NationStates Jolt Archive

the English, speak english. The americans, speak english. But the americans dont really speak english now do they. Lets examine:

Elevator:Lift
favorite:favourite
Honor:Honour
Zip Code:Postal code

i can go on but im really getting tired of typing the little colon, i cant find the key without looking down at the keyboard. ANYWAY...what else is different between hardcore english english and american english.

"But the americans dont really speak english now do they."

Some of them do. Some of them speak Spanish. Some French. Some Portuguese. Some aboriginal languages. Some hybrid languages... and so on.

If you mean people from the US, then many of them speak English, but many of them also speak Spanish. They just tend not to know how to pronounce either, nor spell the former.

I think British English sounds weird. It sounds like the person speaking tried to eat a... something slimy and is choking and talking at the same time.

Hmmmm, how come no one gets on the Aussies? They don't sound particularly "English" to me. ;) And many Canadians sound -- wow, just like us Americans.

The Brits are just jealous that we dumped extraneous "u"s and streamlined the language a bit.

And George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" does bemoan the fact that the English don't teach their children how to speak their own language properly -- in fact, in "My Fair Lady" (the musical version) there's a whole song on it!

http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/whycantt.htm

(Yes yes, I know that in America they haven't spoken it for years.... ;) )

ANYWAY...what else is different between hardcore english english and american english.

Not much.. I've read several novels by authors I didn't realize were British until I looked up a biography.. none of those books were about elevators, but I think it's proof enough that the difference is small.

And George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" does bemoan the fact that the English don't teach their children how to speak their own language properly...

...who was Irish ironically enough.

;) The song does say that the Scots and the Irish leave you close to tears. ;)

pants : trousers
underwear : pants

I don't really want to know how this misunderstanding happened but in the interest of erotica I do (I had to look at postal code to know which side was British!)

Pirate English FTW

That's 'cos we actually speak luxembourgish when your backs are turned.

What's all this aboot?

Even though I am American, I am aware of the differences in spelling such as colour and favour, as well as how we often substitute z for s, and so on and so on. I just don't use it because we're taught to use "American" spelling and grammar and it's become mere habit.

I also know that offering to "knock you up" has a completely different meaning. While perfectly harmless elsewhere, saying that here could get you slapped.

Nevermind the amount of slang terminology that we've managed to use so often that even our dictionaries now include the words.

Fo shizzle.

...who was Irish ironically enough.
How is that ironic.

Edit: ?

Forgot me punctuation.

Even though I am American, I am aware of the differences in spelling such as colour and favour, as well as how we often substitute z for s, and so on and so on. I just don't use it because we're taught to use "American" spelling and grammar and it's become mere habit.

I also know that offering to "knock you up" has a completely different meaning. While perfectly harmless elsewhere, saying that here could get you slapped.

Nevermind the amount of slang terminology that we've managed to use so often that even our dictionaries now include the words.

Fo shizzle.

LOL you should have seen the reaction when my colleague (from the land of Oz) asked for a rubber in my department office. Everyone else's jaws dropped, and I handed her an eraser.

the English, speak english. The americans, speak english. But the americans dont really speak english now do they. Lets examine:

Elevator:Lift
favorite:favourite
Honor:Honour
Zip Code:Postal code


Of course you are speaking english, I can understand you and you can understand me. You just have a different dialect is all. But if you want to go ahead and claim that you are not in fact speaking english then that's fine with me. Americans. :rolleyes:

Whoa! Americans speak a dialect of english with spelling variations! So what? It's not like if I write "favor" a Canadian will have no idea what I mean. And if I see "centre" written by a New Zealander, it's not like I'll be unable to understand. So we use different terms for items? It's understandible that words would be different, we've been separated by the Atlantic for nigh four hundred years! Things are bound to be different. Look at the difference between Parisian french and Québecois french; Castillian spanish and Mexican spanish. It's what happens when the speakers of languages are seperated for long periods of time. It doesn't mean that we speak different languages (mutual understanding of meaning and whatnot), nor does it mean that the variation of English spoken in England is "truer" than other variations.

LOL you should have seen the reaction when my colleague (from the land of Oz) asked for a rubber in my department office. Everyone else's jaws dropped, and I handed her an eraser.


rofl..that' woulda made my day. :D

How is that ironic.

Edit: ?

Forgot me punctuation.
If you look at the lyrics in Kat's link you'll see why it was ironic that an Irishman would be telling an Englishman how to speak English properly.

As an American who's lived in England, it became very apparent that the English and their former colonies are, as they say, "Divided by a common language." Examples abound.

US: Fries / English: Chips

US: Chips / English: Crisps

US: Schedule (pronounced Sked-ule) / English: Schedule (pronounced Shed-ule)

US: Aluminum / English: Aluminium

US: Dynasty (pronounced Die-nasty) / English: Dynasty (pronounced Din-esty)

US: Center / English: Centre

US: Crackers / English: Biscuits

US: Gas / English: Petrol

US: Fag (meaning a homosexual) / English: Fag (meaning a cigarette)

Oh boy, could I go on...

This is all besides the point of extra u's hanging about the place in "English" English.

I'm almost amazed we can understand each other at all! :-D

LOL you should have seen the reaction when my colleague (from the land of Oz) asked for a rubber in my department office. Everyone else's jaws dropped, and I handed her an eraser.


I could see how entertaining that must have been. I'm sure the facial expressions were priceless! :D

the English, speak english. The americans, speak english. But the americans dont really speak english now do they. Lets examine:

Elevator:Lift
favorite:favourite
Honor:Honour
Zip Code:Postal code

i can go on but im really getting tired of typing the little colon, i cant find the key without looking down at the keyboard. ANYWAY...what else is different between hardcore english english and american english.

either i am having a serious case of de ja vou.( however you spell it.) or someone else posted this word for word in another forum. which is scary. give me a few minutes.

American English, as it's called, is a hybrid language that begins with 17th Century English and has promptly incorporated bits and pieces of other languages at its own leisure. It is not a regulated language, and changes and evolves to fit the times. It has produced the two most recognized words in the world (OK and Coca-Cola), and some very notable literature. It is very much a functioning, evolving language, which is likely to pick up many Mexican Spanish attributes in the near future.

Don't you americans learn about dialects in school? Oh well.

If what the OP says is true then many english people including myself don't speak english. Not everyone speaks standard english here, there are many different regional dialects. I don't go around insisting that I'm speaking mancunian not english, even though we use some words that people in other parts of the country don't understand. People would just think I'm daft if I did that.

Oh, its definitely the same language, no question. But there's some significant drift which can cause some confusion.

Was worse for me - the examples I posted are generic, but when I went to live in England I went from the mid-atlantic US's fairly "bland" Americanized english directly to North Yorkshire!

Talk about language shock! I didn't even have the chance to TRY and figure out Cockney rhyming slang first... Jeez...

the English, speak english. The americans, speak english. But the americans dont really speak english now do they. Lets examine:

Elevator:Lift
favorite:favourite
Honor:Honour
Zip Code:Postal code

i can go on but im really getting tired of typing the little colon, i cant find the key without looking down at the keyboard. ANYWAY...what else is different between hardcore english english and american english.

Nxt time can u 5p34k in English plz wen postin, k?

Definition of irony:
A British dyslexic person using "l33t" and "txt speak" to mock a poster who makes a thread insulting American English, when the orginal poster fails to use proper grammar or spelling.

The British, speak a composite language that's evolved over several decades - with most of the common words having been made up by a play-write. The Americans, speak a version of this composite language, with most of their words being made up by Republicans (some of them Presidents) who couldn't spell. Let's examine:

Elevator - Lift
Favorite - Favourite
Honor - Honour
Zip Code - Postal code

I could go on but I'm really getting tired of typing a very poor attempt at grammar, I can't type without looking down at the keyboard. Anyway, what else is different between the Orginal/Standard/British version of the language and the additions and changes made as the language evovles in the most powerful nation in the word.

"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and riffle [sic] their pockets for new vocabulary." - James D. Nichol

I found this quite amusing, and true.

As an American who's lived in England, it became very apparent that the English and their former colonies are, as they say, "Divided by a common language." Examples abound.

Those colonies being the US, as opposed to nearly every other "English" colony, which mostly use Commonwealth (British) English?

US: Fag (meaning a homosexual) / English: Fag (meaning a cigarette)


Both meanings exist and are widely used in British English.

I am Canadian, and I personally prefer British English and tend to use it more often than the average Canadian. Canadian is pretty similar to American, except for the extra u's in certain words.

