Do Americans understand British English?

[knickernicker]

I can't think that there is any American phrase, word or accent that I wouldn't understand, but I wonder if an American would understand everything I say.
I remember sitting for a meal with some people from Boston and being acutely aware of needing to edit what I said to remove any British idiom. It was an odd feeling as when watching American films I forget they're a different nationality.

No I am not a grammar pedant. I am open to improvement though.

Posted too soon -

That is what copy editors are for Piglet IRL.

I'll have to have a look at Celia Rivenbark's book. I have heard of her but never read anything by her. I have read Marilyn's Schwartz's A Southern Belle Primer or Why Princess Margaret Will Never Be a Kappa Kappa Gamma, which is a hoot. (Kappa Kappa Gamma is a US college sorority known for attracting the most socially elite.)

sisterofmercy I am addicted to British detective fiction, especially "tartan noir." Some of these are "translated" for the US edition so I go to the trouble to order them from the UK so that I get the full British linguistic flavor flavour.

Marking my place to read later - I love these sorts of differences.

I'm always a bit when people say American's dont get sarcasm/irony. I used to work for a UK company with American office and the staff there were worse than us, for 'banter' taking the piss Mind you, they were in New York.

Anytime someone says we don't understand sarcasm/irony (and sometimes satire), I just point to the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, which is hugely popular. (I am not sure it is shown in the UK but have seen it referenced on here.)

I have to look for those Scone. I also like Nan Graham and Scott R Brunner for light Southern comment.

Brownstones are just New York city aren't they?

I didn't know what a stoop was for ages.

Actually I find the way pronunciation and humour/manners change across the US very interesting. I'd generally be wary of humour with a mid-westerner I didn't know well for instance.

Thing is with eg Jon Stewart, people know they're supposed to find him witty so they do.

Off-the-cuff comments from eg a neighbour/other acquaintance/stranger, not so much

(He's not shown here, Scone, but often linked in eg YouTube clips)

There are brownstones in Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, and other places, as well as New York.

What do they mean when they describe somebody as 'Main Line' (RE Philadelphia).

Jon Stewart on being censored in the UK.

thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/6mibvz/parliament-slight

Is Main Line like the Boston Brahmins?

Philadelphia Main Line connotes high social standing and old money. The name comes from the old railroad line that ran from Philadelphia into a series of affluent suburbs.

It won't play here, Scone :-(

We can only see officially authorised ones (& how those are decided, god knows)

Yes, Main Line is an expression similar in connotation to Boston Brahmins.

Was Tracy Lord a Main Liner?

Well, that is irony. The one about censorship is not authorized.

Philadelphia Story, right? Yes, she is the very definition of Main Line.

Thanks Scone. Isn't Gwyneth Paltrow's Mother Main Line? I seem to remember GP describing her as such.

The censorship is from your end I'm afraid - BBC is the same in the US. It's copyright or something

Oh, wait - it says there is a UK site at comedycentral.co.uk

\link{http://www.comedycentral.co.uk/shows/featured/the-daily-show/\here}

I'll see if I can find the censorship one

Yes, we can't play BBC videos. That is a real bummer.

There are ways round the BBC thing I believe - you can get an ISP makes it think you are in the UK?