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Two Countries divided by a common language

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Friar Tuck, Dec 20, 2010.

  1. Friar Tuck

    Friar Tuck Member

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    George Bernard Shaw was attributed to saying that the USA and the UK are two countries divided by a common language.

    I see that Americans for example have 'back up cameras' where as in the UK these would be 'reversing cameras'.

    There's also the 'boot' or Trunk, and we have the 'bonnet' which I think you call the hood. The exhaust pipe is the tail pipe, and we have gear sticks or cars with manual control, where as you have 'stick shift'.

    There are also obvious spelling differences like Night and nite.

    Can anyone else think of any other words that cause amusement or confusion.
    I am also regularly confused by the food that Americans eat. Your food is so wide and varied.

    When I go to the States, I spend half the time asking 'what this is' and 'what that is'.

    The food tastes great, but I haven't a clue half the time what I am eating.

    I wonder if you find some of the UK foods a little odd or confusing. (pork scratchings, chitterlings, pickled onions, Branstone pickle, neaps and tatties, bubble and squeak, pork pie etc)
     
  2. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    Spotted Dick is a bit different here, too ;)
     
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  3. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Yes but...The reason I travel is to experience different things, if I wanted everything to be just like it was at home, I would stay home.:D

    Fortunately British and USian are largely mutually intelligible, except for Geordie and a few other dialects.

    My favorite toast when UKians are in the group.

    "Here's to the US where 200 years is a long time and to the UK where 200 miles is a long distance."
     
  4. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I"m currently working through a Rosetta Stone course for Queen's English. I'll let you know when I'm finished.
    (just kidding; I'm not really)

    I sometimes spell things with an extra 'u'. Not on purpose. Things like neighbour.

    There are various inconsistencies that often throw me off. For example, you can easily teach a child to "double a consonant" when adding "-ing" or "-ed" such as with the words budding, hitting and fibbing. But it doesn't work with traveling and traveled. Nor does it work with pummeled.
     
  5. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    It does if you spell travelling and travelled correctly. :D

    All those 'extra Us' are *supposed* to be there. It's the US spelling that's introduced the change. And what's up with mispronouncing 'zed' so it rhymes? :rolleyes:
     
  6. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    a) A pudding made with currants or raisins.

    b) Oh look, there's Richard!

    c) A reason to see your doctor ASAP.
     
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  7. walterm

    walterm Active Member

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    Two terms which can cause confusion if you're not aware of multiple meanings:

    torch - I was somewhat shocked by a repair manual suggesting examining brake linings by using a torch through an examination hole. Then I realized (realised?) it was a British manual.

    paraffin - there was a bicycle group discussing the best way to clean a chain, and some folks suggested paraffin, which led to lots of Americans dipping their chains in melted wax (not a great solvent) as opposed to what was originally meant (kerosene),
     
  8. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    "Rubber" comes to mind.

    As a point of clarification, "stick shift" refers normally to only a floor mounted shifter. Shifters in general are called "shifters" or "shift levers".

    Tom
     
  9. FL_Prius_Driver

    FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member

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    Until the British had to give in, a billion caused confusion. Till then I kept wondering where that extra thousand came from.
     
  10. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Should I point out our slang for a cigarette?

    "I'm just popping outside for a fag as I'm gagging for one". Causes many raised eyebrows in the US and even Canada - so I'm told.
     
  11. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Um .... once I went to the doctor and took all the antibiotics, that cleared right up
     
  12. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    What is it with Winnepegians? That ex BF I had there confessed he'd had a similar round of treatment...

    ewwwwwwwwww
     
  13. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    We call them tires but you call them tyres.
     
  14. morgasshk

    morgasshk TMCA Sales and Product Trainer

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    It's all becoming a moot point anyway, with so flipping many of our youth today not being able to spell, speak or write in either variation of English...

    Though, I do find it amusing in the youtube video's where Americans (USA) are asked about what language they speak - Universally it's a "you're kidding right" response of: American of course???

    Ask any 15year old kid these days what a Noun, Adverb, Verb, Adjective or ProNoun is.... 90% will not have a clue... its a very sad state our education is in (all over, not just Australia or America. lol)
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    +1. the teachers can't even speak english anymore.:(
     
  16. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Now that is funny. :D
     
  17. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Hmmmmmm

    Perhaps something in the water. I just KNEW that Shoal Lake had something funny going on
     
  18. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    Actually, they do make chain wax for bicycle chains. I have some and it works great for lubricating the chain without attracting as much dirt as oil does. For best results, you need to clean the chain first before using the wax.

    You can now get it in a squeeze bottle, but I have an "old school" metal can that you put on a hot plate and then dip the chain into it, pull it out and let it dry.
     
  19. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    I'd heard that in the UK, one shouldn't compliment a woman on her pants, in the front of others.

    Good (?) sources of glossaries of American vs. British English can probably be found by Googling for Britspeak. At first glance, BritSpeak and The Best of British - The American's guide to speaking British... look decent.

    When I went to the UK, I was reminded of some of the differences that I encountered when I went to Australia, long ago. We don't have signs that say "way in" or "way out". We don't have "mind the gap" announcements. We don't have lifts and we use restrooms or bathrooms, not toilets. We line up, not queue up. I've never seen signs using the word pram or perambulator in the US. (Fortunately, I'd heard of these words years ago.)

    I was semi-amused that the Tube line I was on ended at Cockfosters. The names of the lines like Jubilee and Piccadilly were a bit odd to me too as were some station names like King's Cross. King? In the US?

    I heard announcements of ____ line having "good service" and saw signs mentioning that too. I've never heard of that in the US. Here, it'd be something along the lines of operating normally or there are no delays.
     
  20. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Well I could lower the tone a little here but in the US a fanny is your rear end or behind, whereas in the UK it has the same meaning as pussy. Causes many a chuckle when watching US films and tv programmes. :eek:

    Regarding the "good service" I'm wondering if you misheard them mentioning a "goods service"? as I've never heard of the former being announced. A goods service is a goods train or freight service.