Americanisms...is it just me that finds them irritating?

annie_d

it's not a "big deal". Hahaha language is fluid. It changes over time. Over a short time.

paulineb_2

annie_d wrote: »

it's not a "big deal". Hahaha language is fluid. It changes over time. Over a short time.

Yes but when the most common phrases are

totes emosh
amazeballs
and whateves

You worry

claire16c

lostinrates wrote: »

This is a huge generalisation. There are swathes of insular America (and Uk, and anywhere else, but aided by the fact its a HUGE place that people holiday within, contrasted with us, small and close to cheaper, warmer places!). Increasingly concerningly we find that the young post grads we encounter the Americans are the least insular and the most intellectually curious. Of an already tightly self selected group I find that concerning for our young people. If we can import THAT sort of attitude I'm all for it.

It's not helped by their media and news. If you watch the news in the US not much is about anything that isn't happening in America.

KarrieBee

paulineb wrote: »

Yes but when the most common phrases are

totes emosh
amazeballs
and whateves

You worry

Really? the most common phrases? I think you'll be in for a long wait if you think that is going to happen!

Gloomendoom

daisiegg wrote: »

I am a teacher and we are TOLD to refer to those we teach as students rather than pupils! I don't know if it is felt that 'pupil' is belittling? Or that 'student' is a constant reminder of the fact that they are there to STUDY? No idea, but it is what we are told - I wasn't aware it was particularly an Americanism.

You are now!

In British English, a student usually means someone who has finished school and is studying at university

In American English, student is the usual word for anyone who is studying at school or college.

Source

Pont

I can't quote all the posts (but have thanked) the references to the use of the 'z' rather than the 's' for realize, apologize ec. Yep - it's OE rather than an Americanism (note 'ism' is with a s). We've changed to a more European form of spelling as with the addition of 'u' in words such as colour, and additional letters in words such as programme rather than program (OE).

Most American spellings remain true to OE - still doesn't excuse the simply awful overuse of words such as 'awesome'!

Saturnalia

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

If it's any consolation, I very rarely see those giant buggies, certainly not in the malls I've visited. If I do see one, it's invariably a British woman.

I saw one recently, blocking the entire shop, complaining about how hard it was to manoeuvre in there and wondering why everyone was staring at her. She probably thought they were admiring it!

But then again ... those ultra fit nannies with jogging buggies take some beating!

p.s. your username is very familiar to me ... are you an ex-bagger?!

No, it's not the size of the buggy, but referring to it as a travel system that gets on my nerves.

Funnily enough it's the little buggies that you can get around shops fairly easily with who are owned by the most arrogant - barging through a queue is quite common here. No 'excuse me', nothing.

And yep, I am an ex-bagger... were you a different name on there?

paulineb_2

KarrieBee wrote: »

Really? the most common phrases? I think you'll be in for a long wait if you think that is going to happen!

I was joking.

Even in Scotland those phrases arent commonplace, yet.

Candy53

I hate 'Americanisms' too.

The two phrases that irritate me the most, which we adopted are:

'Being in denial' and 'Needing closure'.

'Awesome', 'kinda' 'gotten',
and now 'sideburns' instead of sideboards. Some people are using the word 'apartment' instead of 'flat' now.

Another one that we took on but has thankfully faded out is 'What's his status?'


Candy

Gloomendoom

Are 'gonna' and 'wanna' Americanisms?