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

peachyprice

Goldiegirl wrote: »

When they interview young 'urban' youths on TV who talk in a strange trans Atlantic gangsta slang, rather than their own regional accent, I want to but a brick though the screen!

I just laugh at them, they'll realise how ridiculous they sound when they grow up.

Georgiegirl256

heartbreak_star wrote: »

I don't like "ph" being replaced with "f" either - like in sulphur.

And "aluminum" instead of "aluminium" makes me want to go gnaw chunks out of something.

HBS x

I quite like the way they say al-u-min-um!

NYGiants

heartbreak_star wrote: »

And "aluminum" instead of "aluminium" makes me want to go gnaw chunks out of something

The chemical element was originally called Aluminum for a few years before it was changed to Alumimium (to sound like a lot of other elements, Magnesium, Pottassium etc..) Although there are still some with the -um ending.. Platinum, Tantalum etc..

The US and Canada just decided to keep the original spelling of Aluminum.

Person_one

Lots of Americanisms are actually older and more 'authentic' than our British versions. The people who travelled over to the earliest colonies took 17th century English with them and it stayed that way while ours developed and came under other influences.

Bill Bryson's 'Made in America' is a really good read on the subject if anyone's interested.

Oh, and to the OP, are you sure you weren't watching an American programme?

lostinrates

Person_one wrote: »

Oh, and to the OP, are you sure you weren't watching an American programme?

With reference to biscuits, this itself is a word import. (And means something else 'from the original' again in America) of course, because its older we don't recognise it as its so well established in our historical understanding, but that's the point, we've been fluid adopters of good things. :T

Georgiegirl256

Person_one wrote: »

Lots of Americanisms are actually older and more 'authentic' than our British versions. The people who travelled over to the earliest colonies took 17th century English with them and it stayed that way while ours developed and came under other influences.

Bill Bryson's 'Made in America' is a really good read on the subject if anyone's interested.

Oh, and to the OP, are you sure you weren't watching an American programme?

I love Bill Bryson books, they're both interesting and funny too!

claire16c

I always find it weird when I see people saying Mom on here. Since when did anyone in the UK call their Mum, 'Mom' ?

Mojisola

claire16c wrote: »

I always find it weird when I see people saying Mom on here. Since when did anyone in the UK call their Mum, 'Mom' ?

People who grew up in the Midlands have for years.

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

Gillyx

Cookies and biscuits are different things though? To me they are anyway

lostinrates

claire16c wrote: »

I always find it weird when I see people saying Mom on here. Since when did anyone in the UK call their Mum, 'Mom' ?

There are even American schools in the uk, and have been for some time. Some of us have mixed heritage. My parents actually have nicknames particular to them, and if I called them Mum or Dad would flip, though I use those here for 'simplicity'.