Those colonies being the US, as opposed to nearly every other "English" colony, which mostly use Commonwealth (British) English?

Point taken.

Yes, the former 13 black-sheep colonies that became this obscure little nation called the United States of America, who had to be so different as to mangle the language, versus the other colonies. They all have modified the language to some degree, but the US seems to have done it more than the others.

I think it has something to do with all the non-english immigrants we've had. It's still English, mostly... but it's a bit of a red-headed stepchild I suppose - the language that is.

S'ok though - works for me.

America is divided in to 3 groups of languages English proper new england mid west and west cost Spanish english South west west and some of the west cost. Southren english south east. Americans all speak english their are acents were ever you go. Take swis they barly speak german but its the same language. Example Old english even from shakspere day its changed alot.

Over all I like Big ben.

America is divided in to 3 groups of languages English proper new england mid west and west cost Spanish english South west west and some of the west cost. Southren english south east. Americans all speak english their are acents were ever you go. Take swis they barly speak german but its the same language. Example Old english even from shakspere day its changed alot.

Over all I like Big ben.
Soch, you really need to learn how to use the comma.

I do wish that the US English speakers would learn that adverbs exist in English. These are those strange words that mostly end in -ly, and modify verbs.

Nothing goes 'real' fast, whatever it is, if it is quick, it goes really fast.

Got it?

Also, it didn't happen Tuesday. It happened on Tuesday. The other version makes no sense and hurts my head every time I see/hear it.

And it's couldn't care less. Could care less means you have some interest, which is generally the opposite of what you want to say.

That is all.

"But the americans dont really speak english now do they."

Some of them do. Some of them speak Spanish. Some French. Some Portuguese. Some aboriginal languages. Some hybrid languages... and so on.

If you mean people from the US, then many of them speak English, but many of them also speak Spanish. They just tend not to know how to pronounce either, nor spell the former.

You are the most irritaing pedant on the planet. You do know that don't you?

Hmmmm, how come no one gets on the Aussies? They don't sound particularly "English" to me. ;) And many Canadians sound -- wow, just like us Americans.

The Brits are just jealous that we dumped extraneous "u"s and streamlined the language a bit.

And George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" does bemoan the fact that the English don't teach their children how to speak their own language properly -- in fact, in "My Fair Lady" (the musical version) there's a whole song on it!

http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/whycantt.htm

(Yes yes, I know that in America they haven't spoken it for years.... ;) )
Dang, I wanted to quote the song! :p

And it's couldn't care less. Could care less means you have some interest, which is generally the opposite of what you want to say.


That one bothers me, too. Whenever I hear someone say "I could care less." I answer "Really? Because I couldn't." It pisses people off, but it's worth it. :D

Also, it didn't happen Tuesday. It happened on Tuesday. The other version makes no sense and hurts my head every time I see/hear it.

And it's couldn't care less. Could care less means you have some interest, which is generally the opposite of what you want to say.

That is all.

'Write me' is annoying also.

Mind you, people in the UK seem inordinately fond of just dropping the definite article when it suits them, so they are no better.

I must confess the adverb issue bloody irritates me, but not to the extent of the word "Guesstimate".

I must confess the adverb issue bloody irritates me, but not to the extent of the word "Guesstimate".

Yes, but that's hardly just americans now, is it?

Yes, but that's hardly just americans now, is it?

To an extent, yes. The Australians, omitting the comic expressions, actually have a passable grasp of the language.

To an extent, yes. The Australians, omitting the comic expressions, actually have a passable grasp of the language.

From the little I've seen of eastenders, that's hardly true in respect of adverbs.

Oh yeah. And I can't stand it when english people use 'due to' when they mean 'owing to'. That's annoying too.

Oh yeah. And I can't stand it when english people use 'due to' when they mean 'owing to'. That's annoying too.

Even though that's the correct meaning of the phrase?

I find it amusing that even contemporary terminology is also different. For example, I once bought a repair manual for a project car I was working on, and it was written in King's English. I had to decipher

England: Bonnet = US: Hood
England: Wings = US: Fenders

Etc.

I wonder why that is? The two cultures broke apart long before cars were invented.

Oh, big deal.
I mix the "two english" all the time then.
It's two different dialects, it doesn't mean US english is not english.

European Portuguese and Brazillian Portuguese are much more different between each other than US and UK English, and I don't go around saying Brazillian is not Portuguese. It's just a different dialect.

I find it amusing that even contemporary terminology is also different. For example, I once bought a repair manual for a project car I was working on, and it was written in King's English. I had to decipher

England: Bonnet = US: Hood
England: Wings = US: Fenders

Etc.

I wonder why that is? The two cultures broke apart long before cars were invented.

I have never, ever heard of fenders before. I knew you crazy yanks called bonnets a "hood", but fenders! Wow, that is crazy :p

Even though that's the correct meaning of the phrase?

What do you mean correct meaning of the phrase? 'Due to' and 'owing to' are not interchangeable you know.

Americans generally avoid this by just saying because of - which is always right.

I have never, ever heard of fenders before. I knew you crazy yanks called bonnets a "hood", but fenders! Wow, that is crazy :p

It's too bad I don't remember any more examples off the top of my head... I bet they'd be even better ;)

What do you mean correct meaning of the phrase? 'Due to' and 'owing to' are not interchangeable you know.

Sure they are. In many contexts, both "due" and "owe/d/ing" have pretty much the same meaning. Words can have more than one meaning, you know.

"The motorway is closed due to an accident this morning."

"The motorway is closed owing to an accident this morning."


"A long due promotion."

"A long owed promotion."


"£25 is still due"

"£25 is still owed"

Americans generally avoid this by just saying because of - which is always right.

"Because of" also works in one meaning.

"The motorway is closed because of an accident this morning."

It wouldn't work for any of the other examples above.

I have never, ever heard of fenders before. I knew you crazy yanks called bonnets a "hood", but fenders! Wow, that is crazy :p

Gudgeon pin is the bizarre Brit automotive term that I laugh at every time I read it. What exactly is a gudgeon?

and i never understood the whole fag=cigarette thing....

Sure they are. In many contexts, both "due" and "owe" have the same meaning.

"The motorway is closed due to an accident this morning."

"The motorway is closed owing to an accident this morning."


"A long due promotion."

"A long owed promotion."


"£25 is still due"

"£25 is still owed"



"Because of" also works.

"The motorway is closed because of an accident this morning."

'Due to' and 'owing to' are compounds. They are different.

The train was cancelled due to work on the track. Incorrect.

The train was cancelled owing to work on the track. Correct.

The cancellation of the train was due to work on the track. Correct.

Don't you ever watch Inspector Morse?

Gudgeon pin is the bizarre Brit automotive term that I laugh at every time I read it. What exactly is a gudgeon?

I don't imagine you read it very often, and even when you do it would be clear what the meaning is.

Moreover, it's a term used worldwide to describe the part.

A gudgeon pin is what holds the piston head to the conrod. In all internal combustion engines.

"Because of" also works in one meaning.

"The motorway is closed because of an accident this morning."

It wouldn't work for any of the other examples above.

And I'm pretty sure in the USA a Motorway is known as a "Freeway!"

'Due to' and 'owing to' are compounds. They are different.

The train was cancelled due to work on the track. Incorrect.

The train was cancelled owing to work on the track. Correct.

The cancellation of the train was due to work on the track. Correct.

Don't you ever watch Inspector Morse?

All three cited there are correct.

And I'm pretty sure in the USA a Motorway is known as a "Freeway!"

Yup, but that's neither here nor there.

I don't imagine you read it very often, and even when you do it would be clear what the meaning is.

Moreover, it's a term used worldwide to describe the part.

A gudgeon pin is what holds the piston head to the conrod. In all internal combustion engines.

More examples, then. That means:

UK:Conrod = US:Connecting Rod (Obvious, I know, but we NEVER use the term "conrod" here.)
UK:Gudgeon Pin = US:Wrist Pin

More examples, then. That means:

UK:Conrod = US:Connecting Rod (Obvious, I know, but we NEVER use the term "conrod" here.)

Connecting Rod is also used extensively, conrod is just a 'short hand' version for ease of use.

UK:Gudgeon Pin = US:Wrist Pin

Fair enough.

I just found one out!

UK Grill = US Broil

Connecting Rod is also used extensively, conrod is just a 'short hand' version for ease of use.


