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Britishisms and the Britishisation of American English
BBC News ^ | 27th September 2012 | Cordelia Hebblethwaite

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS:
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To: the scotsman

Bloody Hell!


21 posted on 09/27/2012 6:19:03 AM PDT by AFreeBird
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To: the scotsman; cripplecreek
Since my mother is from England, I have been speaking British phrases before they were cool!

Such as:

Bloody Hell, Sod Off!

Do not paint the toilet that colour! It will clash with the colour of the lift outside!

22 posted on 09/27/2012 6:19:23 AM PDT by KC_Lion ( Wherever I find myself standing, I forever stand with Israel.)
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To: cripplecreek

I definitely use Britishisms. We get a lot of English tv as they get American tv and it’s only natural that the language expands. Most of my English friends don’t even notice when I use a “Britishism” so I’m not sure why this professor is getting all upset.


23 posted on 09/27/2012 6:21:34 AM PDT by miss marmelstein
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To: KC_Lion

My great-grandfather was a soldier in the British army. He brought the word “bloody” and “ducks” (or “duckie”) to the family about a 100 years ago. We are still use them.


24 posted on 09/27/2012 6:23:21 AM PDT by miss marmelstein
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To: N. Theknow
Oh, I say. Jolly good old thing. Carry on.

See? I don't even mind being called an 'old thing' as long as it's done with a British accent!

(Um...you did use a British accent, didn't you?)

LOL!

25 posted on 09/27/2012 6:24:47 AM PDT by MamaTexan (I am a Person as Created by the Laws of Nature, not a person as created by the laws of Man)
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To: the scotsman

I’m gobsmacked and knackered.


26 posted on 09/27/2012 6:25:17 AM PDT by Natufian (t)
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To: KC_Lion

I’ve owned several Limey bikes.
Does that count ?


27 posted on 09/27/2012 6:26:24 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (In the game of life, there are no betting limits)
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To: the scotsman

What wanker wrote this?


28 posted on 09/27/2012 6:26:41 AM PDT by dfwgator (I'm voting for Ryan and that other guy.)
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To: Gamecock

One thing I’ve learned here in NYC, Gamecock: be very careful when you hear a “refined” British accent. English con men are all over this city using that accent to swindle provincial New Yorkers out of their lives. I know of about 4 personally. I hear that accent and I want their birth certificates and arrest record before I even talk to them!


29 posted on 09/27/2012 6:26:41 AM PDT by miss marmelstein
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To: Gamecock

And how many times has the English woman in the office been asked to record the company’s off-hours phone message?

Southerners probably don’t many such requests.


30 posted on 09/27/2012 6:29:04 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: Strategerist

I love “pear-shaped.” I don’t use it myself but it really sums up a lousy situation perfectly.


31 posted on 09/27/2012 6:29:19 AM PDT by miss marmelstein
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To: MamaTexan

“Bloody” is a lot worse in British, than it is in American...


32 posted on 09/27/2012 6:29:41 AM PDT by Little Ray (AGAINST Obama in the General.)
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To: Gamecock
It's seems that their accent gives them an automatic increase of 10 points in their IQ. When we Southerners speak people automatically take away 10 points.

Some folks can pull of the southern accent thing. I'm from CT so I think I am a decent judge of how Yankees perceive the southern dialect.

Barry Farber can pull it off.

Haley Barbour cannot.

Bill Clinton can pull it off (unfortunately).

Zell Miller cannot.

James Carville is in his own universe.
33 posted on 09/27/2012 6:32:46 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("I have a new zest for life!"--Calvin from Las Vegas)
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To: the scotsman

This article is spot on!


34 posted on 09/27/2012 6:34:25 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: the scotsman
Two Countries separated by a “Common Language”...
35 posted on 09/27/2012 6:34:45 AM PDT by ThomasPaine2000 (Peace without freedom is tyranny.)
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To: KC_Lion

Top Gear is a great source of British insults.

On the other hand, they use a fair number of American insults.


36 posted on 09/27/2012 6:35:19 AM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: the scotsman

Remember that British cooking show “Two Fat Ladies” or something?

They were simmering some onions, but they called it “suffering.” I kind of dug that — I bet if I was sitting in a hot pan of butter, I’d be suffering too.

Regards,


37 posted on 09/27/2012 6:35:49 AM PDT by VermiciousKnid (Sic narro nos totus!)
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To: Dr. Sivana

Haley Barbour’s accent even makes Southerners cringe.


38 posted on 09/27/2012 6:38:30 AM PDT by A. Patriot (Re-electing Obama is like the Titanic backing up to hit the iceberg again.)
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To: VermiciousKnid

I never heard “suffering” although I was a fan of the 2 Fat Ladies. I have heard “sweating” onions but we use that here in the good ole USA.


39 posted on 09/27/2012 6:39:32 AM PDT by miss marmelstein
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To: the scotsman

Instead of saying something is expensive I hear people say it is “pricey”. Where did that come from?


40 posted on 09/27/2012 6:40:44 AM PDT by Ditter
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