Americanisms

[SecretsInSpitalfield]

I have family in the US. I love going there. Since lockdown my DS’s (9 and 11) have said ‘OMG’ and ‘like’ about a thousand times a day!

Do our lovely cousins across the pond have this with their DC? Is it normal?

This makes me wonder about Fall/Autum.

Are there any British English speakers who would talk about the Fall? Does the word linger on in some regions? The only alternative I can think of is gardeners talking about doing things "back end".

Can someone help me with a particular word, I'm not British or American and don't know how to say apparatus. I tend to say app-a-rat-us, emphasis on the rat (American?) but feel like I should say app-a-rate-us (British?), and I don't know where the emphasis should be! Been in the UK for years but always get a weird look when I use the word!

• My forebears were not English 300 years ago, these are not 'my words'.

That doesn't give me familiarity with or 'ownership' of the language they used, at any point in history, any more than a non-scholar is familiar with British English of the period(s).*

I said people and own countries’ so was saying in general, not towards you since I have no idea where you are from or your family nor did I say that it gave you ownership. I’m only saying that it comes off as snobbery. On here, Americans are blamed for this and that even when it is said that such things stemmed from the UK as does quite a bit of American culture. British English doesn’t use the same words anymore but at some point they had so why is it necessary to be annoyed or resentful about it.

Also, if it’s confusing, why not simply just ask?

Ask the television?

@LostaraYil

We use both in the States, depending on the region, and I’ve heard it both ways here, again depending on the region.

@LostaraYil That's another of those confusing ones where there's no "right" answer. As a native English English speaker I've heard both.

Appar at us - Scotland, and in scientific situations, some other accents

Appar ay tus - Everywhere else.

Ask the television?

Ask an American or even simply Google it. Many Americans have chimed in on this thread explaining what certain phrases mean.

Asking is not always socially appropriate, or cognitively relevant. As in the 'girfriend' example above. If, in every instance of this causing momentary confusion, I'd said 'so are you are lesbian then?', I'd have come across as a clunking fool (or klutz, I like that one). Also, the confusion is usually only momentary and is soon set straight (pun relevant here!) contextually. Thus, listening is usually the better thing to do than asking.

On the whole, people aren't saying they can't grasp the meaning, just that they find the phrasing odd, grating, awkward or just weirdly out of context.

Incidentally, I think that the characterisation of Brits as 'snobby' is an American trope, developed and popularised by Hollywood.

If you choose to look at British culture and behaviour through that lens, then everything we do could seem snobby to you, as 'snobby' pre-exists as a prejudicial descriptor of all that is British.

It isn't only Americanisms that people here find jarring, it's all sorts of linguistic adoptions, out of context.

Asking is not always socially appropriate, or cognitively relevant.

Yes, not always but often isn’t difficult or will be considered offensive in most cases.

Most are happy to explain something if someone doesn’t understand something, especially if they’re not familiar with a said culture, at least in my experience.

On the whole, people aren't saying they can't grasp the meaning, just that they find the phrasing odd, grating, awkward or just weirdly out of context.

Again, that’s why asking questions help.

There were many things I didn’t understand when I moved to the UK but by asking for help and clarification, it made integrating easier. It did help that I had exposure to British television in the States to understand a few phrases and meanings.

Yeah, expending time on explaining what we're not alking about is getting a bit boring now. We all know what we are talking about.

We get the meaning but we don't need to specify girlfriend - if your'e female you just assume your friends are female so it's taken as read. We might by contrast talk of a male friend, and then you would have to know the context - is it just a bloke that you are friendly with, or is it someone in a relationship as in "My mother and her new male friend." .

*Incidentally, I think that the characterisation of Brits as 'snobby' is an American trope, developed and popularised by Hollywood.

If you choose to look at British culture and behaviour through that lens, then everything we do could seem snobby to you, as 'snobby' pre-exists as a prejudicial descriptor of all that is British. *

I wasn’t looking at the UK from that lens nor have I ever thought them as snobbish. Actions can be snobbish without a person being snobbish. That’s your assumption. Have you ever lived in the States or visited?

The British are actually seen quite favourable in many cases in the US. We grew up seeing and hearing different British actors and watching different British shows. The British accents are known to be one of the most attractive to Americans. We grew up learning about English history and reading books by British authors. Americans tend to have a higher opinion of Brits than Brits do of Americans.

I thought Hollywood always portrayed the baddies with British accents?

British accents are seen as "cute", but it's not a word we would use in that context. I would say we tended to reserve cute for small children?

I was watching a programme about women and DIY. It was American, and talked about the women's "Honey, do" lists. Now I knew exactly what was meant, those jobs your husband has been putting off, but it's not an expression we would come up with.

Baddies, yes true. I think there are a disproportionate number of upper class English people portrayed by Hollywood (and by British TV products sold into the American market), so the idea we all live in stately homes and have butlers etc. goes with the 'snobby' thing yet also the 'cute' thing, sometimes simultaneously.

I only correct the dds now with 'gotten' couldn't give a shit it's old English they have picked it up from bloody sam and cat....

And 'can I get' instead of may I have. It's just rude.

Baddies often have regional accents, don't they.

On here, Americans are blamed for this and that even when it is said that such things stemmed from the UK as does quite a bit of American culture. British English doesn’t use the same words anymore but at some point they had so why is it necessary to be annoyed or resentful about it.

I still haven't seen any explanation of why the way the people of the British Isles spoke 300+ years ago has any relevance to British people today, other than to academics and language or history buffs.

The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there.

I thought Hollywood always portrayed the baddies with British accents?

Not always. Brits are usually shown as the experts or the smart ones in most films compared to villains.

I think there are a disproportionate number of upper class English people portrayed by Hollywood (and by British TV products sold into the American market), so the idea we all live in stately homes and have butlers etc. goes with the 'snobby' thing yet also the 'cute' thing, sometimes simultaneously.

The U.K. and British people are more romanticised in the States. We really don’t think you all have butlers and such 🙄.

British people use the word snobby/snobbery and it’s fine. Americans use it and we seemingly believe Brits are snobbish. Interesting.

Erm yeah, no-one thinks you actually believe all British people have butlers. 'Idea' and literal belief are not the same concept.

'Another country', not 'a foreign country' soz.

Do the words snob/snobby have slightly different connotations in the US?

I thought Hollywood always portrayed the baddies with British accents?

There was a period when, if a Brit turned up in a black Range Rover, you knew he was going to be the villain.

Thinking about it, anybody driving black Range Rover in a Hollywood film has a higher than average chance of being the villain.

'At this moment in time...'. What other kind of moments are there ?