Americanisms gone too far, are you guilty?

Victor · 24-05-2019 01:44PM

Hamsterchops wrote: »

Went with a friend to Dundrum shopping mall centre last week, and as we were leaving the car park she mentioned that she was taking the elevator to the stores on the top floor of the mall :cool:

The interior 'streets' in a shopping centre are called malls, e.g the Swan Centre in Rathmines has Dome Mall, Rathmines Mall, Town Hall Mall, Castlewood Mall and The Gallery and the centre dates from the mid-1980s.

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Ursus Horribilis · 24-05-2019 01:45PM

I can live with the Americanisms. It's people speaking with phoney American accents that gets to me.

the beer revolu · 24-05-2019 01:49PM

I'm probably guilty of using dude and man too much but I remember this being pointed out to me over 20 years ago, so it's not a new thing.

Wibbs · 24-05-2019 01:49PM

Zaph wrote: »

I would have also been of that opinion until I met my wife, who's from Cork. Apparently it's pretty much the Cork/Kerry equivalent of "ma" in Dublin and its use is widespread down there. However the reason for it has nothing to do with American TV, it's from the Irish "mam", which is pronounced "mom". So the yanks probably stole or from us rather than the other way round.

I have heard this every time this comes up Z, though sometimes it's Kerry. However find me any audio or video on the interwebs pre the mid 90's where any Irish person uses "Mom" speaking english. But let's say that's the case and it's from the Irish(though it always sounded like a broader Ahh sound to me

and where we get the very Irish "mam") and a south west thing, it sure as night follows day wasn't an east coast/Dublin thing Z, yet it's endemic nowadays.

The whole Yank accent thing started back in the late 90's more with young women as these things tend do(as women have a generally better ear for them and languages) and some of them now sound like nasal valley girls. Tends to be more a middle class thing too. Just like the Dort accent before it where they more aped a received British accent.

the beer revolu · 24-05-2019 01:55PM

Wibbs wrote: »

I have heard this every time this comes up Z, though sometimes it's Kerry. However find me any audio or video on the interwebs pre the mid 90's where any Irish person uses "Mom" speaking english. But let's say that's the case and it's from the Irish(though it always sounded like a broader Ahh sound to me and where we get the very Irish "mam") and a south west thing, it sure as night follows day wasn't an east coast/Dublin thing Z, yet it's endemic nowadays.

The whole Yank accent thing started back in the late 90's more with young women as these things tend do(as women have a generally better ear for them and languages) and some of them now sound like nasal valley girls. Tends to be more a middle class thing too. Just like the Dort accent before it where they more aped a received British accent.

I grew up in Cork in the 70s and 80s and my mum was always called mom.

We probably would have referred to her as mum but addressed her as mom.

pjdarcy · 24-05-2019 01:57PM

Zaph wrote: »

I would have also been of that opinion until I met my wife, who's from Cork. Apparently it's pretty much the Cork/Kerry equivalent of "ma" in Dublin and its use is widespread down there. However the reason for it has nothing to do with American TV, it's from the Irish "mam", which is pronounced "mom". So the yanks probably stole or from us rather than the other way round.

Is "mam" not pronounced as "mam" in Ireland any more?

jimgoose · 24-05-2019 02:01PM

I have to hold my hands up here because, having been working for and with the Yankistanis for the last 25 years or so, many Americanisms - subtle and not-quite-so-subtle - have crept into my mode of speech. Having learnt the alphabet by watching Sesame Street when I was three or four doesn't alleviate this either. :pac:

Harry Palmr · 24-05-2019 02:05PM

The Irish love parroting Americanisms and idioms - a few are okay as they sound good - the exclamation
"Gordon Bennett!" being a good one but for the most part it's really fingernails down the blackboard whiteboard to my ears esp when it turns standard use of the language on it's head - as in "can I get a BTL with no mayo" when of course you are making a polite request which someone else will carry out. If you got a BTL with no mayo you'd be told to get back on the other side of the shop counter PDQ

Thelonious Monk · 24-05-2019 02:10PM

I know, right?

I hear girls on the Dorsch sometimes that sound like they're straight outta the OC. If my daughter started talking like that I'd send her to a convent for penance.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 24-05-2019 02:13PM

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I know, right?

I hear girls on the Dorsch sometimes that sound like they're straight outta the OC. If my daughter started talking like that I'd send her to a convent for penance.

They view their own culture as inferior so they ape a trendy one.

Church on Tuesday · 24-05-2019 02:14PM

Zaph wrote: »

I would have also been of that opinion until I met my wife, who's from Cork. Apparently it's pretty much the Cork/Kerry equivalent of "ma" in Dublin and its use is widespread down there. However the reason for it has nothing to do with American TV, it's from the Irish "mam", which is pronounced "mom". So the yanks probably stole or from us rather than the other way round.

That's interesting, I didn't know that. I did have an ex with ties to that part of the country (father was Kerry) who referred to her mother as 'mom' which I personally found grating but I suppose that explains that.

I'm from Mayo though and I've heard a lot of folk use that term there and indeed throughout much of the country.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 24-05-2019 02:14PM

Harry Palmr wrote: »

The Irish love parroting Americanisms and idioms - a few are okay as they sound good - the exclamation
"Gordon Bennett!" being a good one but for the most part it's really fingernails down the blackboard whiteboard to my ears esp when it turns standard use of the language on it's head - as in "can I get a BTL with no mayo" when of course you are making a polite request which someone else will carry out. If you got a BTL with no mayo you'd be told to get back on the other side of the shop counter PDQ

Is 'Gordon Bennett' not a cockney thing?

