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

Gloomendoom

jaytar wrote: »

I'm getting confused. What is the difference in "Mum" and "Mom". They both sound exactly the same don't they? I am from the Midlands and have always spelt it "Mom" but when I say it it sounds exactly the same as everyone else where I live in the South of England!

There are the same regional differences in the US. In some places it is pronounced 'mum' (like 'drum') and not 'mom' (like 'bomb'.) They still spell it 'mom' though, regardless of how they say it.

trevor_john

Ok I'm on a rant here so apologies if it offends anyone. Like some others on here, I detest the use of the word "Awesome" especially if it's said by someone who's of a more mature age and is trying to be "down with the kids". Everything is awesome. Why not use the word wonderful or great?

I also hate the word " cool " used for everything ( god knows whether this is an Americanism but I can't bear it ).

I know a bloke who's approaching 55 years of age and constantly says things like "we must touch base " and "you guys are awesome ". YUK. It just sounds so wrong:mad:

I also cringe when I hear stupid people who are not of a african-carribbean background/descent/household try to talk like people who are because they thinks it makes them look "cool". They actually look and sound like they have a speech impediment. (Not knocking anyone who has a genuine speech impediment ) JUST TALK NORMALLY FOR GODS SAKE.:mad:

Rant over.

Tiddlywinks

jaytar wrote: »

I have just asked two of my colleagues and they both say "Mom" as in "dom". They were both born and raised here in the South East !

How old are they? Their way is not the 'usual' Southern way of pronouncing it.

Loz01

jaytar wrote: »

I have just asked two of my colleagues and they both say "Mom" as in "dom". They were both born and raised here in the South East !

Whereabouts in the south east? Ive never come across any in the east or south east that says Mom, everyone just says Mum that I know.

coolcait

pollypenny wrote: »

You miss my main point. The suffix, 'Jnr' is used when senior is long gone, as in obituaries. Who cares if you carry a family name. Was your family so precious?

The father, grandfather etc may have been precious to the family.

Keeping the suffix recognises that that John I and John II existed.

I know I haven't lost my capacity for outrage, because it has been well exercised today! :rotfl:

But Americanisms in general don't really bother me (apart from aloominum)

sharnad

Soubrette wrote: »

My OH has exactly the same problem with the nod and 'right' that seems to be the method of greeting in this area. I've told him that you just nod and say 'right' back but he says that feels all wrong. Perhaps I should tell him to respond with a nod and a 'sup'

What area is that

claire16c

jaytar wrote: »

I'm getting confused. What is the difference in "Mum" and "Mom". They both sound exactly the same don't they? I am from the Midlands and have always spelt it "Mom" but when I say it it sounds exactly the same as everyone else where I live in the South of England!

I also hate "my bad". I always want to ask "my bad what?"

If you say Mum then wouldn't you write 'Mum'?

fireyfirenze wrote: »

When you say 'mum' it sounds like 'rum' (for want of a better rhyming word!) and 'mom' sounds like 'Dom' as in dominate!

Exactly.

jaytar wrote: »

I have just asked two of my colleagues and they both say "Mom" as in "dom". They were both born and raised here in the South East !

Ive lived in the SE my whole life and I've never known anyone ever to call their Mum 'Mom' apart from my friend whose Mum is from Birmingham.

I just thought for years they were odd for doing that, but apparently its a Midlands thing which explains that, maybe your colleagues are winding you up or something.

piglet74

Oh I HATE "touch base"

seriousDFW

LondonDiva wrote: »

The one I loathe more than anything is MOM - when I see it in posts, I can feel the twitch!

What an offensive comment...I use the word 'mom' which is not an Americanism but a feature of language in the West Midlands.

So perhaps it might be worth venturing out of London to see that there in fact other parts of the UK, where there may be things which initially make you twitch. You never know, you might even get over it!

Tiddlywinks

seriousDFW wrote: »

What an offensive comment...I use the word 'mom' which is not an Americanism but a feature of language in the West Midlands.

So perhaps it might be worth venturing out of London to see that there in fact other parts of the UK, where there may be things which initially make you twitch. You never know, you might even get over it!

I'd find it REALLY hard to believe that everyone using "mom" on MSE was from the midlands though...