UK-USA

[andym]

There was a thread about a TV show in UK that sort of ended up as a sort of UK-USA Primer.Seeing as we are cousins(even if you did bin the Tea in Boston and Revolt against the King)I thought it might be interesting to post stuff thats "perculiar" to each Country in an effort to get a greater Understanding.So to kick off i thought id post this.Its not serious,but the accent is a genuine South Yorkshire one and reminds me of my childhood and Grandfather when i hear it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2AcJSkUw6M

Oh ,yeah and heres the Words.[:D][:D]


I'll never forget that first day at t'pit.
Me an' mi father worked a 72 hour shift, then wi walked home 43 mile through t'snow in us bare feet, huddled inside us clothes med out o' old sacks.
Eventually we trudged over t'hill until wi could see t'street light twinklin' in our village.
Mi father smiled down at mi through t'icicles hangin' off his nose. "Nearly home now lad", he said.
We stumbled into t'house and stood there freezin' cold and tired out, shiverin' and miserable, in front o' t' meagre fire.
Any road, mi mam says "Cheer up, lads. I've got you some nice brown bread and butter for yer tea."
Ee, mi father went crackers. He reached out and gently pulled mi mam towards 'im by t'throat. "You big fat, idle ugly wart", he said. "You gret useless spawny-eyed parrot-faced wazzock." ('E had a way wi words, mi father. He'd bin to college, y'know). "You've been out playin' bingo all afternoon instead o' gettin' some proper snap ready for me an' this lad", he explained to mi poor, little, purple-faced mam.
Then turnin' to me he said "Arthur", (He could never remember mi name), "here's half a crown. Nip down to t'chip 'oyl an' get us a nice piece o' 'addock for us tea. Man cannot live by bread alone."
He were a reyt tater, mi father.
He said as 'ow workin' folk should have some dignity an' pride an' self respect, an' as 'ow they should come home to summat warm an' cheerful.
An' then he threw mi mam on t'fire.
We didn't 'ave no tellies or shoes or bedclothes.
We med us own fun in them days.
Do you know, when I were a lad you could get a tram down into t'town, buy three new suits an' an ovvercoat, four pair o' good boots, go an' see George Formby at t'Palace Theatre, get blind drunk, 'ave some steak an' chips, bunch o' bananas an' three stone o' monkey nuts an' still 'ave change out of a farthing.
We'd lots o' things in them days they 'aven't got today - rickets, diptheria, Hitler and my, we did look well goin' to school wi' no backside in us trousers an' all us little 'eads painted purple because we 'ad ringworm.
They don't know they're born today!!!

[Chijohnaok2]

There is the little matter of us sharing a common language. [:D]

To check the oil in our car, we lift the hood; I believe you lift the bonnet.

If you live in the city, and take public transportation, an American may take the subway, while a Brit rides the tube.

An American may ask the person next to him to borrow a cigarette. A Brit would use quite a different word. A Brit looking for a smoke, and asking an american if he has any to spare, may find himself being punched in the nose.

I found a website that illustrates many of these diferences.
http://us2uk.tripod.com/index.html

Oh, before I forget, to an American, there is nothing more peculiar than haggis.

[andym]

I can assure you to a Yorkshireman or Englishman,Haggis is also peculiar!When you get down to Regional Dialects it gets very tricky to those that dont live in the UK.For instance,up in the North west,The Lake District,there is an ancient dialect spoken by a few remaining souls which is fully understood by Scandinavians today.We do share alot of common dialectic words with scandinavia.In certain parts of Scotland and North England the work for church is Kirk,which is similar to the german Kirche.Also the term "Geld" for money is used in parts of Yorkshire the same as the german word.I also beleive the UK and the US have a different meaning for the word "Beer" [:D][:D][:D]

[Jevhaddah]

I also beleive the UK and the US have a different meaning for the word "Beer"

..and fanny too [X(]

Cheers

Jev

[JWW]

Just remember, in America we still call the language English.  However, I teach English in high school, and technically we call it American English.

[Doggie]

We all know the English language evolved from it's primitive roots amongst the savages in the British Isles and eventually reached it's highest form in the mountains of Appalachia and the plains of the American southeast.

As representatives of one of the few truly civilized societies on the planet, we are far too sophisticated to make fun of our less advanced cousins on the wrong side of the Atlantic. Perhaps there will come a day when they will catch up.