Wow... I would have thought, with us Americans being as fond as we are of shortened terms and abbreviations, would have adopted that term. Maybe in machine shops where they're referred to all the time... I dunno. As a former mechanic I never heard it, but then, I didn't work in a machine shop.

All three cited there are correct.

Teh style manual disagrees.

I don't imagine you read it very often, and even when you do it would be clear what the meaning is.

Moreover, it's a term used worldwide to describe the part.

A gudgeon pin is what holds the piston head to the conrod. In all internal combustion engines.


I know what a gudgeon pin is. It is a wrist pin. It is not a term that is used worldwide. Unless the world only consists of those parts you are accustomed to.

Now back to what I actually asked, what is a gudgeon? Not a gudgeon pin, a gudgon.

And while we are busily correcting eachother not all internal combustion engines even have pistons therefore not all internal combustion engines have wrist pins. Of those that do have pistons not all of those pistons have wrist pins. Look up Malcolm Beare's six stroke engine if you doubt me. He sold the rights to it to Sir Jack Brabham last I heard.

Teh style manual disagrees.

The what now?

I know what a gudgeon pin is. It is a wrist pin. It is not a term that is used worldwide. Unless the world only consists of those parts you are accustomed to.

Well, if by "not worldwide" you mean nearly every English speaking place other than the US, but also including some in the US, then it's not worldwide.

Now back to what I actually asked, what is a gudgeon? Not a gudgeon pin, a gudgon.

A device that allows for pivoting (Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gudgeon))

(It's also a fish)

What would be the American term for it?

I don't know if these have already been posted, apologies if they have

UK Pavement = US Sidewalk
UK Road = US Pavement
UK Bath = US Tub
UK Tap = US Fawcet
UK Wing = US Fender

the English, speak english. The americans, speak english. But the americans dont really speak english now do they. Lets examine:

Elevator:Lift
favorite:favourite
Honor:Honour
Zip Code:Postal code

i can go on but im really getting tired of typing the little colon, i cant find the key without looking down at the keyboard. ANYWAY...what else is different between hardcore english english and american english.

Kind of reminds me of what one of our greatest, Battlefield Generals of all time once said.

"The British and Americans are Two people sepperated by a common language."

A poet, leader, and ardent Tyrant (Nazi's and Soviets) slayer, what more could you ask for in a man.

Kind of reminds me of what one of our greatest, Battlefield Generals of all time once said.

"The British and Americans are Two people sepperated by a common language."

A poet, leader, and ardent Tyrant (Nazi's and Soviets) slayer, what more could you ask for in a man.


England and America are two countries separated by a common language.
--George Bernard Shaw

Who was an Englishman and NOT an American General

I don't know if these have already been posted, apologies if they have

UK Pavement = US Sidewalk
UK Road = US Pavement
UK Bath = US Tub
UK Tap = US Fawcet
UK Wing = US Fender

I'd like to make a couple corrections, if I may.

Over here, we use road. The word Pavement is typically used to refer to the material that makes up the road surface. Bath is also used, but generally in the context of describing a house. "It's a 2 bedroom, 2 bath rambler..." So, it' sshort for "bathroom" which I believe the English refer to as the "loo."

Ironically, we say faucet but what comes out of it is tapwater ;)

And while we are busily correcting eachother not all internal combustion engines even have pistons therefore not all internal combustion engines have wrist pins. Of those that do have pistons not all of those pistons have wrist pins. Look up Malcolm Beare's six stroke engine if you doubt me. He sold the rights to it to Sir Jack Brabham last I heard.

Fair point, that was brain-sleep from me. For a non-piston internal combustion engine there's the Wankel Rotary.

Well, if by "not worldwide" you mean nearly every English speaking place other than the US, but also including some in the US, then it's not worldwide.

Yes that would not be worldwide, would it?


What would be the American term for it?

Wrist pin.

Wrist pin.

Very good.

Now back to what I actually asked, what is the American term for a gudgeon? Not a gudgeon pin, a gudgeon.

The what now?

The Oxford Guide to Style. It's not online tho'.

Here's what the what the Economist Style Guide (http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=673903) has to say on the matter:


Due to: when used to mean caused by, it must follow a noun, as in The cancellation, due to rain, of... Do not write It was cancelled due to rain. If you mean because of and for some reason are reluctant to say it, you probably want owing to. It was cancelled owing to rain is all right.

Clearly not interchangeable. (Though I disagree with that formulation too).

My preference is this (http://informationr.net/ir/StyleManual.html):


[G]rammarians debate the proper use of due to almost without end. The simplest solution is generally to use owing to, or more simply, because of, unless you are absolutely sure that due to is correct. Try replacing due to with caused by or attributable to - if the sentence then reads clumsily or fails to make sense, replace due to with because.

Which is similar to the rule given in the Oxford Guide to Style. And since it is in the Oxford Guide to Style, it is of course 100% correct. :p

Here is one that the UK is much better and more aptly descriptive with.

US= lane splitting or lane sharing UK= filtering

Very good.

Now back to what I actually asked, what is the American term for a gudgeon? Not a gudgeon pin, a gudgeon.

What you actually asked is "What would be the American term for it"

That would be the pronoun "it".

England and America are two countries separated by a common language.
--George Bernard Shaw

Who was an Englishman and NOT an American General

Was he from IrelandEngland?

What you actually asked is "What would be the American term for it"

That would be the pronoun "it".

I'm wondering that myself... if a Gudgeon Pin connects a connecting rod to a piston head, and in the USA we call it a wrist pin but otherwise it's all the same, what the heck is a gudgeon and what would an American call it?

Or is it like "cotter pin" where there's no such thing as a "cotter?"

The Oxford Guide to Style. It's not online tho'.

Here's what the what the Economist Style Guide (http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=673903) has to say on the matter:



Clearly not interchangeable. (Though I disagree with that formulation too).

My preference is this (http://informationr.net/ir/StyleManual.html):



Which is similar to the rule given in the Oxford Guide to Style. And since it is in the Oxford Guide to Style, it is of course 100% correct. :p

Well, considering that there is no official English language guide unlike, say, French, I'm going to continue using due to, because it makes perfectly fine grammatical sense. And, hey, if I say it's right, it must be ;)

My main argument for it is that it doesn't not make sense, if you know what I mean. I would say that both are acceptable.

I'm wondering that myself... if a Gudgeon Pin connects a connecting rod to a piston head, and in the USA we call it a wrist pin but otherwise it's all the same, what the heck is a gudgeon and what would an American call it?

Or is it like "cotter pin" where there's no such thing as a "cotter?"

They are also known as Carter pins and there used to be Carters

They are also known as Carter pins and there used to be Carters

Really? What's a carter?

What you actually asked is "What would be the American term for it"

That would be the pronoun "it".

And you know fine rightly that "it" in that case was used, as is perfectly acceptable, to refer back to "gludgeon"

I'm wondering that myself... if a Gudgeon Pin connects a connecting rod to a piston head, and in the USA we call it a wrist pin but otherwise it's all the same, what the heck is a gudgeon and what would an American call it?



I think that the hook part of a pintle and hook hitch might also be a gudgeon.

Really? What's a carter?

A vaguely incompetent President, if you take one view.

And you know fine rightly that "it" in that case was used, as is perfectly acceptable, to refer back to "gludgeon"


See the above post. And yes I know perfectly well you meant gludgeon...errr...I mean gudgeon.

See the above post. And yes I know perfectly well you meant gludgeon...errr...I mean gudgeon.

Damn...wondering fingers....

A vaguely incompetent President, if you take one view.

I wouldn't say "vaguely" :D

Really? What's a carter?

One who builds or repairs wheeled carriages like wagons or carts.

One who builds or repairs wheeled carriages like wagons or carts.

Thank you.

I bet "cotter pin" is a mispronunciation for "carter pin"

we're famous for that in this part of the country :D

My main argument for it is that it doesn't not make sense, if you know what I mean. I would say that both are acceptable.

Heh. Fair enough. Common usage and all that. :)

One who builds or repairs wheeled carriages like wagons or carts.

No. That's a wainwright. A carter is someone who drives the carts.

No. That's a wainwright. A carter is someone who drives the carts.

OK my bad.

No. That's a wainwright. A carter is someone who drives the carts.

