Is Britain Now Part of America ? - Page 2

SMHarman · 26-06-2007, 19:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

Language changes anyway, It natually evolves from many different influences and at the moment the biggest is America. Its only natural that given the power of America and the cultures reach that it would start to creep into other lanuages, the same happens in other countrys were American words are used in France and so on.

To me it actually feels that France is becoming more Americanised, or maybe just catching up with the americanism of the UK. The date standard where the month is written is a little hazy anyway, Americans talk about the 4th of July moreso than July 4th.

TheDaddy · 27-06-2007, 09:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Now, this is one area in our language where the Yanks actually have it correct, and we don't, generally. The phones are actually called Cellular Telephones (hence O2s original name, Cellnet).

It could also be due to their inability to pronounce the word 'mobile'

dcclanuk · 27-06-2007, 09:45

Didnt u know we are the 52nd State

sherer · 27-06-2007, 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

To me it actually feels that France is becoming more Americanised, or maybe just catching up with the americanism of the UK. The date standard where the month is written is a little hazy anyway, Americans talk about the 4th of July moreso than July 4th.

well you have chosen a very specif date that and this is how strange that country is .. every day in America is always June 27th, July 3rd, July 5th except for one day of the year. yes THEIR own day of independance, to make the break away from Britain is actually always said in the British format.

i think if you went to America and said to people what the day was today they would all say June 27th but if you did the same over here you would get different answers back.

gazzae · 27-06-2007, 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcclanuk

Didnt u know we are the 52nd State

Who is the 51st?

SMHarman · 27-06-2007, 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherer

well you have chosen a very specif date that and this is how strange that country is .. every day in America is always June 27th, July 3rd, July 5th except for one day of the year. yes THEIR own day of independance, to make the break away from Britain is actually always said in the British format.

i think if you went to America and said to people what the day was today they would all say June 27th but if you did the same over here you would get different answers back.

I agree, but was highlighting the inconsistency. Just like in time they say quarter of, not quarter to.

Shaun · 27-06-2007, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

They are called Automatic Teller Machines because they are Automatic, and the clerks in the bank who would normally give you your money are called Tellers.

Or more likely Cashiers.

The reason ATM is creeping in is because so many of our terms for the magic money machines are trademarks. "Cashpoint" belongs to Lloyds, "Hole in the Wall" belongs to Barclays and I think "Cash Machine" may* belong to Natwest!

ATM is just generic.

As for July 1st as oppose to 1st of July, I have no issue with it as long as you put the word "the" in there.

"July the 1st" sounds more english to me than 1st of July!

*I may be wrong about the last one!

---------- Post added at 18:41 ---------- Previous post was at 18:41 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherer

Surely that's only in America though. As you stated over here we call them bank clerks, I used to know someone that did that for a job and he never described himself as a teller.

Cashiers I tell you!

rogerdraig · 27-06-2007, 18:58

being dyslexic i dont realy care how you spell things

what would worry me though is if we loose the original sounds of words and forget why they sound that way

took me ages a long time back while watching "Bay watch" to work out the "boo eee" was actualy a "life bouy"

and i often wondered about this wonderfull metal of "al lune in num" they used over there too

Orior · 27-06-2007, 19:24

Is britain part of the usa? Despite the best efforts of some, no.
Is ireland part of britain? Despite the best efforts of some, no.

Angua · 27-06-2007, 20:13

Most American usage and spelling of English harks back to the late 15th & early 16th Centuries. They just didn't move on!

My bug bear is the expression "in back" or "out back" which I think means in the back garden or yard. Also the dropping of the word "the" is so annoying even when the English narrators are explaining deployment of various army divisions on a history program they refer to 5th army division rather than "the" 5th army division.

dcclanuk · 27-06-2007, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by gazzae

Who is the 51st?

Sorry... i meant 51st

27-06-2007, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angua

Most American usage and spelling of English harks back to the late 15th & early 16th Centuries. They just didn't move on!

My bug bear is the expression "in back" or "out back" which I think means in the back garden or yard. Also the dropping of the word "the" is so annoying even when the English narrators are explaining deployment of various army divisions on a history program they refer to 5th army division rather than "the" 5th army division.

I have liked most of the American people I have met, very much.

I don't mind the transposition of month/date when the month is spelled out, but I hate it when it is only numbers - is 04/07 the 4th of June or the 7th of April, while I think 'April 7th' is fine?

The only phrases that irritate me a little, are about 'the time' - I really don't like being asked 'what time do I have' - I feel like saying 'none at all, sorry' & walking off, when really they only want to know it is "10 after 5", rather than 10 past 5

Xaccers · 28-06-2007, 00:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orior

Is britain part of the usa? Despite the best efforts of some, no.

Who?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orior

Is ireland part of britain? Despite the best efforts of some, no.

True, but Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom

jtwn · 28-06-2007, 23:53

Ooooo. Inflammatory.

30-06-2007, 11:19

There are parts of america that i would love to have here how about being able to actually be proud of my country instead of being regarded as right wing for having pride in the UK's history. Being able to fly my national flag wthout silly little idiots automatically assuming that again your a right wing nut job. What i do object to is the habit we have of taking the worst parts of another country and not getting any of the good bits and if that changed i really wouldn't mind if it wasd amercia or anywhere else (well maybe not france old enemy and that).