Undivided by A Common Language

So what do we think? Are diided by the differences in US and UK English?

It sometimes seems to me that Americans have a harder time understanding me than I have understanding them. This may be my own accent or perhaps is because our TV shows so much American TV that the American speech patterns are as familiar to me as the British ones, while the same isn't true the other way round.

The impression I get is that the difference is cultural - fear of Americanization.

The Doctor Who audio "Ish" made a big deal out of these trivial linguistic differences, treating them like they were something really profound.

I just don't see that around me. No one I know ever even mentions these differences. I've never once heard a single one of my friends comment on it. Perhaps the people that write articles about it might be concerned but for the vast majority I don't think anybody gives it a second thought. Or even a first one.

Personally I think that the differences are completely trivial.

As for "ish" - it was a moderately amusing tale and the big deal it made about US/UK differences was far from the most preposterous thing about it.

I really liked the article, Bob, and agree with his take on the differences, particularly given the expanse of land and the numbers of people. On the other hand, I did wonder about a few things:
1) He says in the British literature ise to ize is about 3:2. Really? It seems more like 100% to me.

2) I'd say, "I've already done that" and not "I already did that" and that's mostly what I hear from Americans.

3) I am not sure I'd understand this statement: "I don’t know if she understands French, but she may do." She "may do" what? It is one time when I don't think I'd "immediately understand" the meaning, which is what he says Americans would do.

4) I have never heard an American "hot under the collar" about Britishisms. I am not sure about Americanisms in Britain.

quote:

It sometimes seems to me that Americans have a harder time understanding me than I have understanding them. This may be my own accent

I think you've hit the nail on the head. Your Birmingham accent is harder for me to understand than arnie's or Richard's accents. It's more like the Scottish accent, which also was harder to understand.

quote:

Originally posted by Kalleh:

2) I'd say, "I've already done that" and not "I already did that" and that's mostly what I hear from Americans.

Around here it's "I done that already."

I'll post a comment on that article as soon as I have it translated into English.

quote:

"I don’t know if she understands French, but she may do."

"do" is used to stand in for "understand French"

We don't always say it this we, but we may do.

(i.e. may say it this way)

Of all the Britishisms, or whatever they're called, that is one that legitimately would stump me. "Do" seems more active to me - or maybe it's something else, but it just doesn't seem right to me.

Would you have any issue with this exchange?


Do you play football?
Yes, I do.

It's just the same thing.

When being married or sworn in on the witless stand, one usually says, "I do." "Aw, what the f*%k, why not?" is gaining in popularity in some areas, however.

quote:

"Aw, what the f*%k, why not?" is gaining in popularity in some areas, however.

"I take the Fifth" is popular in New Jersey.

I didn't know you could drink booze in court.

Bob, it is the "may do" that throws me. It seems to me that the do is superfluous. I'd understand it if it were, "but she may," but not "but she may do."