Thank you too

All in favor of chasing Portugeuse down a back alley, beating it up and stealing various words from it's pockets say 'Aye!'

saying Americans don't speak English is like saying Mexicans don't speak Spanish. This whole conversation is stupid, because even all the people in England don't have the same accent. Like, have any of you ever seen Harry Potter? Because if you have, you'd know.

saying Americans don't speak English is like saying Mexicans don't speak Spanish. This whole conversation is stupid, because even all the people in England don't have the same accent. Like, have any of you ever seen Harry Potter? Because if you have, you'd know.

Ok guys you heard it, time to shut down the thread.

Or wait... maybe, just maybe, we're having fun in this conversation. Maybe, just maybe, if someone were to actually READ the thread, that someone would see that the conversation is a lighthearted discussion of the difference in dialect on either side of the Atlantic.

Nah, that can't be it.

:p

Ok guys you heard it, time to shut down the thread.

Or wait... maybe, just maybe, we're having fun in this conversation. Maybe, just maybe, if someone were to actually READ the thread, that someone would see that the conversation is a lighthearted discussion of the difference in dialect on either side of the Atlantic.

Nah, that can't be it.

:p

I dunno...it could be. I mean, we make fun of English people for their weird accents, but I think it's time for a little change. Let's go tease the french for their weird ideas of hygiene.

I dunno...it could be. I mean, we make fun of English people for their weird accents, but I think it's time for a little change. Let's go tease the french for their weird ideas of hygiene.

Nah I think the reason I've enjoyed this thread so much is that nobody is really making fun of anyone else. We're just having fun talking about the differences. True, one or two people started getting a little mean, but that passed quick. Not at all like the usual thread in this forum!

Nah I think the reason I've enjoyed this thread so much is that nobody is really making fun of anyone else. We're just having fun talking about the differences. True, one or two people started getting a little mean, but that passed quick. Not at all like the usual thread in this forum!

Oh wait.. I mean quickly!

hee hee hee Am I a stereotype or what?

Dang, I wanted to quote the song! :p

:p I got there first!

I find it amusing that even contemporary terminology is also different. For example, I once bought a repair manual for a project car I was working on, and it was written in King's English. I had to decipher

England: Bonnet = US: Hood
England: Wings = US: Fenders

Etc.

I wonder why that is? The two cultures broke apart long before cars were invented.

Precisely. The two cultures separated, and so developed different terms for the same concepts.

It's too bad I don't remember any more examples off the top of my head... I bet they'd be even better ;)

Trucks (US) and Lorries (UK).

US landfill/dump, UK tip

US:Brits talk funny
UK: Mate, you're pants
US: Did you just tell me to screw my jeans?
UK:Shag your genes?
US: No shag's my carpet

Trucks (US) and Lorries (UK).

I always liked lorry. I wish we would use it here.

Elevator:LiftElevators were invented in the US. Ergo, the US version would be the correct version if we were so close-minded as to say there could only be one common word or phrase within a single language to refer to any one object.
favorite:favouriteYou don't pronounce the U, there is no need for it. Americans changed that shortly after the revolution to distance ourselves from the Brits, as well as increase literacy.
Honor:Honoursee above
Zip Code:Postal codeWhile both have the same purpose, they are different systems, and not interchangeable...For example, if I sent a letter to someone in England with "02215", there isn't even a location it COULD go to, let alone would. Also, the US now has the ZIP+4, making the systems even more independent.
i can go on but im really getting tired of typing the little colon, i cant find the key without looking down at the keyboard. ANYWAY...what else is different between hardcore english english and american english.Neither is right, neither is wrong. To say one "is" English, and the other "isn't based off of where they are spoken is rediculous.

A good example is Nappy vs. Diaper. Diaper originated in the UK. It was replaced by Nappy. Diaper is still the common term in the US.

There is a lot of difference between the dialects, but they're still English, both of them. Neither is more or less correct than the other- the US and UK broke off centuries ago, and spellings changed, different terms were made up for new concepts.

However, ebonics (BS such as "bling bling" or "fo sho")... that's not English.

There is a lot of difference between the dialects, but they're still English, both of them. Neither is more or less correct than the other- the US and UK broke off centuries ago, and spellings changed, different terms were made up for new concepts.

However, ebonics (BS such as "bling bling" or "fo sho")... that's not English.

Seconded.

Fo shizzle, mah nizzle.

Fo shizzle, mah nizzle.

OMGizzle!

That shizzle is fizzle my gizzle, yo!

Not that I know what I just said... :p

But my friend says "OMGizzle" sometimes, and his friend Ian talks like that only when he's joking around.

But as I said, it's not English, it's gibberish crap.

OMGizzle!

That shizzle is fizzle my gizzle, yo!

Not that I know what I just said... :p

But my friend says "OMGizzle" sometimes, and his friend Ian talks like that only when he's joking around.

But as I said, it's not English, it's gibberish crap.

And for those who were unable to understand at least 50% of your post, there is always this little gem:

http://wzus.ask.com/r?t=p&d=up&s=iw&c=a&l=dir&o=10361&sv=0a300511&ip=d8d2d452&id=F1A728202D2615532353C73319D86B42&q=ebonics+dictionary&p=1&qs=223&ac=3&g=1b144T86UpFoCa&en=te&io=4&ep=&eo=&b=alg&bc=&br=&tp=d&ec=10&pt=English%20to%20Ebonics%20Translator&ex=&url=&u=http://www.billism.com/eng_to_ebon_trans.html

Which translated this:"My house is on the hill where coyotes run wild."
Into this:"My crib be on da hill wheea coyotes run wild. - aww yea foo."

All in favor of chasing Portugeuse down a back alley, beating it up and stealing various words from it's pockets say 'Aye!'

Nós já fizemos. : Veranda, flamingo, banana, saudade (It is in the OED), caipirinha, forro - to name a few.

OMGizzle!

That shizzle is fizzle my gizzle, yo!

Not that I know what I just said... :p

But my friend says "OMGizzle" sometimes, and his friend Ian talks like that only when he's joking around.

But as I said, it's not English, it's gibberish crap.

She said, "I whole heartedly concur with you my african american brother." Or thereabouts.

Though born and raised in the US, I went to New Zealand for university (don’t ask why, I don’t know). You have no idea how much confusion there was – we may both be speaking English, but were not talking the same language.

Some of this is NZ specific, but most applies to the UK as well.

‘Score’ I hit on my very first weekend down there – I took quite a different meaning when some girls were chatting and one said “I scored two random guys last night”. In NZ apparently it just means to snog, while in the US it means you had sex. I was very disappointed.

The whole definition of fanny was interesting – took a little while for that one to come out, we were sending mixed signals for a couple weeks. I’m not going to begin to explain, but it was embarrassing. Someone mentioned the pants/trousers pants/underwear thing earlier, and that complicated things even more.

I met a girl at a party, went to visit her a couple days later, ya know…
Didn’t see her after that but ran into the guy who threw the party about a month later and he tells me “I heard you knocked up [insert her name here]”.
To an American, this little phrase scares the piss out of us because it means to get her pregnant – when it just meant to pay her a visit, as in knocking on her door.

I could go on all night like this but will move on to something a little more innocent:

US apartment = UK flat
US jello = UK jelly
US cookie = UK biscuit
US biscuit = UK … never figured that one out.
Same with pudding… the best way I could figure out how to describe an American pudding is that it is kind of like custard (it is nothing like custard) or maybe the cream of a banana crème pie could be called banana pudding. UK puddings tend to be more like… very moist cake.

Car terms:
US cars have hoods, fenders, trunks, and drink gas,
UK cars have bonnets, wings, boots, and drink petrol.
And they drive on the wrong side of the road ;)



I dunno...it could be. I mean, we make fun of English people for their weird accents, but I think it's time for a little change. Let's go tease the french for their weird ideas of hygiene.

I heard the funniest thing a while back on... I think it was NPR (national public radio) but I might be mistaken. This guy was being interviewed on the proposal of a national sales tax and talking about various pros and cons.

He made a comment about making sure there is not one single second between implementing the national sales tax and the abolition of income tax or the politicians might like that kind of money coming in and never get around to abolishing the income tax. This happened in France so they have such a high tax burden, which “is why they can’t afford to buy soap”

His delivery was perfect because he just added a jab about French hygiene without a moment’s thought. As soon as he said it there was a few moments of silence, then he said “did I just say that on the radio?”

Anyway, laughed my ass off.

'Due to' and 'owing to' are compounds. They are different.

The train was cancelled due to work on the track. Incorrect.

The train was cancelled owing to work on the track. Correct.

The cancellation of the train was due to work on the track. Correct.

Don't you ever watch Inspector Morse?

