Job Discussion Forums

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[steki47]

[steki47]

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Oh, I forgot to add that you can use US spellings to show not just language variation, but language change. The way English is spelled is the way it sounded by the speakers who had the power (gh souded like a German ch) when spelling was solidified. Language change occurs through contact with other cultures, and splitting off and isolating a group from another (that's how French- a Latin language with heavy Germanic and Celtic influence ended up so radically different than Spanish- a Latin language with a heavy Arabic influence). If it weren't for mass media and transportation, eventually "North American English" {US and Canadian varieties of English} would likely have developed into entirely different languages from English) Language can also change through deliberate attempt (seen especially with French in Quebec- a deliberate attempt to not change, even though French in France changes- meaning that it is inevitable that North American varieties of French will differ greatly from European varieties of French regardless of how much effort is put into NOT changing).

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

You could also just start spelling things in the Non-US manner. I think most people in Japan now usually spell in the US manner because that's what the kids are taught (and importantly... that's what they're tested on) and every now and then if you forget a 'u' or you get the 'r' and the 'e' in the 'wrong' order, you can just tell them that things are sometimes spelled differently in the US.

[Sashadroogie]

[nickpellatt]

Agree with sasha...all the terms mentioned are very standard UK words, and I find it highly improbable that someone from the UK doesnt use words such as 'greengrocers' or 'newsagent'. They really are standard and very much still in existence. 'Britishers' would be very rare though IMO. I have never used it, and I dont recall hearing it either.

I wouldnt say 'British English' is less used in the UK now either ... but I do think we recognise terms that are typically US ones now, although we recognise 'sidewalk', 'elevator' etc, we would still commonly say 'pavement' and 'lift'. I think our recognition of US words is due to the TV/Movie/Music influence. I dont know how one way that is though, and whether Americans are as familiar with UK vocabulary.

I havent taught many EU students, but I would assume many of them are schooled in a variety of English that is more British, simply because of geography, and that may add value to the variety of English learnt in lots of countries. Im in China at the moment, and havent met lots of people who have visited the UK, but have met lots who have visited Europe. I would guess they will be using English to communicate with other Europeans, who will also be speaking English as a second language, and varieties of British English are more likely to be the common ground...maybe?

[Sashadroogie]

Yip, Britisher is quite a rarity these days. One of those strange words that we all know of from written texts but never actually use in everyday speech - much like the journos favourite, 'Briton'. Ever describe yourself as that? Sounds as strange as that chap who AjarnIam says described himself as a 'Britisher' whilst in the States.

Agree with Nick about the influence of media on transatlantic lexical awareness. Most people would be aware of the meanings of various terms Americans use due to exposure to TV and cinema. But I doubt very much that it works the other way around. Many American colleagues seemed quite baffled by terms like 'to have a row', 'to give someone a ring'. Which is understandable, I suppose, when first encountering them. But is it so hard to hear a term 'take-away' in a fast-food context and then to make the mental leap to 'take-out'? I can figure out that 'counter-clockwise' probably means 'anti-clockwise'. Not confusing at all.

I recommend further exposure to Britisher telly and flicks to aid skill of deducing from context.

[johnslat]

Dear Sashadroogie,

I'm surprised that you've run into Yanks who don't understand "to have a row," "give someone a ring," and "take-away" since all of them seem very familiar to a Yank such as myself.
"To take the piss" did puzzle me at first, but the context I read it in enabled me to make an accurate guess as to its meaning. And such phrases as "streets ahead" and "different as chalk and cheese" don't seem unduly taxing to grasp.
Much as I hate to say it, you do seem to have some unusually dense American colleagues,

Regards,
John

[Sashadroogie]

Hey John, not my fault - I don't choose them!

I've even had encounters with some who were surprised that I understood them at all (presumably because they couldn't follow what I was saying.) Anyway, to add a touch of balance, not many of my North American colleagues are so dense - just the ones who provided said examples. Unlike you and to a lesser extent myself, they didn't last too long in teaching. Not too surprisingly. It is a bit embarrassing when one's own students are better at deducing words from context - especially in one's own language. Oh, the stories I could tell...

[Justin Trullinger]

[tomstone]

Edit. No, I won't go there.

[tomstone]

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[johnslat]

Dear GambateBingBangBOOM,

Presumably then, we can eliminate coffee as being the cause of us 'mercans spelling funny.

The search continues.

Regards,
John