My first AIBU! The word 'gotten'

[MollyHuaCha]

Why is this creeping over the pond into our language? AIBU to be bothered about this?

'gotten' is perfectly correct.
get got gotten
forget forgot forgotten....

It went over the pond, centuries ago, and came back to us..a bit like Halloween.
I think people should stop being so snotty about American English tbh.

(my friend from Somerset says it...)

It's a two way process that ultimately enriches English

And it's happening with greater frequency now that we have more British programming on television in the US. I have noticed "gutted" and "bespoke" being used now in the US on a fairly regular basis. And no one is getting all in a snit about it.

I think there is a difference between being intentionally "cool" "pretentious" or otherwise and just absorbing language that you hear from all sources, including television and movies. You can't import a large quantity of another country's culture and not expect some influences to be absorbed.

These threads always end with a bunch of posters insisting that there is no such thing as the slow creep of American English into English English and it has always been thus.

I imagine them all as being about fourteen.

By biggest pet hate at the moment is 'reach out.' Nobody just contacts anyone for advice or help any more, they have to reach out. It makes me want to throw up.

And they always start with a pile-on of anti-American and often incorrect assertions about language usage.

And it's happening with greater frequency now that we have more British programming on television in the US. I have noticed "gutted" and "bespoke" being used now in the US on a fairly regular basis. And no one is getting all in a snit about it.

Maybe it's because the cultural imports worked mainly the other way for the best part of the century, that it's become a protective thing?

"Sit up straight, don't fidget, don't say 'yeah' you're not American" was a fairly dispassionate litany in my childhood. All the adults did it, but it was definitely more pro-Brit than anti-American.

If you think we're bad, think about the French.

Hmm. That might sound misleading. It was only the 'yeahing' that was alleged to sound American. The fidgeting etc was pure English undesirability.

Commonly used word where I'm from (Scotland)

Well I'm from Scotland too and in all my 60+ years I've never heard anyone except American people using it.

I asked dd to text a friend for me recently, as I was driving. I dictated the gist of it, for her to actually compose.

Got a reply from him later on, with the single word, "gotten????"

Well I'm from Scotland too and in all my 60+ years I've never heard anyone except American people using it.

Maybe we're in a different part?

Here it used all the time here roon ma bit, by people of all ages. Just not American.

I haven't got past someone saying "asses" when they surely mean "arses" on this thread

YADNBU

Look - I really detest that politicians and people in authority being interviewed so often say 'look' before they start their sentences. It doesn't even make sense! It happens so often nowadays and drives me bonkers! Also people saying pleece instead of police. Grrr.

My kids are using 'like' eg so like can we have sandwiches, are we like going to school etc etc.

Drives me nuts

Dh hates the triple yeah eg talking to someone and they yeah yeah yeah you as if to hurry you up! Yuk

Although 'gotten' can be correct, it sounds ugly.

I HATE 'sat'

I was sat on the chair when... she was sat over there...

Particularly hate it when TV/Radio presenters say it. Ugh.

I use 'Gotten'.

I've heard it used in 'Upstairs, Downstairs' and also used often by Dame Maggie Smith.

So I won't be told I'm wrong, by anyone.

Language evolves. YANBU if you find it annoying but someone using the word INBU either.

I prefer using it but am used to it with writing US English for work. But most of the time it's used it is in the passive voice and I've had to train myself to stop writing in that.

So, yeah, I guess I've gotten accustomed to using a whole bunch of Americanisms in the last 10 years of stateside dwelling. I totally get that it's kinda annoying to you guys so Ima try n dial it back some when I'm posting so as not to appear like an asshole.

My mum keeps telling me off for sounding all American when I call her, yet here, in stores and on the phone, I get told all the time how English I sound. Can't win.

I was sat on the chair when... she was sat over there...

This is one that you can't blame on Americans.

Grates on me when they ask "Can I get a takeout?"

What? you're REALLY going to go behind the bar/service area & get it yourself?

No....but you can have one!

The definition of "get" is "to come to have or hold (something); receive". So "can I get" is as correct as "can I have." "Get" does not have some sort of built-in reflexive as so many posters on MN seem to think.

I am with you Seneca.
All these people whinging about Americanisms seem to forget which culture we have been living in for the last 60 years...

We use gotten in Australia...

And seeing as it appears to be correct (according to PPs), the convicts have GOTTEN something right.

"no worries"

Pure beaut 'Strayan lingo.

There is nothing 'wrong' with Americanisms. They simply evolved as part of the American language to fill a requirement. You may not like them or use them, but they are not incorrect - they are just not necessarily how British English is spoken or written. That's all. Personally, I love how different countries and groups and people can take one language (such as British English) and adapt it to their own needs. Language is ever-changing. It isn't a static beast.

that's right Claws.
It seems really provincial to insist on your version of a language with so very many versions, to be honest.
Besides who says what is 'correct' and 'incorrect'? shall I tell you? Nobody...:)

Gotten is actually more correct, language evolves by that does not mean we shouldn't it use some words. it's English!