One of the cool things about languages is that they are dynamic:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv56.shtml

I have never, ever heard of fenders before. I knew you crazy yanks called bonnets a "hood", but fenders! Wow, that is crazy :p

try New Zealand then. personaly, i'd never heard of them being called "wings". they're "bumpers" here, for the most part. though you do have wing mirrors. [the rearview mirrors on the sides of the car]

allso bonnet, boot, indicator [i'm sure i've seen that called something else somewhere] all sorts of odds and ends like that.

mostly i find the american english a bit odd, but every now and then british english really throws me a curve. i mean, Wings? good grief.

edit: oh, and forget pavement and sidewalk, in NZ it's a footpath, mate :)
[we also don't say "mate" anything like as much as any steriotypical thing trys to make out]... says it all, really. it's the path for foot trafic. doesn't even need to be paved or beside a road.

Be very careful if you ask to 'bum a fag' in America........no one will give you a cigarette

heh. that eubonics translaton apparantly can't handle very 'proper', if possibly poorly spelled, english very well. evidance:

This is your originial text:

i wonder where my mother is? she seems to have vacated the premises some time ago for reasons non apparant.


This your text translated into ebonics:

i wonder wheea muh mother is? she seems ta gots vacated da premises some time ago fo reasons non apparant.
- aww yea foo.

yeah.. that's just pathetic. hehe

You know what I hate? Linguo-fascists. People who make me add ly to my adverbs when I'm perfectly cool without them. Or who can't stand my guesstimates. What's up with that? People who weird language are a-ok in my book. I don't need your gosh-darned rules to pretend I'm intelligent.

As for Ebonics or AAVE (African American Vernacular English), it sure as hell is a proper language. It has a grammar (a real one not those rules that they teach you in books that don't mean anything) just like Irish English, or New England English, or any other dialect you can come up with.

Hey, how come nobody told me there was a language thread on? *pouts*

Anyway ... word: Cell phone, US; mobile, Aus; is it mobile phone in the UK?

word: "thongs" in Australia are things you wear on your feet. If Omigodtheykilledkenny's RPs are accurate, in the US you wear thongs elsewhere.

Oddity: Australian English has been accused of "infantilising" the mother tongue. Just because we have brekkie, go to Uni, attend a lekkie (well, that's a bit exaggerated -- the "attending" bit, that is), maybe turn up at a tute, perv throughout at a hottie, go buy him/her a pressie ... (this account based on my kids' tales; I never did any such thing).

Oddity: The word "barista" (also "barrista") for a person who specialises in serving coffee supposedly came into English from Italy. But the Italians blame it on English -- the word "bar" -- and the ending "ista", I'm told, comes from ... Spanish? Portuguese? ... via "Sandanista" or "Peronista".

Which brings us to "fashionista"; no it doesn't, because that one's common to all the dialects, isn't it? Innit? Ain't it?

Car terms:
US cars have hoods, fenders, trunks, and drink gas,
UK cars have bonnets, wings, boots, and drink petrol.
And they drive on the wrong side of the road ;)

Can cars have hoods, wings, trunks and drink gas.
We're the original hybrid, eh? ;)

One thing we have to deal with in the US, due to the sheer size of the country, is that dialects can differ here almost as much as they do between US and UK. (Although I have become aware that there are vastly different dialects even within the UK)

Example: I have family in the mountains of West Virginia and this is a phrase I would expect to hear:

Well I'm fixin' to head into town 'afore it gets to rainin'

Translation:

I plan to go into town before it begins to rain.

As for Ebonics or AAVE (African American Vernacular English), it sure as hell is a proper language. It has a grammar (a real one not those rules that they teach you in books that don't mean anything) just like Irish English, or New England English, or any other dialect you can come up with.

No, it isn't. Ebonics is illegitamite (sp?) English. Ebonics has the same grammar structure as real English, but is only used by "gangstas" (which in decent English is "gangsters"), and is generally only prevalent in "gangsta rap". Back in the 1800's blacks used their own dialects, but it's the 21st century now, people. Either speak decent English or speak decent Spanish/French/Portuguese/Chinese/Japanese/Russian/Korean/Italian (or whatever your respective dialect is of that particular language).

There's a difference between dialect, and stupidity.

Hmm. I'm sure a lot of these things have been outlined already in previous posts, but I can't be bothered to read all the posts. I read enough posts to know what I want to say about the whole thing.

The American version of the English language used to really annoy me, because it's so (pointlessly) different, but then I thought about it a bit. You see, they are the same language, just different dialects, so it's just like complaining about a Mancunian (someone from Manchester) saying "That'll learn you" instead of "That'll teach you". Bad example, I know, but it was the only one I could think of.
American English is the language of Americans, who as far as I know (I don't know much about American history; for example, when the settlers arrived in America from England or wherever they came from) originally came from England, and spoke Standard/Original/British English. Language develops over time, and seeing as the New Americans and the British lived on different Islands, the languages must have developed a little while the two cultures were separated. Feel free to correct me, I've never been good at History, so I could very well be wrong about everything I've just said. (If you bothered to read it all :P)
And another thing, English isn't a very pure language at all; with roots in French, Latin, etc.

Now that I've typed all that, I can't remember what my point was. But also, refering to Carterway's post, I believe that you got the different pronunciations of 'Schedule' mixed up. IMO, anyway.
That is all! ...for now.

No, it isn't. Ebonics is illegitamite (sp?) English. Ebonics has the same grammar structure as real English, but is only used by "gangstas" (which in decent English is "gangsters"), and is generally only prevalent in "gangsta rap". Back in the 1800's blacks used their own dialects, but it's the 21st century now, people. Either speak decent English or speak decent Spanish/French/Portuguese/Chinese/Japanese/Russian/Korean/Italian (or whatever your respective dialect is of that particular language).

There's a difference between dialect, and stupidity

I don't think you want to get into this with me. Trust me, it is much more than just illegitimate English. AAVE has a definite grammar and rules that are in fact different from those in regular English. Perhaps you'd actually like to do some research into linguistics before you go spouting off things that are dead wrong. Let me help you.

Here is a link to a book by John Rickford. He's a leading expert in issues of Black English.

Rickford's Book (http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Linguistics/JohnBook.html)

Or perhaps you don't feel like reading a whole book. Here's a web article that explains some concepts relating to Ebonics.

Ebonics Examples (http://www.stanford.edu/~rickford/ebonics/EbonicsExamples.html)

And no Ebonics isn't just spoken by "gangstas". It's spoken by black people throughout America and can even be spoken by non-black people if they have a lot of contact with African American speakers. Amazingly even African American Vernacular English has variations so that what you here in the south is different from what you'll hear in Oakland.

So to dismiss it as illegitimate English just shows that you have no idea what you're talking about.

And to think, former colonies all over the planet speak different dialects. Brazil speaks Brazilian Portugeuse, Mexico speaks Mexican Spanish, Bolivia speaks Bolivian Spanish, South Africa speaks its own weird English-German hybrid language.
Who would have thought that geography can have an impact on culture and language!

OMGizzle!

That shizzle is fizzle my gizzle, yo!

Not that I know what I just said... :p

But my friend says "OMGizzle" sometimes, and his friend Ian talks like that only when he's joking around.

But as I said, it's not English, it's gibberish crap.

Indeed. Which might be the point of an English teacher posting it here.
That, and having to correct papers that have "AOLspeak" in them make my day.

OK ppl b4 u hand ne thing in, spell it rite bcuz Ms K gets rlly mean on that. Str8 up.

Hmm. I'm sure a lot of these things have been outlined already in previous posts, but I can't be bothered to read all the posts. I read enough posts to know what I want to say about the whole thing.

The American version of the English language used to really annoy me, because it's so (pointlessly) different, but then I thought about it a bit. You see, they are the same language, just different dialects, so it's just like complaining about a Mancunian (someone from Manchester) saying "That'll learn you" instead of "That'll teach you". Bad example, I know, but it was the only one I could think of.
American English is the language of Americans, who as far as I know (I don't know much about American history; for example, when the settlers arrived in America from England or wherever they came from) originally came from England, and spoke Standard/Original/British English. Language develops over time, and seeing as the New Americans and the British lived on different Islands, the languages must have developed a little while the two cultures were separated. Feel free to correct me, I've never been good at History, so I could very well be wrong about everything I've just said. (If you bothered to read it all :P)
And another thing, English isn't a very pure language at all; with roots in French, Latin, etc.

