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'American English'

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angieseroticpen
Story Verifier
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I wonder if Noah Webster was poor at spelling...
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”
Guest
Lurker
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My biggest quibble with American English:

I want to know how much butter is in a 'stick'. Butter comes in pats, or blocks, or packets, or sometimes in a tub. In England it doesn't come in 'sticks'.

But seriously, there are so many colloquialisms that are not just American or English, but are down to regions, individual towns or even areas within towns, that differences in spelling are just going to happen.

I live in a terraced house (row house for those on the other side of the pond) and I know about 20 different words for the passage under the upper storeys of the building that allows access to the back gardens, and also to my front door, which is in the passageway. Which word I choose depends on where I grew up, but then how I pronounce that chosen word would tell you even which suburb I come from. It really isn't possible to decide on a word that fits with everybody much of the time, so one has to just pick a word and go for it, much like trying to book a day for a special event and knowing that someone, somewhere, will be pissed off with the date you choose.

Personally I would be most upset if someone tried to edit a story I had written and turn it all into American English. I write in English English (I use the word 'arse' quite liberally too) and if the English can get used to reading American English then the Americans can get used to reading English English!
Myamibi
Active Ink Slinger
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It annoys me to read books by UK authors in Canada with American spelling. I have spend my life between UK and Canada. I was teased mercilessly as a child for using the "wrong" words, and quickly lost my accent. I am still amazed, after all these years, by peoples' need to "correct" me in my usage of words or my pronunciation. The number of times my train of thought has been derailed by someone interrupting me to tell me I'm using a wrong word or not being able to take what I say in context and figure out the meaning. It's not a foreign language! I love ChuckEPoo's list. It's the most comprehensive list I've ever seen. Thanks.
DanielleX
Head Penguin
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I think the vocabulary list posted above, while a useful guide is rather rudimentary in terms of understanding American English. The differences that interest me are more complex. The word 'alternate' is a good one, as it differs between the USA and UK both semantically and phonologically.

Here we say ALTERNATE, meaning 'every other one' or ALTERNATE meaning 'to switch from one to the other.'

In the USA, my understanding is that ALTERNATE corresponds to the English 'Alternative' as in the 'alternate juror.'


Then there's 'somewhat.' In England we say it like it's one word without stress. In USA I've frequently heard it pronounced as if it's two words with the 'what' part stressed.

I don't know to what extent this is down to regional variation from state to state?

D x

A First Class Service Ch.5

A steamy lesbian three way

Magical_felix
Wild at Heart
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I like Scottish spellings the best.

Like fook (fuck) or desgoosteg (disgusting).
Jen
Charming as fuck
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Quote by Magical_felix
I like Scottish spellings the best.

Like fook (fuck) or desgoosteg (disgusting).


what on earth are you reading?
Magical_felix
Wild at Heart
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Quote by Jen


what on earth are you reading?


Ska-esh Litriturre
Jen
Charming as fuck
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Quote by Magical_felix


Ska-esh Litriturre


fook. i unerstd tha'
Guest
Lurker
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Quote by PanJinlian
My biggest quibble with American English:

I want to know how much butter is in a 'stick'. Butter comes in pats, or blocks, or packets, or sometimes in a tub. In England it doesn't come in 'sticks'.


YES!!! Though not entirely a problem with English so much as a disparity in conventions that takes some getting used to. We here also have pats or blocks but still it's just 250 or 500gm with little 100gm markings on the side of each packet. So many recipes, 'stick' of butter! Errr, what???


I've had to refrain a few times from using the word "spunk" or "spunky" - synonymous with any words for 'sexually attractive' - because I know it is a particularly Aussie term. No, I'm not calling you semen
Evie
Blackbird Supernova
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Quote by PanJinlian
My biggest quibble with American English:

I want to know how much butter is in a 'stick'. Butter comes in pats, or blocks, or packets, or sometimes in a tub. In England it doesn't come in 'sticks'.


One stick of butter is equal to one quarter pound, or eight tablespoons. Makes measuring for recipes super easy! ;)
Guest
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Learning Amerispeak was very difficult for me even though I majored in English at University our Professor studied in the UK and taught in that way. It is difficult enough for an Asian such as myself to learn "proper English" as there are so many dialects here in the US especially in the south. I am a military spouse and we were stationed in Georgia after 3 years we were transferred to Wisconsin. I spoke with a strong Georgia accent and understood almost nothing the Wisconsin people said and they wouldn't believe I was born and educated in Korea.
Buz
The Linebacker
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Quote by julee
I spoke with a strong Georgia accent and understood almost nothing the Wisconsin people said and they wouldn't believe I was born and educated in Korea.


The best version of American is spoken in Georgia. Hmmm... Wisconsin has a very different accent. In fact, that entire region has a very thick accent, strongly influenced by their Scandanavian roots. I enjoy accents myself and appreciate them. Mine is definitely a north Georgia accent. Famous actresses from north Georgia, Julia Roberts, Holly Hunter, and Kim Basinger, still retain their north Georgia accents.
RejectReality
Testing The Waters.
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To give a Lush specific example, the wait for a story to be approved is the queue to me.

