Posted on 09/27/2012 5:23:43 AM PDT by the scotsman
'There is little that irks British defenders of the English language more than Americanisms, which they see creeping insidiously into newspaper columns and everyday conversation.
But bit by bit British English is invading America too.'
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Well, sure, but still, what is Gorm?
Its not all Americanisms we cant stand, its the ones people just ape like sheep because of trendy/popular TV shows and films.
Not only a Snortin’ Norton but four Jaguars and a big Healy...
(that the heck is a “big end” bearing ?)
[ Thanks to the 16th Amendment, the US has been since 1913 both a republic (as intended) and a democracy. So you’re dumb too. ]
You’re WRONG!(and ignorant)... America is no democracy.. never was..
The US Constitution does not have democracy or any variation of the word in it at all anywhere, ON PURPOSE...
Because democracy was, is, and always will be Mob Rule by mobsters..
Our founders knew that..... British “subjects”... DO NOT..
Actually Monarchy and Democracy are variations of the same thing.. (Mob Rule) with different mobsters.. in control..
Its quite well known and documented..
Democracy is indispensable to socialism.
The goal of socialism is communism. -V.I. Lenin
The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism .-Karl Marx
I’ve never heard a discussion about the word “fag.” One friend of mine (who now lives in Texas!!!) uses “fag” in the American way - so I just assumed it had that use in England as well.
Don’t you just love the way language works around the world? Fascinating.
Firstly, dont insult me.
Secondly, I am correct. Technically, since 1913, the US has simultaenously been BOTH a republic and a democracy. Because of the 16th.
It allows the Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on Census results. In other words, directly. That makes the US a democracy. That makes it NOT an amendment that adheres to the republican form of govt, as intended. Another reason and major reason to repeal it.
I did say clearly that the US is not meant to be a democracy, the 16th Amendment is a consitutional anomaly.
Thirdly, British people have not been subjects since the British Nationality Act of 1981. Now who is ignorant?.
LOL! It is fascinating.
From what I understand, the contemporary meaning of 'fag' is a cigarette. It's derived from the older word 'faggot' which was a tightly wrapped bundle of sticks used by people who were too poor to purchase real logs.
That said, the Britishisms that bug me the most are "pins" (referring to a woman's legs), "heavily pregnant" and "fell pregnant". Come on, how do you "fall" pregnant? (insert smart@$$ comments here) And what if you're only 2-3 months along? It's not "heavy" yet, unless you're carrying an elephant or something. Sheesh.
It's something someone is lacking when they are 'gormless', of course!
(grin)
Yes, that’s what they call (or called) a cigarette. I remember the days when you could ride the tube and see guys rolling and lighting up their...tobacco cigarettes. Those days gone forever. I can’t find any smokers in London anymore!
My least favorite Britishisms: the pronunciation of the word “pasta” (dreadful) and the phrase “Thank you very much INDEED.”
I wonder whether you've factored the odd billion Indian, African and Australasian speakers of English into that calculation?...though why any of these variants, or American English, or British English has any greater claim than any other to be 'proper' English is not evident from your historical exposition. You seem to be tilting at windmills here, since I can't see any claim to that effect either in the article or the posts to this thread.
[ Thirdly, British people have not been subjects since the British Nationality Act of 1981. Now who is ignorant?. ]
Wrong again.. the British are all democrats...
Democrats are for democracy.. thereby making them democrats..
Thats what a democrat is.. goes beyond party membership..
Even some republicans are democrats..
All democrats are subjects.. even American ones..
Democrats (including the British) are politically diseased..
Those politically diseased carry the socialism virus..
Central givernment is the master they are subject to...
They cannot determine that simplisitic answers for governance is Ape-like..
The British are Ape-like in their understanding of governance.. (and many Americans)..
Not to say the French and Germans.. and Spanish, Italians and Greeks..
Democracy has become a “Holy Word” to the brain washed..
You use that word and their eyes roll back..
They are clueless as to what it means..
As YOU are..
Democracy was and is...... Mob Rule by mobsters..
ALWAYS in every iteration, completely every time..
NO democracy has ever been democratic... NONE..
Always an elite rules.. they rule the simple with simplistic rules..
Note; The British have never had rights they merely have privledges.. given by givernment.. Which is more often than not taken away..
What’s all this then?
Enough of this rowdy-Dow!
I’m not certain, but I believe that a “big end bearing” is what’s left on any British motorcycle crankshaft after everthing else vibrates off.
Big end bearing.
No way to talk about Michelle.
Another word I like that really says it better than “appetizer”: starter.
“I love to watch the British shows on Netflix, Midsomer Murders, Foyle’s War, Inspector Lewis, etc.”
Me too. Also Prime Suspect, Wire in the Blood, Murder in Suburbia.
I also like Swedish stuff on NF; Stig Larsson’s Millenium series (Girl With the Dragon Tattoo).
Wallander (original Swedish version) is currently available on NF, and the British version with Kenneth Branagh is coming soon.
The modern English language derives from several other languages, and has the largest vocabulary, etc. (Old English, Old Norse, French, Latin, etc.)
So for us and the Brits, adopting new words and/or usages is nothing new or noteworthy.
Other languages do it too, especially adopting English/American words, ideas, etc.
I know...as an American, nothing is funnier than listening to French rap...hilarious!
“Whether they like it or not, proper english IS now the American english. This is true when viewed historically, and also in raw numbers of speakers. Sorry the snowball left the British behind, but que’ sera sera.”
English has become the first or second language for many people.
For the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Maylaysia, Egypt, etc—members of the Commonwealth of Nations, British English is the influence.
All across Europe many people learn English, and I believe it more likely their influence comes from Britain. The best examples are Holland and the Scandinavian countries, where almost everybody learns/speaks passably good English-British English.
I believe you only focused on the input of native American and Spanish words, in the Americas into English.
San Francisco and Lost Angeles were named by Spanish speakers, before English speakers controlled the areas much later. Chicago and Miami are native American choices for names.
For a relatively short time, America has been a powerful force in world media, movies, music, sports and TV, for example.
As an American I don’t need to put the Brits down, to feel myself or ourselves Higher.
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