Now that I've typed all that, I can't remember what my point was. But also, refering to Carterway's post, I believe that you got the different pronunciations of 'Schedule' mixed up. IMO, anyway.
That is all! ...for now.


Carterway and I are both Americans (and affianced, as it happens) and from different regions of the east coast. We both pronounce the word as "sked-yoo-ull" and most of the Beeb broadcasts I have heard pronounce it as shed-u-ull.

Hey, enough with the "illegitimate" English! English is "illegitimate" only if it fails to convey a message from the speaker to the receiver.

If you're not the intended receiver, you really can't complain if you don't understand it.

Polite English speakers vary their speech according to the hearer, to make sure the message is received.

Impolite English speakers write "mission statements" in business-speak that really represents nothing except a vague gesture in the direction of amiability.

But even this, however bastardised, isn't illegitimate.

I don't think you want to get into this with me. Trust me, it is much more than just illegitimate English. AAVE has a definite grammar and rules that are in fact different from those in regular English. Perhaps you'd actually like to do some research into linguistics before you go spouting off things that are dead wrong. Let me help you.

Here is a link to a book by John Rickford. He's a leading expert in issues of Black English.

Rickford's Book (http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Linguistics/JohnBook.html)

Or perhaps you don't feel like reading a whole book. Here's a web article that explains some concepts relating to Ebonics.

Ebonics Examples (http://www.stanford.edu/~rickford/ebonics/EbonicsExamples.html)

And no Ebonics isn't just spoken by "gangstas". It's spoken by black people throughout America and can even be spoken by non-black people if they have a lot of contact with African American speakers. Amazingly even African American Vernacular English has variations so that what you here in the south is different from what you'll hear in Oakland.

So to dismiss it as illegitimate English just shows that you have no idea what you're talking about.

Oh, forget it, this always happens. Someone misses my point entirely and then I have to correct myself.

"Gangsta talk"? Annoying.
Black English? I don't mind, just clarify please so nobody's confused.

I may have gotten the definition of "ebonics" wrong, because everyone always said it was "gangsta talk".

And now we're uite dangerously close to discussing race.

Oh, forget it, this always happens. Someone misses my point entirely and then I have to correct myself.

"Gangsta talk"? Annoying.
Black English? I don't mind, just clarify please so nobody's confused.

I may have gotten the definition of "ebonics" wrong, because everyone always said it was "gangsta talk".

And now we're uite dangerously close to discussing race.


AAVE: "She BIN had dat han'-made dress" (SE: She's had that hand-made dress for a long time, and still does.)
AAVE: "Befo' you know it, he be done aced de tesses." (SE Before you know it, he will have already aced the tests.)
AAVE: "Ah 'on know what homey be doin." (SE: I don't know what my friend is usually doing.)
AAVE: "Can't nobody tink de way he do." (SE: Nobody can think the way he does.)
AAVE: "I ast Ruf could she bring it ovah to Tom crib." (SE: I asked Ruth if/whether she could bring it over to Tom's place.)

Amazingly even African American Vernacular English has variations so that what you here in the south is different from what you'll hear in Oakland.


I grew up in Oakland and I don't speak that shizzle.

I would argue that while Australia does appear to be an english speaking country on the surface, they are in fact, speaking a completely different launguage, as evidenced by some of the lyrics in Waltzing Matilda, which is a national song of sorts in Australia.

Words of dubious origin are in bold.

Once a jolly swagman camped by a Billabong
Under the shade of a Coolabah tree
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled
"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?"

English speaking country my ass.
:p

I may have gotten the definition of "ebonics" wrong, because everyone always said it was "gangsta talk"

Ummm.... that's certainly not what everyone said. Only people who had no idea what they were talking about. People who actually study and understand language never said any such thing.

Of course it treads to close to issues of race. Ebonics is often used as a way of making black people and other minorities seem stupid. To pretend that it isn't is absurd.

As to Grainne Ni Malley, that's entirely possible. It is quite possible for two or more dialects to share the same geographical space, especially when looking at factors of socioeconomic class, race, age, and so on. Moreover, even people who speak AAVE will often deny they speak it due to the negative stereotypes associated with it. But just because you are from Oakland and claim not to speak it doesn't have any bearing on whether or not it is valid English.

I would argue that while Australia does appear to be an english speaking country on the surface, they are in fact, speaking a completely different launguage, as evidenced by some of the lyrics in Waltzing Matilda, which is a national song of sorts in Australia.

Words of dubious origin are in bold.

Once a jolly swagman camped by a Billabong
Under the shade of a Coolabah tree
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled
"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?"

English speaking country my ass.
:p

what's a donky got to do with it? hehe.

a billy is, if i remember rightly, a kind of tin/pot thing used for cooking over a fire. i don't think it's specificly australian so much as it died in other places, but i could be wrong.

the whole ass/arse thing amuses me. in british english [and, i think, most commonwelth english] the former is a donkey [or was it a horse/donkey hybrid? perhaps that was a mule? whatever] and the latter one's posterier.

in most of england these are apparantly both pronounced the same way, or so i'm told.

in the US, the former is one's rear, and otherwise i'm not sure, but it's pronounced the way most New Zealanders pronounce the donky.

messy, is it not?

NZ: Arse: british spelling, british pronounciation, british meaning.
Ass: british spelling, american pronounciation, british meaning.

well, obviously, they're both pronounced as a Kiwi would say them, not a brit or american, but from a New Zealander's point of view, that's the closest sound.

i used to know what a billabong and a swagman were, but i've gone and forgoten. annoyance in a can.

as for waltzing matilda... the actually meaning of that is some form of slang... very obscure, apparantly. i once found out what it means, but i forget again.

perhaps an Australian would care to enlighten us? :)

Hmmmm, how come no one gets on the Aussies? They don't sound particularly "English" to me. ;) And many Canadians sound -- wow, just like us Americans.
*snip*
Because we rule. Seriously, though Australian english uses mostly American vocabulary, with some british and some unique Australian words, with mostly british spelling, but some American spelling. It's the ultimate comprimise! Further, the accent is neither offensive (American), nor snobby (British). I mean the real accent, not the one you heard from Steve Irwin, and Crocodile Dundee. All Americans and british, start speaking Australian English today! :D

what's a donky got to do with it? hehe.

a billy is, if i remember rightly, a kind of tin/pot thing used for cooking over a fire. i don't think it's specificly australian so much as it died in other places, but i could be wrong.

the whole ass/arse thing amuses me. in british english [and, i think, most commonwelth english] the former is a donkey [or was it a horse/donkey hybrid? perhaps that was a mule? whatever] and the latter one's posterier.

in most of england these are apparantly both pronounced the same way, or so i'm told.

in the US, the former is one's rear, and otherwise i'm not sure, but it's pronounced the way most New Zealanders pronounce the donky.

messy, is it not?

NZ: Arse: british spelling, british pronounciation, british meaning.
Ass: british spelling, american pronounciation, british meaning.

well, obviously, they're both pronounced as a Kiwi would say them, not a brit or american, but from a New Zealander's point of view, that's the closest sound.

i used to know what a billabong and a swagman were, but i've gone and forgoten. annoyance in a can.

as for waltzing matilda... the actually meaning of that is some form of slang... very obscure, apparantly. i once found out what it means, but i forget again.

perhaps an Australian would care to enlighten us? :)
In Australia we say 'arse' because thats what an arse is. An 'ass' is a donkey, and nobody uses that word. Unfortunately due to rife Americanisation, many Aussies spell 'arse' 'ass', however, they still pronounce it 'arse'.

As for waltzing matilda, It is full of archaic Aussie slang, that only Aussies and Bevans/bogans/yobbos use.
Swagman is a Drifter, like a homeless guy who lives in the bush (forest) and wanders with his 'swag' (Backpack with bedroll and camping equipment. They usually have beards, no teeth, and a bad smell.
Billabong A waterhole, usually spring fed. Also a popular surfwear/skatewear brand these days.
Coolabah tree A Eucalyptus tree, a 'gum tree' if you will.
Billy A tin pot used for boiling water over a campfire.
a-waltzing A 'waltz' is a simple two/three step dance. As such, 'a-waltzing' is slang for the present tense verb 'dance', or 'dancing' if you will.

Wiki has a good explanation of Waltzing Matilda.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waltzing_matilda

Carterway and I are both Americans (and affianced, as it happens) ...

Aww, Kat, how nice! Congratulations, Carterway.