Deebles McBeebles · 24-05-2019 02:17PM

the beer revolu wrote: »

What a ridiculous statement.
It's used on menus all the time, I use it this was, I've heard lots of people use it this way. You seem to think that because you don't use a term, nobody does. What a staggeringly insular way to be.

What a staggeringly contrary way to be. You might need a holiday. May I suggest Asia, they do a great slaw.

jimgoose · 24-05-2019 02:23PM

the beer revolu wrote: »

What a ridiculous statement.
It's used on menus all the time, I use it this was, I've heard lots of people use it this way. You seem to think that because you don't use a term, nobody does. What a staggeringly insular way to be.

The "slaw" element of the word coleslaw derives from "sla", is the Dutch word for salad or, depending on context, lettuce. I personally also find it pretentious and irritating the way certain trendy types insist on replacing the perfectly serviceable and descriptive "salad" with it.

jimgoose · 24-05-2019 02:31PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

They view their own culture as inferior so they ape a trendy one.

...And I believed that my stumble
Had the poise and stride of Apollo
And his voice my thick-tongued mumble.

Mickeroo · 24-05-2019 02:33PM

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

I can live with the Americanisms. It's people speaking with phoney American accents that gets to me.

Ah it's not just me then. It seems to the majority of people under the age of 25 or so. Girls seem to be more prone to it than the lads too.

Boom_Bap · 24-05-2019 02:33PM

Yee haaawww, darn tootin we is copying them motherf*ckers for da east to da west side. I hope we don't get afflicted with consumption. Let me put on my fanny pack and we are all set.

jimgoose · 24-05-2019 02:35PM

Boom_Bap wrote: »

Yee haaawww, darn tootin we is copying them motherf*ckers for da east to da west side. I hope we don't get afflicted with consumption. Let me put on my fanny pack and we are all set.

Yes, I too am quite at home with the Downeys. The drive-by patio-admirings are getting ridiculous around hereabouts but, consarnit.

ceadaoin. · 24-05-2019 02:42PM

Deebles McBeebles wrote: »

Thanks for the unnecessary and uninvited lesson but I was referring to people using it as short for coleslaw. No one has ever used it in the other way in Ireland.

No one in America calls coleslaw "slaw" though. It's always coleslaw. Then theres broccoli/apple/loads of other types of slaw. So calling it that isn't an Americanism , more like a try hard attempt at one.

jimgoose · 24-05-2019 02:42PM

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I know, right?...

"Right" is a Newfoundland thing. We have a Newfie here in the office. He tells me a typical conversation back home would go "So I go to the store, right? I need to get some .243 Winchester for the rifle, right? And some beans. Because these Polar bears, are getting ridiculous. Right??"

Harry Palmr · 24-05-2019 02:43PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Is 'Gordon Bennett' not a cockney thing?

They have culturally appropriated it! James Gordon Bennett was an Irish-Scots American who was a newspaper magnet and early fan of motor-racing and other death defying pursuits .

Grayson · 24-05-2019 02:44PM

Hamsterchops wrote: »

Agreed, same goes for elevator (instead of lift).

Why don't you call it the living stairs then ya west brit :P

Edit: ever have that bit where somethings funny in your head and then you read it and realise "he said elevator, not escalator".So let's all pretend that the poster said escalator and that way my post is mildly funny instead of mildly stupid.

Thelonious Monk · 24-05-2019 02:46PM

jimgoose wrote: »

"Right" is a Newfoundland thing. We have a Newfie here in the office. He tells me a typical conversation back home would go "So I go to the store, right? I need to get some .243 Winchester for the rifle, right? And some beans. Because these Polar bears, are getting ridiculous. Right??"

I used to be married to one and never noticed that!

the beer revolu · 24-05-2019 02:46PM

jimgoose wrote: »

"Right" is a Newfoundland thing. We have a Newfie here in the office. He tells me a typical conversation back home would go "So I go to the store, right? I need to get some .243 Winchester for the rifle, right? And some beans. Because these Polar bears, are getting ridiculous. Right??"

A bit like how certain English people constantly add on "didn't I" , "wasn't I" etc.
Seeking approval or conformation in every sentence.

Gwynplaine · 24-05-2019 02:47PM

Up til I was 26 or 27 I always thought it was 'coldslaw'

The one that makes me shudder is "my bad". Lad you're a muck savage from Wexford, why dont you go call your mom on your cellphone and axe her to get some jello.

jimgoose · 24-05-2019 02:50PM

Harry Palmr wrote: »

They have culturally appropriated it! James Gordon Bennett was an Irish-Scots American who was a newspaper magnet and early fan of motor-racing and other death defying pursuits .

His son, James Gordon Bennett Jr. and commonly known as Gordon Bennett to distinguish him more easily from his rather eminent if ruthless father, was a mad bastard. His excesses and escapades inspired the use of "Gordon Bennett!" as a mild expletive. I'm not quite sure hoe the British picked it up, though.

Ush1 · 24-05-2019 02:51PM

My 5 years old calls crisps "chips" because of that little bollocks Ryans Toy Reviews.

ILoveYourVibes · 24-05-2019 02:52PM

Ush1 wrote: »

My 5 years old calls crisps "chips" because of that little bollocks Ryans Toy Reviews.

This is too far.:mad:

jimgoose · 24-05-2019 02:53PM

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I used to be married to one and never noticed that!

No bears here, Chief. And you can't get .243 Winchester without a deer license.

Pherekydes · 24-05-2019 02:57PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

They view their own culture as inferior so they ape a trendy one.

How do you work that out? These kids are playing Camogie, Hurling and GAA; doing Irish dancing and going to Gaelscoileanna, all while aping American accents they hear on Telly.

Better 'Mom' than 'Maaaaaaaa'.

Americanisms gone too far, are you guilty?

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