Americanisms creeping in

To those who dislike "gotten" it was actually Middle English, taken to the New World by the immigrants from the UK, so not actually an American import at all.
I find it quite useful as a past participle.

I agree with Chris that 'reaching out' rather than 'contact'
is irritation but if one has fallen overboard and is drowning it just might be allowance

What I find more irritating is the way British, Kiwi and even Maori singers, lapse into pseudo-American accents the moment they begin to sing!
Why?

They certainly don't speak with US accents, so why sing in an entirely false one? Grrrrr.

But then, as the above posts have observed, we are suffering from Coca-colonisation; swamped by US food chains, TV and movies - no getting away from it.

That, far more than entering the EU was the death of much true British heritage. As indeed it is of Kiwi heritage, new country though we are.

"Hello, how are you?"
"I'm good, thanks"

"And would that be 'good' as in - pure, moral, conscientious, meritorious, worthy, exemplary, upright, in good shape, commendable, admirable. obedient, heedful kindly, benevolent, humane, gracious, obliging, full, adequate,
profitable, useful, serviceable, beneficial, efficient, proficient, capable, able, ready, suited, suitable, dexterous, expert, adroit or apt?"

My two pet hates are double negatives and the dropping of the letter t in words like lottery! One thing I do love though is reading everyone's interesting posts.

I'll share my favorite ..

"Bless your heart/s ... "

Touch base..

I expect my post will be deleted as causing offence but I'll speak my mind anyway. Imitation is supposed to be a form of flattery, which suggests that most British people admire the Americans and want to copy their ways.

This is something I cannot understand, as the Americans are inferior to us in so many ways. Our country as a whole is imitating theirs, and not to our benefit.

Well, I can only speak for myself, but I don’t understand all the bad feeling for all things American.

Having visited numerous times over the past 13 years, due to both DD’s 1 and 2 living there, I have to say I think Americans are generally a lot more friendly and polite than we are in Europe and their customer service is second to none.

Does it really matter that they speak American English or that some words have come into our vocabulary? There are far worse things to get annoyed about.

That's ok to say, Rosie- There are snobs in the US, too -- proof that Americans imitate as well ..

Mom for mum, purse for handbag, yeh yeh yeh (speaker becomes Dick Dastardly’s Mutley) and all of previous posts.
Find myself becoming a Jacob Reece Mogg fan girl ?

I thought we were criticising the American words in daily use in the UK, not the American people. Some of the nicest people I know are American including my cousin. She can say faucet and drapes, mom and even "have a nice day", though she wouldn't.
Language evolves and no doubt we will be suspecting our spelling of colour , labour and centre sooner than we think.

Here's another - 'off of' as in 'there's a utility room off of the kitchen' or I'm getting this cup 'off of' the shelf.

rosecarmel - did you mean that 'bless your heart' is an Americanism?
My great-grandmother (born 1860 in the middle of the UK) used this expression, and so did my grandmother and her sisters - none had anything to do with the US!
I think it may be another of those 'travelled' expressions.
And this thread is reminding me of Billy Bragg saying that his English heritage was sold back to him by 2 Jewish guys from Brooklyn (meaning Simon & Garfunkle popularising Scarborough Fair) - but he meant it as an example of how language, poetry & song travel, not a criticism!

I don't like 'reaching out' and the craze for 'supersizing' everything

When a person is being interviewed they always start their reply with 'so'. Drives me mad too Craftycat.

I personally detest "very unique" - something is either unique, or it is not.

May I explain some things? Are you alright? is used not as a greeting, but meaning (and not saying) you look ill.
You guys is a less formal way to say you people.
Our Mom is a short word for Mommy.
A purse is equal to handbag or shoulderbag.
See you later! is used to indicate that it was nice to see you (our regular customer), and I do hope to see you again later.
Hun is just a rude way of shortening Honey.
My Bad is a rude way of saying Please excuse my bad behavior.
From the get go is still nonsense.
No worries, Mate is the way we hear that one.
These are some things I have never heard in the US.
Nom Nom
hollibobs
Luvly jubbly
Some of your posts refer to a person who did not care to study proper grammar.

Thank you for reading this post. GNers are great.

I was genuinely confused by "Can't be arsed". I asked my DD if it meant "I cannot be asked" because it would not be fitting. DD laughed and said no it means can't be bothered.

One phrase I used to like was when a certain colleague was asked how he was, he would always respond "Almost perfect thank you!"

Oh dear Lorelei

People that start sentences with

That's my pet peeve. People who start sentences....

I was always taught "Inanimates 'that'- humans 'who' ".

Very few people heed this rule though

Written English is, or should be, very different from the spoken word.

I would have been in trouble had I written 'alright' in any essay I composed at school OPgrndtr. It is 'all right'.

Incidentally, when working with Viet-namese refugees way back in the late 70's, I made the mistake of translating, 'Are you all right' literally into Vietnamese.

As I result, I asked a very dignified and puzzled elderly couple, 'Is any part of you deficient?'

Language is evolutionary. We all use language differently now compared to our grand parents! Certain things do ruffle feathers for me too but life is too short! As long as we communicate clearly, kindly and truthfully then I can overlook differences.

Hi!

I just wanted to touch bases with you guys and give you a heads up. To address the elephant in the room, I'm an American. Re/ our strange wording, it's not rocket science; basically, we are just way too laid back. Literally, we don't sweat the small stuff. Do you know what I mean? No worries about offending us with this post! At the end of the day, we just suck it up. It is what it is.

So, listen up, I'm hoping to reach out! Let's grab a coffee, a few cookies or cupcakes (oops, my bad, "fairy cakes") and sit down to chat and decide what things will look like going forward. That would be awesome! I've been super excited to meet you all from the get go!

See you later and have a nice day!

"Know what I mean?" Grrrr

Ha ha, gmarie, excellent riposte!

'From the get go is still nonsense' - is it?
This was in regular use when I was a child - now it may have been an Americanism that came over during WW2, but my mother used it until her death and I occasionally do (usually when I'm thinking of her!)

I don't have problems with Americanisms generally and as others have said have found the majority of Americans I have met on my numerous visits to be very friendly.

However, I did correct a New Yorker when I overheard him telling someone (holding a conversation in Spanish) that "we talk English here".