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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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1 posted on 09/27/2012 5:23:45 AM PDT by the scotsman
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To: the scotsman

I watch BBC America all the time.


2 posted on 09/27/2012 5:28:14 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

My favorites are “bender” and “sod off.”


3 posted on 09/27/2012 5:31:49 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: the scotsman

I sometimes hear the word “gormless” in British TV and movies, but I have yet to meet anyone who knows what “gorm” is.


4 posted on 09/27/2012 5:43:49 AM PDT by jimtorr
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To: the scotsman

I cringe when I hear “went missing” yech


5 posted on 09/27/2012 5:45:46 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: the scotsman

I always liked “Going pear shaped” for something that’s turning out disastrously.


6 posted on 09/27/2012 5:46:53 AM PDT by Strategerist
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To: the scotsman

We’ve been using Britishisms since Sean Connery became 007. We thought it would help when chatting up the birds. It didn’t.


7 posted on 09/27/2012 5:47:10 AM PDT by Daveinyork
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To: the scotsman
But bit by bit British English is invading America too

Guilty as charged!

My personal favorites are bloody and wanker.

As in: Obama is a bloody socialist wanker!

8 posted on 09/27/2012 5:48:56 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
Our entire frigging language is a “Britishism” :)

I don't see the point of complaining about a few new words.

After all, we could have all been speaking German.. if a few things had turned out different (as the myth goes)

However, I will agree on this: “Bespoke” is unbearably pretentious

9 posted on 09/27/2012 5:50:34 AM PDT by SoftwareEngineer
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To: MamaTexan
As in: Obama is a bloody socialist wanker!

Oh, I say. Jolly good old thing. Carry on.

10 posted on 09/27/2012 5:50:41 AM PDT by N. Theknow (Kennedys=Can't drive, can't ski, can't fly, can't skipper a boat, but they know what's best for you.)
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To: SoothingDave

Brilliant ping.


11 posted on 09/27/2012 5:51:01 AM PDT by secret garden (Why procrastinate when you can perendinate?)
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To: the scotsman

This thread has me chuffed.


12 posted on 09/27/2012 5:52:29 AM PDT by Disambiguator
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To: the scotsman

I try and use the words “chancer” and “likely lad” every chance I get.


13 posted on 09/27/2012 5:57:27 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: the scotsman

Meh, the Brits need to stop getting their knickers in a twist over the Americanization of britishisms...
British English is hugely influenced by FRENCH, thanks to William the Conqueror...so it’s the French who should be pissed...


14 posted on 09/27/2012 5:58:42 AM PDT by matginzac
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To: matginzac

another one is “told him off”


15 posted on 09/27/2012 6:00:40 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: Strategerist
I've always been partial to the British version of"you're pulling My leg" which is a look of disbelief followed by "pull the other one!"

CC

16 posted on 09/27/2012 6:06:32 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (Q: how did you find America? A: turn left at Greenland)
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To: the scotsman

A British friend of mine once used the expression “I’m going to take a whiz around”. I had to explain that it had quite a different meaning in this country.


17 posted on 09/27/2012 6:08:33 AM PDT by Fresh Wind ('People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook.' Richard M. Nixon)
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To: the scotsman
Years ago I was in a pub somewhere in the Midlands and an enchanting redheaded lass came in. She was just chattering away. After a few moments I realized every other word coming out of her mouth was a curse word. Somehow it didn't sound as vulgar with a British accent.

I have several Brits that work in my office. When they speak they seem to get extra credit. 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.

18 posted on 09/27/2012 6:12:07 AM PDT by Gamecock (We don't come to Christ to be born again; rather, we are born again in order to come to Christ. RCS)
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To: yldstrk

Yep...our cousins across the pond do have some great phrases...
How about “I’m fagged...”!?


19 posted on 09/27/2012 6:17:43 AM PDT by matginzac
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To: Gamecock

not in my book, I can’t stand the British accent, it seems vainglorious to my ear, I would way rather hear a southern accent


20 posted on 09/27/2012 6:17:51 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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