours...normally shovelled down kids throats in abundance with cream at parties.
Jam, on the other hand, is a pleasant spread to be put on a slice of toast and smeared all over the furniture.
Mar 7th 2005, 4:13 am
#45
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Re: When did aeroplane become airplane?
Originally Posted by AdobePinon
But isn't the usage the same in both the UK and the US. That is:
a preserve made with whole fruit = jam / conserve
a preserve made with juice but no whole fruit = jelly
a preserve made with juice but no whole fruit = jelly
What the jelly and ice cream contingent in the UK are enjoying we would call Jello -- a packet of flavouring and gelatin mixed with hot water and chilled to set into a wobbly mass, as the previous poster mentioned.
I do not think a distinction is made over there as to whether a jam contains whole fruit or pieces of fruit, or is made from juice. The thickening of the original mixture is accomplished by cooking it down, rather than with gelatin. Of course, then there's marmalade....
Last edited by snowbunny; Mar 7th 2005 at 4:16 am.