Americanisation of the UK

Scribbles I agree. My DD’s spent most of their childhood in the northeast & call me Mam. My DS, for some reason, addresses me as ‘Muvva’ which I think originated from Viz comic. 😆

gentleshores

Really annoys me that "Mom" has got into Uk speak instead of "Mum"!

This crops up from time to time on GN but, as the daughter of a "mom", I feel I have to reiterate that "mom" has been widely used in the West Midlands for many decades - probably centuries - so is by no means an import from the US.
And, even if it were, why is it not just as acceptable as "mam", "mum", "ma" or any other pet name for a female parent?

The only aspect of American culture that I don't like is that so much of it is monetised.

Really annoys me that "Mom" has got into Uk speak instead of "Mum"!

Oh Americans aren’t that bad surely?

Halloween is Celtic Festival of Samhain btw so trick or treating is a Scottish and Irish import into America!!

I’ve missed GransNet and all you lovely ladies - but here it’s been all politics for me. Now that the Democratic convention is over and Kamala Harris/Tim Walz have been put in place as our candidates… Onward!!

I’m reading this topic with great interest. When I visited England I came away thinking I’d much rather have your cultural norms penetrate our society and way of living, than you becoming Americanized.

But of course, you can’t stop the lightening speed at which the whole world seems to be morphing itself into some indistinguishable blob.

Nice and fun to try new things but everyone needs to hang onto the ethnic and cultural traditions we came from. The younger generations probably don’t care as much as we do, but all will not get lost if we just keep them going at home and in our communities.
Wishing all of you a g’day!

The Americans actually made English as widely spoken as it it today and an International Language, not the English, they took the English Language to more countries than we did
And on Tangier Island, VA, they still speak English in the way it was spoken in England in Shakespeare’s time.

Really nothing to get my knickers (or pants, panties, underwear etc.etc. ) in a twist about, I would be more worried when people in the UK start having the 'hero worship' that Trump gets in the USA. Languages evolve including English. The Americans actually made English as widely spoken as it it today and an International Language, not the English, they took the English Language to more countries than we did.

"A lot of men wrapped their shirt tails between their legs and did not wear underpants, those that did called them underpants." Oh my goodness, I did not know that and I can't un-know it now!

Maybe it does people good to have their norms challenged, Deeda!

My American son in law was very embarrassed when two of his brothers came to stay. He took them to London and they insisted on talking to total strangers on the Tube! he had to explain to them that "we" don't do that!

Maggiemaybe

Oh dear.
This thread must have moved away significantly from its initial aim. To discuss how American culture/traditions have to some extent taken root in the UK.
I also have relatives in America and at no point was this thread about having a go at Americans.

Well said suedonim.
Our family situation is the same (DiL American) & we have received nothing but kindness from her & her extended family and friends.

peli

This thread is (mostly) very sad to read.

I agree, Peli. Our son’s lovely wife is American and they and our two GC live in the States. We’ve never been met with anything but kindness and interest (apart from at immigration at Chicago!) from Americans on our many visits to different areas of the US.

Of course there are plenty of aspects of the US that we don’t like but to diss a country because there are small differences between us seems mean-minded and petty.

I got into so much trouble with the lovely American man who shared our table on a cruise, gmarie. His companion mentioned that the last series of Downton Abbey, which she loved, hadn’t made it to the States at that time and I told her it was on the ship’s TV schedule. She barely left their cabin till she’d watched every single episode.

polly123

I have noticed it for some time and hate it. I hate all the silly rituals which have now become part of our culture and also the sloppy language and spelling. As has been said, other European countries have managed to keep their language and identity.

Have you visited France recently?
The French love American culture.

unherd.com/2022/04/america-has-captured-france/

This thread is (mostly) very sad to read.
I agree Peli.
It’s as if a lot of posters don’t realise there are American members of Gransnet, and moderate their posts accordingly, or they do realise, but don’t care how offensive their comments appear.

There is a current BBC news report about the fire at Somerset House. Apparently the "Van Go" painting is safe!!!

The other thing which maddens me is the use of "train station" instead of "railway station". The news and Homes Under the Hammer are the worst culprits.

Mollygo

The two ladies we met from Maryland, always changed their pants before dinner -I was a bit surprised, till they turned up in trousers different from the ones they’d worn all day.

We've had holiday homes in America. Been on many holidays in America, apart from whether we had a home there or not. Had, both of us combined, 6 operations in America, whilst working there to be able to have 'group insurance'.

I find Americans friendly, polite, positive, easy to talk. I dislike "gun in my car or pocketbook attitude. I also dislike "Catholics aren't Christian" (not saved) bit. I'm easily amused by words in common and different.

Knickers, pants, panties, trousers, slacks - I can work most of their words out easily. I dislike trousers, preferring jeans - they say black slacks with panties under. I say jeans with pants under - they don't understand.

Biscuits, cookies. Scones, biscuits. None of that matters.

This thread is (mostly) very sad to read.

What an interesting post gmarie.

We lived in America for a while and found the TV and processed foods pretty shocking, I admit...
But when we returned to the UK we definitely thought we needed to import some US "can do" attitude and optimism which did not seem to be evident here!

We should all maybe be a bit more relaxed about language and customs and take the best of our neighbours where we can.

As an American, I just want to say that the same is true on our side, to a certain extent - but in a more positive way. Here in the US, you are all seen as the cool cousins across the pond.

My three closest friends, my actual cousin - who spent her junior high and high school years (Senior School and Sixth Form) in England, and I watch mostly Britbox, Acorn, and PBS Masterpiece shows which have spoiled American TV for us in many ways. I've even watched the American and British versions of some shows like "Ghosts" and "Life on Mars", and the British versions top ours hands down.

Our favorite bands growing up and some current favorites are/were The Beetles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, The Who, Elton John, Ed Sheran and Adelle.

My dad spent his last days watching Fawlty Towers, Keeping up Appearances, Doc Martin, Call the Midwives, As Time Goes By and Foyle's War. One of these shows was on every time I went by to see him. His only trip to Europe was to England to visit all of the English pubs because as a retired engineer he put together the beer making apparatus for his friend's brewpub here in California.

My son got me into Doctor Who. That same son honeymooned in London and saw a play at the West End. Pride and Prejudice was my favorite book in high school English and now the majority of my Audible novels are by British authors.

And most Americans love anything to do with the Royals current or historical.

So it certainly goes two ways, eh?

The two ladies we met from Maryland, always changed their pants before dinner -I was a bit surprised, till they turned up in trousers different from the ones they’d worn all day.

I was brought up to refer to my under garments as pants in 1950’s, my mother considered knickers to be common!