(I'd congratulate you, too, Kat, but the custom here is that you don't congratulate the female, since she's done nothing but be her desirable self; you congratulate the male, as he's been successful in winning the attention of this paragon.)

But I actually quoted this to point out another oddity: would "affianced" be part of your spoken vocabulary, Kat, or is it a formal word that you use only when writing? Most English speakers have a writing "dialect", as well.

Which brings me to headline English, the home of non-controversial four-letter (and three-letter) verbs -- urge, flag, bid, rort -- that seldom turn up in spoken English. Anyone have any more? What's the weirdest headline word you know? Any of them American-specific?

What's the weirdest headline you know?


England win the world cup :p

Because we rule. Seriously, though Australian english uses mostly American vocabulary, with some british and some unique Australian words, with mostly british spelling, but some American spelling. It's the ultimate comprimise! Further, the accent is neither offensive (American), nor snobby (British). I mean the real accent, not the one you heard from Steve Irwin, and Crocodile Dundee. All Americans and british, start speaking Australian English today! :D
All British accents snobby! Have you ever heard a chav?

If you mean people from the US, then many of them speak English, but many of them also speak Spanish. They just tend not to know how to pronounce either, nor spell the former.
Some USians in Louisiana even speak French. Or should I say Freedom. err yeah.

Because we rule. Seriously, though Australian english uses mostly American vocabulary, with some british and some unique Australian words, with mostly british spelling, but some American spelling. It's the ultimate comprimise! Further, the accent is neither offensive (American), nor snobby (British). I mean the real accent, not the one you heard from Steve Irwin, and Crocodile Dundee. All Americans and british, start speaking Australian English today! :D


What do you mean, the "real" accent? I've two Australian colleagues -- one was from Adelaide and the other I forget from where, but they sounded different from each other was well.

But I actually quoted this to point out another oddity: would "affianced" be part of your spoken vocabulary, Kat, or is it a formal word that you use only when writing? Most English speakers have a writing "dialect", as well.

It depends on the audience, of course, and on the situation. Normally, I would probably not use affianced in conversation, unless I was trying to be funny since it is rather a formal way to say "we're engaged".

If you were to hear me in my classroom as opposed to with my friends, you'd see me speak differently. To my friends, "Aw, man, you gotta be kiddin me!" would translate in the classroom to an icy, "I don't believe I understood you correctly."

I do tend to write in more formal terms than I actually speak. That comes, I believe, from a lifelong love of reading and writing, and from approximately nine years of college-level writing in the form of various term papers.

What do you mean, the "real" accent? I've two Australian colleagues -- one was from Adelaide and the other I forget from where, but they sounded different from each other was well.

I've got a friend from Adelaide like that. When I first met him, I thought his origins were English, because his Adelaide accent was so different to the average Melbourne accent.

Oh yeah. And I can't stand it when english people use 'due to' when they mean 'owing to'. That's annoying too.
I think you'll find that "due to" and "owing to" actually mean the very same thing, and most people prefer the sound of "due" to "owing".

I do wish that the US English speakers would learn that adverbs exist in English. These are those strange words that mostly end in -ly, and modify verbs.

Nothing goes 'real' fast, whatever it is, if it is quick, it goes really fast.

Got it?
I wish that British English speakers would realize that there's no "f" in "lieutenant".

i've only ever heard "due" used with time that i remember... "due to the ongoing" .. the "ongoing" bit is time, is it not?

on the other hand, "oweing to" generaly seems to be used when dealing with debts of various sorts.

and for any odd bits it tends to be almost random as to which, or if "because of" is used... though it's rare i hear a situation where all three are interchaingable without drasticly altering the obvious meaning of the sentance.

but i'm no expert, really.

Bush to Chirac: "If the Americans hadn't helped the French in 1944 you'd all be speaking German now."
Reply Chirac: "If the French hadn't helped the Americans in 1776 you'd all be speaking English now."

Bush to Chirac: "If the Americans hadn't helped the French in 1944 you'd all be speaking German now."
Reply Chirac: "If the French hadn't helped the Americans in 1776 you'd all be speaking English now."

Chirac had it wrong. American English would have been around anyways, regardless of whether the French had helped or not.

I noticed that in the UK, there are a wide variety of dialects, accents, and idioms.

Depending on age, city or neighborhood of origin, and a lot of other factors. I didn't hear what I call the classic "English" accent more than a handful of times. And speaking in "The King's English" seems to be an anachronism.

Chirac had it wrong. American English would have been around anyways, regardless of whether the French had helped or not.
Yeah, but that's not exactly what Chirac meant. I'm sure there are six or seven threads out there better than this for debating that point.

I wish that British English speakers would realize that there's no "f" in "lieutenant".
Clearly, an "ieu" makes and "ef" sound.

Clearly, an "ieu" makes and "ef" sound.
Clearly. :p

I wish that British English speakers would realize that there's no "f" in "lieutenant".

That and some accents throw extra "r"s into things. What I think happened is the people who moved to New England left all of their "r"s in England and now they have a huge surplus they need to use up.

That and some accents throw extra "r"s into things. What I think happened is the people who moved to New England left all of their "r"s in England and now they have a huge surplus they need to use up.
Oh , but I thought all the extra "r"s were in places like Oklahoma so people could warsh their clothes?

Oh , but I thought all the extra "r"s were in places like Oklahoma so people could warsh their clothes?

LOL! You know far too much about US dialects. Have you ever visited here?

Oh , but I thought all the extra "r"s were in places like Oklahoma so people could warsh their clothes?

Ah yes, I forgot about that. I haven't been out of state for a couple of years other than Canada. So the New England "no r" effect spread the "r"s much further than I thought....

LOL! You know far too much about US dialects. Have you ever visited here? Yes. Never been to Oklahoma though. Heard tell about that "r" thing on another forum.

Ah yes, I forgot about that. I haven't been out of state for a couple of years other than Canada. So the New England "no r" effect spread the "r"s much further than I thought....
Oh, don't worry, it was probably just one single family of settlers who took some "r"s West with them. But you know how cold and lonely those nights on the prairie can get...

Ah yes, I forgot about that. I haven't been out of state for a couple of years other than Canada. So the New England "no r" effect spread the "r"s much further than I thought....

I live in New England now and call it the land of the 25-and-1/2-letter alphabet. They don't know how to use the "r" here. They drop it off in words like "car" but tack it onto the end of words like "idea." Bugs the hell outta me.

Yes. Never been to Oklahoma though. Heard tell about that "r" thing on another forum.

Heard tell? Sweet jeebus! You've got a bit of southern US in your English. :eek:

I live in New England now and call it the land of the 25-and-1/2-letter alphabet. They don't know how to use the "r" here. They drop it off in words like "car" but tack it onto the end of words like "idea." Bugs the hell outta me.

Every time I hear a video of JFK saying "Cuber" it drives me nuts.

edit: He's trying to say "Cuba" if you didn't know.

Heard tell? Sweet jeebus! You've got a bit of southern US in your English. :eek: 'Sif I'd be able to tell. *shrugs* As long as I don't start saying "y'all" I'm safe in my book.

'Sif I'd be able to tell. *shrugs* As long as I don't start saying "y'all" I'm safe in my book.

Nothing wrong with "y'all." It's even in the OED now. ;)

Nothing wrong with "y'all." It's even in the OED now. ;)
Y'all sounds much better than 'youse', or however they pronounce up north.

Y'all sounds much better than 'youse', or however they pronounce in north.

Ugh, that's a terrible pervserion of the language that they mostly use in the Philly/NYC area.

Oh , but I thought all the extra "r"s were in places like Oklahoma so people could warsh their clothes?
Same thing in Iowa, where they also pronounce "orange" as "oinge". Add an r in a word, take it out of another...

Ugh, that's a terrible pervserion of the language that they mostly use in the Philly/NYC area.

And Northern Ireland....funny that...

Not much.. I've read several novels by authors I didn't realize were British until I looked up a biography.. none of those books were about elevators, but I think it's proof enough that the difference is small.

have you? am i the only person who thinks the amount of good literature from the UK is disproportionate to our tiny population?? Americans just can't compete with us Brits!

And speaking in "The King's English" seems to be an anachronism.

its been the Queens english for 54 years now, nice to see your up to date :)

And Northern Ireland....funny that...
Most of Ireland really. Some places use ye(rhymes with Wii) as a plural of you.

'Sif I'd be able to tell. *shrugs* As long as I don't start saying "y'all" I'm safe in my book.

