"Americans have changed the meanings of some words..
Fanny pack... I mean.. The differences could cause a few problems "
Fanny itself means something else.
Homely is another one. I think it means frumpy and dowdy. It's a derogatory term.
Washing up is a good one. To them it's washing themselves. When I was a teen, I was at dinner with a mate and his American cousin (a girl). She said she would do the dishes and take a shower before we all went out. I said "I'll help you wash up". I got a fowl look from her. It took us a few minutes to sort it out. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
 |
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I used to have an American partner. Before we lived together we played scrabble on line (and yes we played other things as well). As spelling differed, we had to agree to use both US and UK spelling when we played. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"It's a bit like chimps and humans. There has been independent evolution of English, as there has with primates, into related sub dialects."
Are you suggesting Americans are chimp like? Sort of look similar to us just with lower IQ and more primitive behaviour? 
Mr |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"It's a bit like chimps and humans. There has been independent evolution of English, as there has with primates, into related sub dialects."
That's rich!
Usually it's the base language that gets modified to modern usage. But not the English, Pig Latin, Cockney and Chav speak. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"It's a bit like chimps and humans. There has been independent evolution of English, as there has with primates, into related sub dialects.
Are you suggesting Americans are chimp like? Sort of look similar to us just with lower IQ and more primitive behaviour?
Mr"
No. Lol.
Neutral comparison. American English and British English have a common ancestor. The different versions of British English also have a common ancestor. They all broke off at different times.
If you'd prefer, bird A and bird B have common ancestors. I wasn't disparaging either dialect. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Americans have changed the meanings of some words..
So have Brits.
Language evolves. Agentinian Spanish is different to Spanish Spanish.
Are you Essex Tom in disguise?"
Bring back old English. Before all that pesky Viking and French influence.
It's fantastic (meaning around WW2- unbelievable, a fantasy) that our language has been so corrupted. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Americans have changed the meanings of some words..
Fanny pack... I mean.. The differences could cause a few problems "
Is that why at clubs I get the stares? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"It's a bit like chimps and humans. There has been independent evolution of English, as there has with primates, into related sub dialects.
Are you suggesting Americans are chimp like? Sort of look similar to us just with lower IQ and more primitive behaviour?
Mr
No. Lol.
Neutral comparison. American English and British English have a common ancestor. The different versions of British English also have a common ancestor. They all broke off at different times.
If you'd prefer, bird A and bird B have common ancestors. I wasn't disparaging either dialect."
I didn't really think you were tbf though the description could perhaps be applied to some in their judicial system.
This effect is why I roll my eyes at the routine threads on here complaining about corruption of our language - and try hard not to feel that way myself. The fact we all use words in ways they never used to be used makes me feel quite gay (happy and carefree)
Mr |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"It's a bit like chimps and humans. There has been independent evolution of English, as there has with primates, into related sub dialects.
Are you suggesting Americans are chimp like? Sort of look similar to us just with lower IQ and more primitive behaviour?
Mr
No. Lol.
Neutral comparison. American English and British English have a common ancestor. The different versions of British English also have a common ancestor. They all broke off at different times.
If you'd prefer, bird A and bird B have common ancestors. I wasn't disparaging either dialect.
I didn't really think you were tbf though the description could perhaps be applied to some in their judicial system.
This effect is why I roll my eyes at the routine threads on here complaining about corruption of our language - and try hard not to feel that way myself. The fact we all use words in ways they never used to be used makes me feel quite gay (happy and carefree)
Mr"
Yes. I could have picked a better example.
I understand why people feel put out by it, but it's just how it is, really.
(The dialect, not the howler monkey court, its enablers, or its beneficiaries) |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
» Add a new message to this topic
