To hate Americanisms...?

[Groof]

I think maybe because it feels like all English-speaking cultures are becoming boring and homogenous.

New ones I've noticed that people in the UK didn't routinely say five years ago but are now EVERYWHERE:

• birth control (instead of 'contraception' or 'the pill')
• wait list (instead of waiting list)
• reach out

Which ones do you hate or AIBU?

Yes, my entire post was Australianisms. I can't be bothered to repeat what I said all over again, so you can go back and look if you're that interested.

Ghosting

Right?

New pronounced noo. Noo York

How do you know that British people under 30 aren't interested in their cultural roots, that's quite a statement to make especially if you are American, it sounds quite arrogant.

”Guys” is male, “you guys” is gender-neutral. I went to an all-girls school in the American Midwest and we said “you guys” all the time. I can see why you don’t like people in the UK saying it, but for people who grew up in the US saying it, your alternatives would sound like affectations.

I really curious here. I’m not english so i wanna ask, why you hate americanism? Its just language? Why though?

I used to live in the South where all soda is referred to as “Coke”.

“What coke do you want?”

”Sprite”

"talk to" is considered rude in the US, it's "talk with" to imply equality

An American invented the cell phone so actually it is correct.

The British expression that most infuriated and delighted my American friend is "take the piss". I can hear him now, incredulously, repeating "take? Take? Like... Extracting the piss? They are taking the piss? What piss, your piss?"

As an American whose children are on screens as much as anyone else's, thank you for saying this! None of my three have picked up my Americanisms, which, I admit, have been watered down by my decades of living over here, nor do they sound like YouTubers. Honestly, even as a Californian (an old one, mind), the American accents have totally changed (for the worse). That's my gripe. My Californian accent doesn't sound like that of a 22 year old Californian influencer's. I think mine is superior because it's mellow, old school, quieter. But I also realise I'm just being a bit of a curmudgeon here. Accents do change. I need to accept this.

One Americanism that does bother this American right here is when those American 'chefs' on TikTok (or Instagram/FB reels) offer a recipe in 3 seconds then finish the clip with this raised, singsong, "Enjoy!" They ALL do it.

Umm but this is a post about Americanisms……

“Can you get me a soda?” means you don’t particularly care which kind you get.

”The Pill” drives me insane - there are all different types of pills in the world, so what makes contraceptive pills worthy of being “the” pill? I would understand if it was still 1960-something, but it’s not. “The spectrum” drives me crazy for the same reason.

I agree that “birth control” meaning specifically “oral contraceptives” is annoying.

Never saying please or thank you? Having lived in both places believe me this is equally bad in both.

What?! I’m an American and I’ve never heard of this in my life.

@mathanxiety thanks for the explanation. I've just realised that when I was growing up they were called second hand shops or junk shops. I don't actually remember when they became charity shops!

How on earth can you complain about people pronouncing New York the way New Yorkers pronounce it

Snobs.

Same here.

How do you know that British people under 30 aren't interested in their cultural roots, that's quite a statement to make especially if you are American, it sounds quite arrogant

I wasn't referring to British people or American people in particular. In general most younger people today consider language to be a fluid thing and adopt phrases and slang that resonates with them.

You can be interested in your "cultural roots" and still enjoy the ebb and flow of modern communication.

@Femme2804 I can’t speak for other posters, but I hate them because it feels like a rejection of the language I have grown up with, my native language, English. It’s as if people think English English isn’t cool enough, so they want to sound like Americans instead. Also I was the first person who spoke to my children and taught them how to speak. I want them to use the words I taught them, not words they’ve picked up from American TikToks!

“Let’s go to the art exhibit” instead of exhibition.

I’ve really tried to understand “I could care less” instead of “I couldn’t care less”, but I just can’t.

CongraDulations.

pronouncing words such as ammunition, ending in ‘tion’ , as ammuni’shin’ instead of ‘shun’.

I have to admit it all looks a bit petty written down, but I read somewhere that some people’s brains process these things in a different way and find it more grating than other people do.

Nor have I. Now, "giving someone a talking to," would be considered a bad thing, because it implies you're in trouble. But just "talk to?" Not inherently bad in my opinion.

@dreamingbohemian I think she means the pronunciation of new as noo in any context, and gave New York as an example.

Some of these 'Americanisms' don't translate as directly as you think they do.

Reach out, for example, implies a generous offer to share wisdom or experience or a shoulder to cry on.
Moving forward is more nuanced than 'in future'. Implicit there is the idea of moving forward together or the idea that you're getting a boost of some sort.

Making a big fuss about Hallowe'en has always been done in Ireland, where the holiday originated (with a Scottish origin too). It is a really big folk holiday, celebrated for centuries.

Happy Holidays is a greeting that makes sense in a multicultural society where wishing someone Merry Christmas might not be appropriate (because lots celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Diwali, solstice, etc). Holiday retains its original Holy Day or special day or sacred day meaning in US English. It doesn't mean your annual trip to the Costa Brava.

OK but that's a terrible example, because 'Noo' York is correct

What's an example of 'noo' in a British context?