Americanisation (the) of our language

Summerlove

Namsnanny

I've already expressed my impression of the Americans I've met on my travels there Fftpast In the main we were greeted with genuine warm.

I'm not making fun, just enjoying the exchange. Vive la difference.

One couple from the US I met in a Gloucestershire country garden asked me the name of a tree that was in flower. If I said it once I said it a dozen times. They just couldn't understand me or presumably, my accent.
In the end I was so embarrassed that I called an assistant over who was working there to explain.
The tree was a Laburnum Vossii, not difficult to say, but it obviously got lost in my translation.

More likely that it doesn’t grow locally to them so they’d never heard of it

Yes no doubt.
I've just always felt a bit disconcerted that I couldn't speak clearly enough in a way they could understand.

I was constantly ribbed (not pleasantly either) by my husbands boss about my accent, and consequently felt awkward speaking to new people.

I really dont think it was their fault, because the more I tried to say it in a manner they (American couple) would understand, the more I stuttered, and the redder I became.
In the end I was much more flustered and embarrassed than they seemed to be!

Ah well, no doubt it gave them a story to tell when they got back home.

Marydoll

Do posters not realise how rude they are being on this thread?

Thank you Marydoll I was beginning to feel like a lone voice crying in the wilderness.
Also thank you Summerlove.

Clearly everyone else thinks it’s fine…..

jen53

I couldn’t agree more with this post. Americanisms really annoy me too. ‘Gotten’ - arghhhh! ‘On the weekend’ - what happened to ‘At the weekend’? ‘Catch a movie’ - I make the point of ‘watching a film’. ‘I’m good’ instead of ‘I’m well’. Even ‘cookie’ instead of ‘biscuit’.
I go out of my way to reject these words and phrases even ‘encouraging’ my young grandchildren to use ‘fire engine’ rather than ‘fire truck’ and ‘shop’ instead of ‘store’.

Have you read any other comments ?

Do posters not realise how rude they are being on this thread?

I couldn’t agree more with this post. Americanisms really annoy me too. ‘Gotten’ - arghhhh! ‘On the weekend’ - what happened to ‘At the weekend’? ‘Catch a movie’ - I make the point of ‘watching a film’. ‘I’m good’ instead of ‘I’m well’. Even ‘cookie’ instead of ‘biscuit’.
I go out of my way to reject these words and phrases even ‘encouraging’ my young grandchildren to use ‘fire engine’ rather than ‘fire truck’ and ‘shop’ instead of ‘store’.

Namsnanny, I agree that discussing the differences in our languages is fun. But that, overall, isn't what has happened here on this thread. Our languages are different, one is not better than the other.

I can understand your embarrassment on the accent. I was in Italy a few years back and tried to learn some of the language. Unfortunately, my American tongue is not made to roll my r's well, so I struggled. I did try and am so glad that the Italians were kind to me about it.

What about Americans placing an order in a café saying,” I’ll get a coffee.” English people use that construction now.

Neither are acceptable. ?

No they aren’t. However the xenophobia on this thread is shocking. Even worse is how proud people are of it

Nannan2

Its like they are so lazy they
cannot extend the whole phrase!?

Rude

Summerlove

NfkDumpling

We all know about the different words used either side of the Atlantic like pants-trousers and sidewalk -pavement, but a lot of words and expressions like get-go are really just 'in' words used by people trying to impress and which the British just blame the Americans for. Racism?

Xenophobia

Not racism

Neither are acceptable. ?

Namsnanny

I've already expressed my impression of the Americans I've met on my travels there Fftpast In the main we were greeted with genuine warm.

I'm not making fun, just enjoying the exchange. Vive la difference.

One couple from the US I met in a Gloucestershire country garden asked me the name of a tree that was in flower. If I said it once I said it a dozen times. They just couldn't understand me or presumably, my accent.
In the end I was so embarrassed that I called an assistant over who was working there to explain.
The tree was a Laburnum Vossii, not difficult to say, but it obviously got lost in my translation.

More likely that it doesn’t grow locally to them so they’d never heard of it

NfkDumpling

We all know about the different words used either side of the Atlantic like pants-trousers and sidewalk -pavement, but a lot of words and expressions like get-go are really just 'in' words used by people trying to impress and which the British just blame the Americans for. Racism?

Xenophobia

Not racism

I love the way Americans say Bernard and so did my Dad

World travel, but word travel is quite appropriate, given the context of the thread!

freedomfromthepast, not all gransnetters are agin those in the USA, nor the way they speak.

By the way I am a Scottish gran and proud of my Scottish accent, along with the dialect I lapse into, when I get het up!
Nothing wrong with the way you speak, spell, nor the vocabulary you use.

Language evolves all the time, of course it will change as word travel has become easier. I find the way spelling of the same word changes, fascinating.
Some of my pupils used to use the word jamp, instead of jump, which was common in the next village, only two miles away.
Ignore the vocabulary police, no-one is right nor wrong. I actually detect a hint of snobbery on here.

Dinnae fash yersel, as we say here.

I've already expressed my impression of the Americans I've met on my travels there Fftpast In the main we were greeted with genuine warm.

I'm not making fun, just enjoying the exchange. Vive la difference.

One couple from the US I met in a Gloucestershire country garden asked me the name of a tree that was in flower. If I said it once I said it a dozen times. They just couldn't understand me or presumably, my accent.
In the end I was so embarrassed that I called an assistant over who was working there to explain.
The tree was a Laburnum Vossii, not difficult to say, but it obviously got lost in my translation.

Reading!

Agree with LadtStardust

Not sure people are erasing the thread before commenting though so probably won't get heard

I agree with LadyStardust and Luca. It is just encouraging intolerance.

Hear hear Lady Stardust

This thread is appalling! I apologise to any Americans who have to read all this criticism of their language etc. My Daughter in Law is from the States and however she speaks and whatever words she uses, she would NEVER be so rude as to post on a forum condemning English ways and phrases. Replace the word Americans on this thread with another race/creed, then tell me its not racist!

Dang it, meant hypocrisy of it all is that this thread shows who is really uncivilized, crude and prissy.

And what is the worst is that some posters are proud of the fact that they are making fun of another country's language and people.

How so dirgni? How have we Americans hijacked your way of life?

Summerlove: Apparently not. I asked earlier if there was this much anger of Canadian English or Australian English and so far no one has said so. Apparently it is just the Americans who offend.

There is also very little mention about posts from Scottish GN members who say they have used similar terms for decades in Scotland.

Nope, just Americans who offend.

Of course we have also been called uncivilized on this thread (yep, with a Zee), are apparently heathens since we apparently no longer celebrate Christmas alone and want to recognize that we have neighbors of different religions with holidays near Christmas, not to mention crude and prissy all at the same time.

The hipocracy of it all is that

dirgni

Americans have not only high jacked our language but also our British way of life!

What on earth are you talking about? What language would you suggest they speak ???

I hate the one where they say my bad