People using "Americanisms"

[Pearcey3]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

I'll give an example:

"I'm looking forward to the new season of Line of Duty..."

Hate it. It’s ****ing series.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

One I've noticed creeping in recently, is to say 'two times' instead of 'twice'. As in "I watched City two times last week". Why is that? It's easier to say twice, surely?

But what about 'thrice'?

[splott parker]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

The season thing irks me, there’s only four seasons and they’re nothing to do with Frankie Valli either. I sometimes picture myself behind the counter or bar when someone says ‘Can I get?’, I’d love to reply ‘Course you can, it’s over there’. My daughter in law said to my granddaughter the other day, ‘Ask Bampy if he wants a cookie’, I didn’t hang about to see if it was a biscuit she was on about, mind you isn’t biscuit French?

[jon1959]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

I have noticed a lot of Australianisms creeping into use in the past few years too - although they don't wind me up as much as the text speak and Americanisms that are more prevalent and insidious.

Where some Americanisms are genuine English usage from the 17th or 18th centuries that survived in America but faded away in Britain, most of the Australianisms are 1950s home counties speak played back today. Eddie Jones is the source of some. Australian soaps too. The main culprits are Australian cricketers and commentators who sat back with a satisfied smile when Botham started talking about crap performances as 'ordinary'!

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

The season thing irks me, there’s only four seasons and they’re nothing to do with Frankie Valli either. I sometimes picture myself behind the counter or bar when someone says ‘Can I get?’, I’d love to reply ‘Course you can, it’s over there’. My daughter in law said to my granddaughter the other day, ‘Ask Bampy if he wants a cookie’, I didn’t hang about to see if it was a biscuit she was on about, mind you isn’t biscuit French?

Biscuit is from French
Cookie is from a Germanic route. (The German word for cake is 'Kuchen')
Quiche is an interesting word as it's a French bastardisation of 'Kuchen'.

[splott parker]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

Biscuit is from French
Cookie is from a Germanic route. (The German word for cake is 'Kuchen')
Quiche is an interesting word as it's a French bastardisation of 'Kuchen'.

Those bastard French

[RichardM]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

I once said to my son, who has a degree in English Language, "that's not a real word, it's made up", his reply was "all words are made up, some of them recently, some a long time ago".

[blue matt]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

The season thing irks me, there’s only four seasons and they’re nothing to do with Frankie Valli either. I sometimes picture myself behind the counter or bar when someone says ‘Can I get?’, I’d love to reply ‘Course you can, it’s over there’. My daughter in law said to my granddaughter the other day, ‘Ask Bampy if he wants a cookie’, I didn’t hang about to see if it was a biscuit she was on about, mind you isn’t biscuit French?

" Can i Get " appears to be the norm now, even staff ask " what can i get for you "

[RichardM]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

" Can i Get " appears to be the norm now, even staff ask " what can i get for you "

Staff asking "what can I get for you?" isn't bad, they are going to get it. The customer asking "can I get" irks me. "No, you can not get it, unless you come behind the counter and know how to work the coffee machine, that it not allowed. Tell me what you want and I will get it for you".

[Divine Wright]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

This whole debate always feels a little bit “swansea town syndrome” to me. Snobbiness, nothing more. English from england is pretty archaic and unfamiliar to a lot of people nowadays (apart from people in england and its neighbouring countries). I teach english, and unless someone is particularly interested in england english, I’ll emphasise the american option as it will likely be of more use to them in terms of culture, commerce or tourism. In the same sense, when teaching “british” english I’llntry to pronounce words like “year” or “tour” as an english person would.....as opposed my natural pronounciation of these words.

That said, I think “dude” and “stoked” sounds a bit “naff”. “Naff” is an england english word that also sounds a bit daft to my ears as does the english expression “it is what it is” or “ to chunder” or “non-plussed” .... “a property with great potential” ... the correct expression is “ a feckin tidy house like” .

[the other bob wilson]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

This whole debate always feels a little bit “swansea town syndrome” to me. Snobbiness, nothing more. English from england is pretty archaic and unfamiliar to a lot of people nowadays (apart from people in england and its neighbouring countries). I teach english, and unless someone is particularly interested in england english, I’ll emphasise the american option as it will likely be of more use to them in terms of culture, commerce or tourism. In the same sense, when teaching “british” english I’llntry to pronounce words like “year” or “tour” as an english person would.....as opposed my natural pronounciation of these words.

That said, I think “dude” and “stoked” sounds a bit “naff”. “Naff” is an england english word that also sounds a bit daft to my ears as does the english expression “it is what it is” or “ to chunder” or “non-plussed” .... “a property with great potential” ... the correct expression is “ a feckin tidy house like” .

I don't get what's snobby about wondering why words and terms like more than or above, about or relating to and in the future or eventually are no longer considered good enough to serve the purpose they have done for centuries. Why are many adults so keen to refer to stuff like north of, speaks to and moving forward so keen to use those terms when they would never have come across them when they were growing up or do you, as an English teacher, feel these new terms are "more use" than the ones that it appears some want to replace?

[Freitag 4.17]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

I don't get what's snobby about wondering why words and terms like more than or above, about or relating to and in the future or eventually are no longer considered good enough to serve the purpose they have done for centuries. Why are many adults so keen to refer to stuff like north of, speaks to and moving forward so keen to use those terms when they would never have come across them when they were growing up or do you, as an English teacher, feel these new terms are "more use" than the ones that it appears some want to replace?

Some of the Americanisms just come naturally now - cultural exposure I suppose. I use the term going/moving forward quite a lot in my work. I work with people who really lack motivation and I find using language such as that reinforces with the client that our plans are positive and as we work through them we will be gong forward in time but also progressing their situation. The phrase you offered alternative to that - I can't remember what you said - but it doesn't do the same job.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

Some of the Americanisms just come naturally now - cultural exposure I suppose. I use the term going/moving forward quite a lot in my work. I work with people who really lack motivation and I find using language such as that reinforces with the client that our plans are positive and as we work through them we will be gong forward in time but also progressing their situation. The phrase you offered alternative to that - I can't remember what you said - but it doesn't do the same job.

I said "in the future" or "eventually", I can see the point you are making as "moving forward" might sound more dynamic to some people, but it just wouldn't have the desired effect on me.

[Freitag 4.17]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

I said "in the future" or "eventually", I can see the point you are making as "moving forward" might sound more dynamic to some people, but it just wouldn't have the desired effect on me.

It's more subliminal I think - that you keep using words that encourage positive connotations..

[Freitag 4.17]

Re: People using "Americanisms"

..by the way I want to make clear I am not some God awful life coach or anything like that , I work with people in abject crisis, mainly refugees.