On the computer is a queue. Everything else is a line.

Any other UK English I use can be blamed on Monty Python.

Quote by Buz


Americans say 'back of the line'.

Now if you're on the computer and it's documents waiting to print we'd say 'queue'. But not in reference to people or actual objects.
Guest
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Quote by RavenStar


One stick of butter is equal to one quarter pound, or eight tablespoons. Makes measuring for recipes super easy! ;)


Thank you for that We just have 100g markings down the side of the packs, but I rarely measure anything perfectly anyway.


On a completely different note, I have found that very few people who aren't English understand what the word 'fortnight' means.
Evie
Blackbird Supernova
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Quote by PanJinlian


Thank you for that We just have 100g markings down the side of the packs, but I rarely measure anything perfectly anyway.


On a completely different note, I have found that very few people who aren't English understand what the word 'fortnight' means.



Two weeks henceforth.
Ooze_22
Active Ink Slinger
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of course there is! this isn't even debatable! there are differences in spelling, pronunciation and if i'm not mistaken in some cases grammar as well!
softbear
Advanced Wordsmith
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Quote by DanielleX
American English definitely exists. There are lots of spellings like the examples quoted. You also get words with one L where two is normal in British English, eg Traveled, unraveled etc. Then you have gray instead of grey etc. Probably the most notable and interesting American English usage is the past participle 'gotten' which is archaic in British English but normal in American English, whereas begotten is still in occasional use in both countries.

There is a host of vocabulary that is standard in America, which correspond to alternative senses in UK. For example what I call tights are pantyhose in USA, while to an American tights are what I call leggings.

I could talk about this all day.

D x


There is a laconic paragraph in one of the James Bond novels (I think Live and Let Die) where Bond rocks up in America and Felix Leiter, Bonds contact, instructs Bond in the correct use of 'America English' when it comes to certain objects. smile
softbear
Advanced Wordsmith
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Quote by DanielleX
American English definitely exists. There are lots of spellings like the examples quoted. You also get words with one L where two is normal in British English, eg Traveled, unraveled etc. Then you have gray instead of grey etc. Probably the most notable and interesting American English usage is the past participle 'gotten' which is archaic in British English but normal in American English, whereas begotten is still in occasional use in both countries.

There is a host of vocabulary that is standard in America, which correspond to alternative senses in UK. For example what I call tights are pantyhose in USA, while to an American tights are what I call leggings.

I could talk about this all day.

D x


There is a laconic paragraph in one of the James Bond novels (I think Live and Let Die) where Bond rocks up in America and Felix Leiter, Bonds contact, instructs Bond in the correct use of 'America English' when it comes to certain objects. smile
Meggsy
Active Ink Slinger
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Recently I visited an historic site that provided hand held audio tour guides in many languages.
The lady in front of me was offered one in English, she refused and asked for one in American.
and she wasn't blonde. Enough said.
MindsEye
Active Ink Slinger
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Is Ebonics still a thing in the US? At one point there was a suggestion of teaching in the schools. "Know what I'm sayin?" "Ill tell ya what" UGH, can't stand listening to it
Dancing_Doll
Alpha Blonde
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Is 'Walla' or 'Wallah' considered legit American English now? I've noticed people saying and writing it more and more often and it makes me cringe. Voila is not difficult to pronounce. I'm not sure why this word has now morphed into 'wallah!' in the mainstream.

Example:




Liz
Scarlet Seductress
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Quote by Dancing_Doll
Is 'Walla' or 'Wallah' considered legit American English now?


That's just laziness.
Buz
The Linebacker
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Quote by angieseroticpen
I wonder if Noah Webster was poor at spelling...


I thought he built a big boat for animals.
Guest
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American english is the most appalling 'language' - anyone using it should be shot
Buz
The Linebacker
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Quote by hornyoldchap
American english is the most appalling 'language' - anyone using it should be shot


Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. And in some cases are one.
DanielleX
Head Penguin
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My perception is that the British are more 'fluent' in American English than the other way round.

Probably not authors, but the general public.

D x

A First Class Service Ch.5

A steamy lesbian three way

honeydipped
The Bee's Knees
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Quote by DanielleX
My perception is that the British are more 'fluent' in American English than the other way round.

Probably not authors, but the general public.

D x


i believe a lot of that has to do with the fact that our pop culture is more heavily intangled with yours. our music, movies and tv shows are quite popular there so it would make sense that you all understand more of our 'speak'.

Say. Her. Name.


DanielleX
Head Penguin
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Quote by honeydipped


i believe a lot of that has to do with the fact that our pop culture is more heavily intangled with yours. our music, movies and tv shows are quite popular there so it would make sense that you all understand more of our 'speak'.


Yes, possibly. A reasonable theory

D x

A First Class Service Ch.5

A steamy lesbian three way

Guest
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Quote by Magical_felix
I like Scottish spellings the best.

Like fook (fuck) or desgoosteg (disgusting).



Scottish people don't say fook. FUCKIN UP YE.