Warsh yer mouth out!
Y'all doan know whatcher missin'

have you? am i the only person who thinks the amount of good literature from the UK is disproportionate to our tiny population?? Americans just can't compete with us Brits!


the bulk of your good literature, came before the north american continent even existed in your knowledge. So, natuarally america would lag behind, considering that the country is only 230 years old as compared to englands....what is it now around 1000

I've got a friend from Adelaide like that. When I first met him, I thought his origins were English, because his Adelaide accent was so different to the average Melbourne accent.

You know those small, red party sausages? I've heard them called "cheerios" in slap-happy Queensland and "mini-franks" in solid, practical New South Wales, but in Adelaide they call them "little boys".

A friend from Adelaide told me there was a plural-possessive apostrophe on the 's'.

One of the cool things about languages is that they are dynamic:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv56.shtml

I love you! :-)

This point is too rarely brought up in these discussions. English is evolving, and people shouldn't be so quick to correct some of their "mistakes." A good example is the pronunciation of "often." A lot of people have told me that they grew up saying "offen" (a perfectly valid pronunciation,) but started saying the "t" because they thought they weren't saying it right. The same goes for splitting infinitives and ending sentences with prepositions (which are both contrived "rules.") Sometimes, to avoid ambiguïty, you've got to do it!

As a side note, I've heard that the development of our two-word infinitives ("to sing," which came from the old English "singan," one word) came into being through a process similar to what is occurring with the phrase "she was (all) like," meaning "she said." They're both nonsensical expressions, but the first one succeeded such a long time ago that we don't think of it as such anymore.

That and some accents throw extra "r"s into things. What I think happened is the people who moved to New England left all of their "r"s in England and now they have a huge surplus they need to use up.

The New English (if I may use that term) use linking "r"s, too! I go to college in Rhode Island, and I hear people talking about "Flahrider" and "Philadelphier" all the time, even when the extra "r" doesn't link to anything!

I'm in New Mexico and I speak American-Spanish. I roll double-r's and pronounce 'LL' 'y'.

Canadian English is a blend of "American" spelling and "British" spelling. So basically I'm not gunna be penalized for writing "favorite colour" on a university paper, or saying "Let me check my shed-ule, I have an appointment to eat fries with my, mate!" Its allll good here in Canada.

Clearly, an "ieu" makes and "ef" sound.

i belive one lot [be it britsh, american, or one of the comonwelth nations] actualy Spell it "leftenant"

of course, i could be wrong.

heh. i notice this: the british spell something differently from how it's pronounced. then the american spelling is different, bringing it into line with the british pronounciation...

and then they change the pronounciation... at least in one or two instances to something that matches the british spelling :confused:

one thing that bugs me, and i've got no idea why: the american pronounciation of "bouy"

if one applys normal spelling and pronounciation rules to it, the u simply makes the o say "o" so it should be "b O E"

now, that's awkward, so most people say "boy", shortening all the sounds to something easy to say.

american pronounciation somehow makes it say "B-oo-ee" *shudders* i don't even want to know... it's almost as awkward to say, and Sounds daft too.

at least to me *shrugs*

colour. bah! who needs the letter u in color?

colour. bah! who needs the letter u in color?


realiseing that the removal of the U frees up the second O to affect the first O with the end result being pronounced [if one followed the rules] "cO-lah" rather than "Cul-er"... if you look at it, anyway.

i'm not 100% sure the U is why that doesn't happen anyway, but it would seem to be :D

What do you mean, the "real" accent? I've two Australian colleagues -- one was from Adelaide and the other I forget from where, but they sounded different from each other was well.
Really? It wouldn't have been a regional thing. There is virtually no difference at all between the Australian accent from tasmania (Way down south) and northern Queensland (Way up north) or Exmouth (Way to the west). Regionally there are a few tiny things (Like victorians don't put the tops and bottoms on their 'p', 'b', and 'd's'. Or some of the words used, mainly insults and slang), but there is really no distinguishable difference amongst regional Australian accents. We don't have the US/UK thing where each distric has it's own accent/dialect. That being said, there are differences in Australian accents, but that usually has more to do with your ethnic/socio-economic background. Rich Australians speak differnetly to poor Australians, and Lebanese-Australians speak differently to Aboriginal Australians. The only other difference I can think of is that people speak somewhat slower if they are from the country, or old (Or both).

So when it comes to Australians, it is still one broad accent, with a few slight spins on it according to your ethnic background, and wealth/education. Only the very remote/ very poor speak the 'trashy' Australian that foriegners seem to love.

i belive one lot [be it britsh, american, or one of the comonwelth nations] actualy Spell it "leftenant"

of course, i could be wrong.
No, we spell it lieutenant. We just pronounce it "leftenant".

I can't spell anyway. It doesn't effect me.

Fuck, I don't even know if that was supposed to be "affect" or not.

I can't spell anyway. It doesn't effect me.

Fuck, I don't even know if that was supposed to be "affect" or not.
nope. effect is right. affect is emotive (my affect is happy), effect deals with something that is caused, as in a drug having an effect on pain

nope. effect is right. affect is emotive (my affect is happy), effect deals with something that is caused, as in a drug having an effect on pain
So, seeing as how I speak like a normal human being, I shouldn’t ever have a reason to use “affect.” Got ya.

Cockney Blood!!
You scored 71% LONDONER!!!!
...Maybe it's because your a Londoner, that you love London Town!!... well your not really, but you got close links. Border counties or southerner anyway. You got London in ya Blood. Any lower score and it would have been Barry White (Shite).
http://is2.okcupid.com/users/112/208/11220872356724406000/mt1121554219.jpg
My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 36% on Londoner


If you liked my test, send it to your friends!
The Can you speak London Slang Test
http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=7375684826361410382

There was an American test too, i'll see if i can find it.:)

we've been separated by the Atlantic for nigh four hundred years! Things are bound to be different.
Right here I see a problem.

No human being who casually uses the word nigh can be considered representative of the American population. ;)

No, we spell it lieutenant. We just pronounce it "leftenant".
Does that mean that you also pronounce "lieu" as "lef"?

http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=7375684826361410382


London Laugher!!
You scored 42% LONDONER!!!!

99% of that was blind guessing. Especially that extremely bizarre last couple of pages.

Cockney Love
You scored 83% LONDONER!!!!
Just slightly off the top marks, your from London but not fully in touch with this terminology. Just missed out, got maybe 3 or 4 wrong. but what do you care you live here, hey!! Or you are from outside London or even outside U.K, IF so you did bloody great.You would be highly skilled at picking up the local terms.


Southerners talk daft anyway, and cockneys worse than most.

nope. effect is right. affect is emotive (my affect is happy), effect deals with something that is caused, as in a drug having an effect on pain

You're confusing the nouns and the verbs. To AFFECT something or someone is to have an EFFECT on that thing or person. To EFFECT something means to make happen. Your definitions of the NOUNS affect and effect are valid, but the VERBS are completely different.

Example sentences:

Verbs:
The news of her father's death did not affect her in the slightest.
The government worked hard to effect new changes.

Nouns:
The patients showed perfectly normal affects.
Her opponent's scathing attacks on her character did not have any effect on her composure.

You're confusing the nouns and the verbs. To AFFECT something or someone is to have an EFFECT on that thing or person. To EFFECT something means to make happen. Your definitions of the NOUNS affect and effect are valid, but the VERBS are completely different.

Example sentences:

Verbs:
The news of her father's death did not affect her in the slightest.
The government worked hard to effect new changes.

Nouns:
The patients showed perfectly normal affects.
Her opponent's scathing attacks on her character did not have any effect on her composure.
Actually, I was just giving the most common usage for each.

London Laugher!!
You scored 42% LONDONER!!!!

99% of that was blind guessing. Especially that extremely bizarre last couple of pages.
Yeah i had the same problem with the last few pages.
I found the American test yesterday but it seems to have disappeared from my web history.:mad: :(

one thing that bugs me, and i've got no idea why: the american pronounciation of "bouy"

if one applys normal spelling and pronounciation rules to it, the u simply makes the o say "o" so it should be "b O E"

now, that's awkward, so most people say "boy", shortening all the sounds to something easy to say.

american pronounciation somehow makes it say "B-oo-ee" *shudders* i don't even want to know... it's almost as awkward to say, and Sounds daft too.

at least to me *shrugs*

Probably because we spell it buoy.

Probably because we spell it buoy.

meh, for all i know, so do we. i suck at spelling... but that's how i'd have spelled it from either pronounciation, so *shrugs*