Possible amusing mixups with US/UK English

superfly · 23-04-2003 02:07PM

its a bit annoying when i rip loads off the web for assignments and i have to do a search and replace for words with z in it

Praetorian · 23-04-2003 02:38PM

You can run a spell check on your assignment. Just make sure your word processor is on British English. The default is usually American English.

Dictionary.com has definitions for almost every English word, including profanity. This isn't really the place for profanity however.

Victor · 23-04-2003 03:18PM

How about "faucet" for "tap"? And Liquor for all types of strong alcohol (non-beers). Drug stores and pharmacies are completely different things.

Originally posted by pickarooney
"Smoking a fag" may get you funny looks. Or appreciative ones from the gun-toting homphobic elements of society.

The real problem comes when you say you want to "light a fag".

Originally posted by mirv
and what about the utter stupidity of their 'aluminum', despite them spelling it the same way as us - 'aluminium'!

The international convention for naming elements is to use Latin, it being the "original" international language. When an American discovered Aluminium he named it "Aluminum" in breech of the convention. When adding it too the table of elements, the spelling was corrected.

Praetorian · 23-04-2003 03:30PM

The Americans just like being different. I think its hilarious when an American says they speak "American".

echomadman · 23-04-2003 04:11PM

Slightly off topic, but does anyone remember the episode of Cheers where Sam was explaining to Woody that they had won the war of independence, Woody retorted with the classic
"then why are we speaking English?"

Victor · 23-04-2003 04:14PM

Originally posted by echomadman
Slightly off topic, but does anyone remember the episode of Cheers where Sam was explaining to Woody that they had won the war of independence, Woody retorted with the classic
"then why are we speaking English?"

It's a bit like saying since Ireland has never gone to war, it has never lost a war, until some FFer says "but we lost the Civil War."

John2002 · 23-04-2003 04:34PM

They also call the bonnet and boot of a car, the hood and the trunk.

I remember a couple of Yanks laughing at us Paddy's for calling a vacuum cleaner a "Hoover". They were right.

CuLT · 23-04-2003 08:49PM

Originally posted by Praetorian
The Americans just like being different. I think its hilarious when an American says they speak "American".

Don't confuse wanting to be different with plain ol' stupidity

.

CuLT · 23-04-2003 08:52PM

Oh and where does the difference between "Judaism" and "Jewish" come in?

For instance, I am "Catholic" and believe in "Catholicism". The derivation is from the main word where as in Judaism it is completely differnet (apart from the "J").

seamus · 23-04-2003 09:07PM

Originally posted by Praetorian
I think Centre should be spelled Center. I guess its just the way one says it! Cen ter (sen tear) not (sen tree).

Curiously, a few people I know (including myself) would use two different spellings for 'centre'. I'd spell it 'center' if I was referring to the center of a circle, or a line, etc. I'd spell it 'centre' if I was referring to a shoppng centre or community centre etc.

For me, this is a side-effect of programming (everything is spelled in American English), but even a few non-nerd mates of mine do the same. IIRC, I was also taught in leaving cert maths that 'center' meant the middle of something.

'Soda' (soft drinks in America) always reminds me of those massive things that you had to keep replacing the co2 canister in, and which were useful about twice. I wonder what happended to the company that made Sodastream after their fad went down the tubes.

'Semi'. IT'S PRONOUNCED 'SEM - EE'!!

mirv · 23-04-2003 10:12PM

I think the word 'Jewish' is less accurate, but Judaism makes sense and they follow Juda, so it could be a correction?

oneweb · 23-04-2003 10:25PM

Originally posted by seamus
I wonder what happended to the company that made Sodastream after their fad went down the tubes.

I found out to my horror that they still exist when my brother came home with a brand new one last year. He's used it four times I think. (any offers?)

Back on topic, and I'd have to say...

I think 'cola' is a good one, should be used more here. Like if I ask for a Coke, I don't appreciate getting a Pepsi

auto/automobile and sidewalk. The effort.

I got a nasty look from the young wan behind the counter in a McDonalds in Dublin a good while ago. I only asked for a cheeseburger and small chips.

So they're fries, I knew that!

<edit> The word I couldn't think of earlier: jerk (as in to move suddenly). Different uptake altogether across the pond...

mirv · 23-04-2003 10:35PM

Originally posted by oneweb
I found out to my horror that they still exist when my brother came home with a brand new one last year. He's used it four times I think. (any offers?)

Back on topic, and I'd have to say...

I think 'cola' is a good one, should be used more here. Like if I ask for a Coke, I don't appreciate getting a Pepsi :mad:

auto/automobile and sidewalk. The effort.

I got a nasty look from the young wan behind the counter in a McDonalds in Dublin a good while ago. I only asked for a cheeseburger and small chips.

So they're fries, I knew that!

I credit this mispost to the fact that someone on the PI board is growing a reversely polarised mullet. Reality is breaking down as we type!

oneweb · 23-04-2003 10:52PM

Originally posted by mirv
I credit this mispost to the fact that someone on the PI board is growing a reversely polarised mullet. Reality is breaking down as we type!

OK, so I veered off on several tangents, sorry for same. I did include my 2cents on the subject tho

imp · 24-04-2003 03:52PM

Originally posted by CuLT
Oh and where does the difference between "Judaism" and "Jewish" come in?

For instance, I am "Catholic" and believe in "Catholicism". The derivation is from the main word where as in Judaism it is completely differnet (apart from the "J").

And don't even get me started on how the hell the name "Muslim" came from "Islam"...

}:>

pickarooney · 25-04-2003 10:13AM

Originally posted by CuLT
Oh and where does the difference between "Judaism" and "Jewish" come in?

Not that it's anythign to do with US/UK English, but the morphology comes from the lengthy schlep across Europe. In old Greek, Iudaeos meant 'Jew', and when incorporated into Latin became Iudae, and Iudaismus meant the religion of the Jews. Further transformations took place through old French and German - Giu/Juif/Judaisme and Jude/Judentum.

Praetorian · 25-04-2003 10:26AM

On a Califormia freeway: Fine for Littering

On a construction office in England: We Specialize in Quick erections

Kopf · 26-04-2003 06:51PM

Originally posted by Praetorian
Please keep it clean and constructive. Sexual connotations are not appropriate.

A jumper here is what the Americans call a sweater. A jumper over there is a little girls dress.

Chips here are what the Americans call fries. Chips over there are crisps.

The title of the thread is "Possible amusing mixups with US/UK English", not "Incredibly boring and well-known differences between US/UK English".

What exactly did you expect?

Christ. Bring on the secual connotations. Why they wouldn't be appropriate is far beyond me.

Praetorian · 28-04-2003 09:59AM

The title of the thread is "Possible amusing mixups with US/UK English", not "Incredibly boring and well-known differences between US/UK English".

Most people know the differences and similarities between vulgar British English and vulgar American English. Say thank you to TV.

So did you really know a jumper was a girls dress in America? Fair play to you. I had to look it up.

What exactly did you expect?

I expect people to contribute. You have not.

Christ. Bring on the secual connotations. Why they wouldn't be appropriate is far beyond me.

I haven't deleted anything from this thread....yet. Be careful what you post.

josh40 · 16-05-2003 10:27PM

In certain states a lollipop is called a sucker!

Gordon · 17-05-2003 10:06AM

lol, makes the phrase "I'm gonna git you suckah!" seem less emphatic.

josh40 · 20-05-2003 03:37PM

How about suspenders meaning braces!

Gordon · 20-05-2003 03:39PM

And retainer also means braces.

Possible amusing mixups with US/UK English

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