The Americanisation of English

Wheniwasyourage

Those of us who can say “loch” rather than “lock”, say “Bach” quite naturally in the same way that the Germans do, welbeck!

Exactly! Bark??? Never heard anyone pronounce it like that - even those south of the border!

Mikky

Mom instead of mum

That's a Midlands thing!!

Remember, MissInterpreted, often people south of the border don’t actually pronounce the “r”in the word “bark”, so it wouldn’t sound the same as if pronounced by someone up here!

Grandma70s

We weren’t allowed to say toilet at school. It was considered a vulgar euphemism.

It was never a word used at home when I was a child, either. It was the ‘lavatory’ - a word I always hated, at least partly because of connotations of freezing cold and horrible hard Bronco/Izal paper - with that characteristic smell!

It was a relief when ‘loo’ became common, and perfectly acceptable at home.

Bellasnana

Having two daughters living in the US for 20+ years I find I actually rather like American English, it’s a language of its own!

I was shocked the first time I heard someone say ‘erb’ instead of ‘herb’ though and I agree ‘dove’ sounds very odd instead of ‘dived’. Also ‘drug’ instead of ‘dragged’, but certainly nothing to be irritated about.

I don't know the background of why Americans say "drug" for "dragged" but I do know the motto of Sussex is "We won't be druv." = We won't be driven.

It was also the unofficial motto and battlecry of the 31,000 men of the Royal Sussex Regiment in WW1, Grandfather was in the regiment, and the motto certainly suited him.

One that irritates the heck out of me is actually a lengthened word, just for a change, 'burglarized'!
No, you have not been burglarized you have been burgled.
Grrrr!!

I once asked an American colleague (and fellow English teacher) why they pronounced words like "ballet, homage, harass" etc with stress on the final syllable. She explained that pronouncing a word with French intonation and/or stress is considered 'very posh and erudite' to Americans. Funny how in the last few years it has become de rigeur over here.

Ali08

One that irritates the heck out of me is actually a lengthened word, just for a change, 'burglarized'!
No, you have not been burglarized you have been burgled.
Grrrr!!

Oh yes, that grates with me too. It sounds so silly!

A big part of the problem is that the internet is based in America, so you are confronted with the American version of English all the time. It must be very confusing for young people to have to deal with this. The BBC doesn't help because it has also adopted the American spellings and expressions.

I will admit to using outage instead of power cut.
I will now go and hang my head in shame.
I do have to keep remembering that octordle is American and colour is not colour. That does irritate.

I dislike ‘she fit’ …she knit e.g. Instead of she fitted etc .I just read a book on 18th century London. They had sidewalks. !

I just read a book on 18th century London. They had sidewalks!

Crikey!

JamesandJon33 was it written by an American (or published there)?

Did they use "pavement", "road" or "carriageway" for the road part?

I suppose pavement is the likely original here - from pavimentum?

Yes NotSpaghetti. an American writer. I think thy had roads but wasn’t focused on that

Jaxjacky, sorry, but that really made me laugh!

That was in response to the Four Tops example Jaxjacky.

JamesandJon33

I dislike ‘she fit’ …she knit e.g. Instead of she fitted etc .I just read a book on 18th century London. They had sidewalks. !

I'm glad someone else agrees with me (see 09 May 18:54:21) about "knitted" and "fitted"!

My GS's junior school put a notice on one of the classroom doors saying 'Be proud of your smarts.' need I comment further?

I had a smart on my hand once. From a ruler

Bumface

My GS's junior school put a notice on one of the classroom doors saying 'Be proud of your smarts.' need I comment further?

I don’t even know what that means.

Really enjoying this thread. 🇺🇸

What is a smart?

A smart is what a little Smartie will grow up as if it can avoid being eaten.

Thank you Elegran - obvious really!