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Another British gobsmacking
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | Sunday, March 27, 2005 | Timothy Kenny

Posted on 03/27/2005 11:50:10 AM PST by Willie Green

Oh those posh Brits.

Those accents.

That wit.

"We've always had a cultural inferiority complex with regard to the Brits," Stanford University linguist Geoffrey Nunberg says, "that they speak correctly and we don't. We even say we 'use the queen's English.' And why should that matter to us?"

Just such intellectual Anglophilia may be what's behind a virus that's infecting American media these days: Britspeak.

We have become a nation of journalistic copycats, betraying perfectly good American idioms along the way.

(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: britain; britishenglish; england; english; greatbritain; scotland; snobs; themedia; uk; unitedkingdom; wales
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1 posted on 03/27/2005 11:50:11 AM PST by Willie Green
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To: Willie Green

The word "queue" came from software, not imitation of Britspeak.


2 posted on 03/27/2005 11:55:04 AM PST by Technical Editor
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: Willie Green

I had not noticed the idiom, but I have noticed how many people are affecting a clipped British accent. Just another affectation to turn off those in fly-over country imho.


4 posted on 03/27/2005 11:58:01 AM PST by ClaireSolt (.)
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To: Willie Green
We must understand that Australians and Brits know all things. It means nothing if something was created in America 10 years ago. If an Australian writes a sissy ass sentence, plagiarized from the Americans, on the same thing then the whole world better take note of what has just been discovered by the Australians. They are the most insufferable of wimps and fops.
5 posted on 03/27/2005 12:05:57 PM PST by Modok
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To: Willie Green
I think Brits with a high falootin' accent are a bunch of fags, as in poofta, not cigarettes. Bugger the accent!

Give me a red blooded American accent any day!

6 posted on 03/27/2005 12:10:46 PM PST by llevrok (Born a ham and never cured!)
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To: Willie Green
"At the end of the day.."

The compulsary cliched phrase that is used by all British and Irish footballers in interviews. Listen to David Beckham or Roy Keane sometime! "At the end of the day, if the players on the pitch don't perform..." or "At the end of the day, if we've given it our best, there isn't much more we can do..." or "At the end of the day, we just weren't good enough.." or "At the end of the day, the manager's in charge..."

Having moved to the US in the past few months, I've already had a couple of blank responses when I've used the word "queue". I never knew that it is a word that Americans don't use.

7 posted on 03/27/2005 12:23:11 PM PST by Youngblood
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To: Willie Green

If chips and crisps change meaning over here, then we'll know for sure.


8 posted on 03/27/2005 12:40:19 PM PST by NautiNurse ("I'd rather see someone go to work for a Republican campaign than sit on their butt."--Howard Dean)
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To: NautiNurse
LOL!!

Just checked out your home page. It is one of the best in this forum. Of course I may be biased, since I love cats and roses.

FRegards,

9 posted on 03/27/2005 12:48:39 PM PST by Churchillspirit (Anaheim Angels - 2002 World Series Champions)
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To: Willie Green
Don't worry America - you have plenty of unique words and phrases to call your own.

Math. (short for mathematics) English equivalent - maths.

I could care less - English = I couldn't care less.

Height ( pronounced heigth) - English = heitt

Labor, harbor, neighbor all minus the 'u' we use in England.

Parking lot = car park

Gas = petrol

sidewalk = pavement

First floor = ground floor

Then of course we have rubber and fanny, but we won't go there.

Been here 23 years and now consider myself bilingual. LOL!.

10 posted on 03/27/2005 12:59:34 PM PST by Churchillspirit (Anaheim Angels - 2002 World Series Champions)
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To: Willie Green

My English-born wife informs me that many average Brits are disdainful of the types who speak with what they call the "posh" accent. She turns it on and off to amuse me when she wants to make fun of a particularly obnoxious Brit "elite"...usually a member of the royal family.


11 posted on 03/27/2005 1:40:59 PM PST by driftless ( For life-long happiness, learn how to play the accordion.)
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To: Churchillspirit

bonnet/hood

lift/elevator

lef*ten*ant / lieu*ten*ant

prise/pry

fag/cigarette

poofter/fag

Love the Brits but the only American I see trying to act British is Madonna



12 posted on 03/27/2005 1:40:59 PM PST by Mentos
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To: Churchillspirit

Let us not forget to scrutinise!

Brits are cool, but not Chelsea fans! :-)


13 posted on 03/27/2005 1:43:36 PM PST by Central Scrutiniser (Never pet a dog that is on fire)
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To: Technical Editor

"The word "queue" came from software, not imitation of Britspeak."

You're kidding right?


14 posted on 03/27/2005 1:45:56 PM PST by dljordan
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To: Mentos
LOL!!

Thanks for sharing/fascinating.

scary/frightening

Have a nice day/(no equivalent for this)

15 posted on 03/27/2005 1:48:22 PM PST by Churchillspirit (Anaheim Angels - 2002 World Series Champions)
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To: NautiNurse

In America, it's perfectly all right for men to wear suspenders. In England, only their judges can.


16 posted on 03/27/2005 1:51:35 PM PST by LexBaird ("Democracy can withstand anything but democrats" --Jubal Harshaw (RA Heinlein))
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To: Youngblood

"queue".

A master villian on Star Trek....The Next Generation


17 posted on 03/27/2005 1:52:59 PM PST by bert (Peace is only halftime !)
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To: Churchillspirit

Thanks--last count was somewhere around 65 roses.


18 posted on 03/27/2005 1:53:39 PM PST by NautiNurse ("I'd rather see someone go to work for a Republican campaign than sit on their butt."--Howard Dean)
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To: Churchillspirit

....Math....

In the current American idiom, short for Arithmetic


19 posted on 03/27/2005 1:54:37 PM PST by bert (Peace is only halftime !)
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To: Churchillspirit
Labor, harbor, neighbor all minus the 'u' we use in England.

Don't forget colour.

Be sure to wear your windcheater. There is a bit of a blow.:)

20 posted on 03/27/2005 1:55:50 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear ( We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing!? Oh right, that would be me. Back to work.)
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