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

Loz01

Back because I thought of another one... sunscreen instead of sun cream!

This_Year

Since this thread started, I have become aware of my daughter's Americanisms in everyday conversations so I mentioned it to her and she said to me, "does it really matter, we're all human beans (yes, her actual pronunciation!) and the English language is evolving and changing as the world gets smaller"

I think that was better than "shuddup"

coolcait

This_Year wrote: »

Since this thread started, I have become aware of my daughter's Americanisms in everyday conversations so I mentioned it to her and she said to me, "does it really matter, we're all human beans (yes, her actual pronunciation!) and the English language is evolving and changing as the world gets smaller"

I think that was better than "shuddup"

She has a point about the language evolving and changing.

I remember when 'gay' meant 'happy, cheerful'. Over the past few decades that one word has evolved to have a number of meanings (though rarely 'happy,cheerful' anymore).

I also remember lots of people talking about 'human beans' several decades ago. Sometimes 'shooman beans'.

June_Cambridge

I'm from the West Midlands where we say and write mom, it's even on some birthday/greetings cards. My mom signed cards to us from mom. I have lived in Cambridge for some years now and everyone I know says and pronounces Mum

pollypenny

hemophobic wrote: »

I don't like erbs (herbs)
Another thing is when they say second they seem to add a t on the end "wait a secondt)
And toona rather that choona (tuna)

I've never heard tuna pronounced in any other way than 'toona'!

'choona!' Never.:cool:

Saturnalia

Break-out area (instead of staffroom, lunch room, break room). Makes me think of a chinful of spots.

seven-day-weekend

Mojisola wrote: »

People who grew up in the Midlands have for years.

It was probably their ancestors that took the word to America.

We're from the West Midlands.

My son always calls me Mom and always writes it that way.

seven-day-weekend

Candy53 wrote: »

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

My American cousin didn't know what a flat was when she visited me here. I showed her my son's flat and was asked if it was a condo or an apartment (apparently it's a condo, being bought, an apartment is rented).

I also have found out that our city has a Downtown (the centre) and that my friend wears a vest (waistcoat). Another of my friends has a faucet in his bathroom.

(And my spell-checker has just underlined 'centre' and wants me to put 'center' ).

Gloomendoom

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

(And my spell-checker has just underlined 'centre' and wants me to put 'center' ).

It sounds like it is time to set your spell checker to "British English"

Gloomendoom

pollypenny wrote: »

I've never heard tuna pronounced in any other way than 'toona'!

'choona!' Never.:cool:

You can't get out much.