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AjarnIam
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 95
Location: Thailand
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 Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:30 am Post subject: Textbooks with a British slant. |
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My intention of writing this isn't to dis UK publishers, because I've been fortunate to use some great textbooks from the UK. However, do you think it's necessary for the average ESL student to have a firm understanding of what is very clearly old British vocabulary. Obviously this vocabulary didn't carry into the British colonies, so why is it important to teach students about the greengrocer being opposite of the newsagents, right beside the chemist. I've asked several British colleagues if this is even common vocabulary in the UK. Most of them laughed and said the hadn't heard the term "greengrocer" since they were kids. Just curious and my intention isn't to start another revolution.  |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:46 am Post subject: |
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| Wouldn't say greengrocer is that old-fashioned. Not compared to 'haberdashery', which I once saw on a street-map used for a directions lesson. Maybe your colleagues were very young city-slickers, and have never gone shopping in a real market? |
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AjarnIam
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 95
Location: Thailand
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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| I sensed this to be the outcome of this post. |
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tomstone
Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 293
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes, the British spellings and usages can be confusing to the students, but British English is fading, the younger Britishers aren't using it so much, US English is becoming the standard. About the only "old-timey" British usage that can be a real problem is the "billion-trillion" difference; the college supplied a new textbook last term that had the old use, but it gave me a chance to explain it to the class. |
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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, the British spellings and usages can be confusing to the students, but British English is fading, the younger Britishers aren't using it so much, US English is becoming the standard. |
I couldn't disagree more strongly.
Neither "US English" nor "British English" are really becoming the standard. Second language variants are really the most common forms of English nowadays, with "Hinglish" (slang for the English of India) probably having the greatest numbers of speakers.
I have to object to your statement on two other levels, though-
ONE- there is really no such thing as "US English" or "British English." Both nations are home to an incredibly wide spectrum of language variation.
I'm from Iowa. I'm in the classroom right now with a teacher from NYC and another from Philly. Which of us is speaking American standard? Cuz we sure as heck don't talk the same.
TWO- The idea that "young Britishers" are somehow adapting to the "US English" and using "British English" less is puzzling, at best. Ever been to the UK, mate? What are you basing this assertion on? In what way are "Britishers" using less "British English?"
And why would "British spellings" be any more confusing than any other spellings?
I just don't see where you're going with this.
Best,
Justin |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Justin,
Vive la diff�rence (which is French English.)
Regards,
John |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Just curious, in an idle yet genuine sort of way, but is the term 'Britisher' still used nowadays in the States? It is still has currency in India, but in, I think, some sort of ironic manner. Wouldn't want to confuse the poor students, innit? |
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tomstone
Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 293
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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| I just don't see where you're going with this. |
I'm talking about students asking me why I spell "theater" with an "er" instead of "re", color instead of colour. In China the dictionaries are almost all British spellings and pronunciation. I tell them that both are correct and acceptable. The "standard" I was referring to is primarily the "billion-trillion" that was confusing some of them (still would be confusing in global finance, since the "old" British billion was the current trillion).
Yes, I'm well aware of regional differences in the US, especially when my relatives in North Carolina want to go to "dinner" and I'm six hours late.
| Quote: |
| Just curious, in an idle yet genuine sort of way, but is the term 'Britisher' still used nowadays in the States? |
I don't think so, but I knew a man from England in the US and he referred to himself as a Britisher; I had seen the word before but I had never heard anyone use it. |
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santi84
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: under da sea
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Dear Justin,
Vive la diff�rence (which is French English.)
Regards,
John |
Which is different from Franglais - longtemps, pas voir (longtime, no see).
Language is confusing  |
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tomstone
Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 293
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Language is confusing |
Droll, succinct, and true. |
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santi84
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: under da sea
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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| tomstone wrote: |
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| Language is confusing |
Droll, succinct, and true. |
Keeps us employed  |
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AjarnIam
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 95
Location: Thailand
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| Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:51 am Post subject: |
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| Hi, I started this thread out of curiosity more than anything. When I started teaching I was very confused with the British vocabulary. I live in one of the biggest former British colonies and I have never heard of boots, bonnets, windscreens (on cars), green grocers, news agents...ect ect |
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tomstone
Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 293
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| Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:05 am Post subject: |
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See what you started? Maybe next time you'll think twice!
Actually, I think the Britishisms are fun to compare with what the US people say; lift, smalls, softies, etc.
In the US you mail a letter at the Post Office. In England you post a letter with the Royal Mail....... |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:36 am Post subject: |
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| There are many textbooks, especially business ones, that have "international English" which is kind of a mix of both. |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:35 am Post subject: |
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| AjarnIam wrote: |
| Hi, I started this thread out of curiosity more than anything. When I started teaching I was very confused with the British vocabulary. I live in one of the biggest former British colonies and I have never heard of boots, bonnets, windscreens (on cars), green grocers, news agents...ect ect |
I really don't mean this to dis you, but your lack of awareness is really not the publisher's fault!
And there are books out there with an American slant, too.
When differences arise in my classes, I simply say, "X is British, and Y is American." Given how many varieties of Arabic there are out there, the students get it.
d |
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