[Mac67]

ORIGINAL: Doggie

We all know the English language evolved from it's primitive roots amongst the savages in the British Isles and eventually reached it's highest form in the mountains of Appalachia and the plains of the American southeast.

As representatives of one of the few truly civilized societies on the planet, we are far too sophisticated to make fun of our less advanced cousins on the wrong side of the Atlantic. Perhaps there will come a day when they will catch up.

[:D]

England and the Usa, separated by a common language and a bloody great ocean. Thank Christ! [:'(]

[NefariousKoel]

ORIGINAL: Mac67

[:D]

England and the Usa, separated by a common language and a bloody great ocean. Thank Christ! [:'(]

Good thing. I can only imagine the insanity it'd cause if we were somehow unified in breeding out everyone else. Damn Spaniards are testing us!

[CSO_Talorgan]

ORIGINAL: andym

I thought it might be interesting to post stuff thats "perculiar" to each Country

The (so called) United Kingdom is a state (in both senses of the word) made up of countries; the United States is a country made up of states. No wonder we get confused.

[andym]

Well seeing as "British English" was born before "American English" i use the word "Country" as opposed to State.One thing always coinfuses me about the US,and thats your Police.You have County Sherrifs,State Troopers,Highway Police,Federal Police,so whats that all about?In UK we have Police Constabularies for each County including The City of London(which is a special case) and the Transport Police,its a lot simpler.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: andym

... You have County Sherrifs,State Troopers,Highway Police,Federal Police,so whats that all about?In UK we have Police Constabularies for each County including The City of London(which is a special case) and the Transport Police,its a lot simpler.

Sherrif, as in the "Sherrif of Nottingham"?

"Sheriff is both a political and a legal office held under English common law, Scots law or U.S. common law, or the person who holds such office. The term 'sheriff' originates from the older office position of 'shire reeve'. "

And it gets better: see http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/sherrif

[Jeffrey H.]

And some people still refer to the inch-pound system of units as "English" units, even though the English don't use them for the most part. Slowly the inch-pound system of units is becoming known as "US Customary" or something along those lines.

[andym]

The Office of Sherrif of Nottingham etc is no longer a position for a Constable or Copper.Its now more of Ceremonial position.I do beleive that Mr Steven Segal is a Sherrif.

[bairdlander2]

Canada and USA also use different words.We call a chesterfield a couch and USA calls it "sofa".We call soft drinks pop,USA calls them "soda".As Brett Hart once said "The USA is the world's largest open toilet"

[sprior]

"American English" is a dialect as much as Geordie or Brummie is. And Scots come to that.

[Karri]

English is a good language, unless you're speaking with the british in which case you won't undrestand a word unless they for some reason decide to drop the accent. Get's only worse in Ireland.

[andym]

Karri,have you ever tried speaking to a Scouser?First you need to have your pockets sewn up and your wallet welded to your body,then comes the language,its an immense mass of incomprehensive jabber,and i'm English!

[CSO_Talorgan]

ORIGINAL: sprior

And Scots come to that.

Scots Standard English (SSE) is a dialect; Scots is a language.

[andym]

How can this be Scots English????
 
 
Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty
Wi bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,
Wi' murdering pattle.

I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth born companion
An' fellow mortal!

I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen icker in a thrave
'S a sma' request;
I'll get a blessin wi' the lave,
An' never miss't.

Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin!
It's silly wa's the win's are strewin!
An' naething, now, to big a new ane,
O' foggage green!
An' bleak December's win's ensuin,
Baith snell an' keen!

Thou saw the fields laid bare an' waste,
An' weary winter comin fast,
An' cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro' thy cell.

That wee bit heap o' leaves an' stibble,
Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!
Now thou's turned out, for a' thy trouble,
But house or hald,
To thole the winter's sleety dribble,
An' cranreuch cauld.

But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

Still thou are blest, compared wi' me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But och! I backward cast my e'e,
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!

[leastonh1]

ORIGINAL: Doggie
As representatives of one of the few truly civilized societies on the planet, we are far too sophisticated to make fun of our less advanced cousins on the wrong side of the Atlantic. Perhaps there will come a day when they will catch up.

If you're talking about our American friends....it'll never happen!! For one thing, they drive on the wrong side of the road. Nuts! [:'(]

Doggie, I'm still not sure whether you are English or American, so can't decide whether to be insulted or your best friend [:D]