The BBC has released details of the 50 most detested Americanisms. Click HERE to view them. I wonder if any American followers know of a list of most undersirable Englishisms?
I am not a fan of 24/7 but I know what you mean about "sorry, sorry". I always say "no you're not" and people get quite angry!! Is a car park a parking lot?
I guess (being a Brit in the US) I've got used to most of those phrases now, and they all seem quite normal. 'Normalcy' did used to make me snigger though.
Re: UK language - I think sometimes, just too many words are used to stumble apologetically into a question, instead of the more direct approach (for example - 'can I get?' versus: 'Excuse me, do you think it would be possible for me to...'
Yes, a parking lot or parking garage is a car park which to me sounds like a place you take your car to let it run loose off a leash.
"You've been such a good car. I'm going to take you to the car park to run around for awhile."
When I was staying with an English friend in Oxford I kept saying, "Stop apologizing. You didn't do anything!" But the worst was in London on the tube. I can remember being shoved a bit and stepped on someone's foot. They turned and said, "Sorry, sorry." I just stared at them dumbfounded before saying, "No, I stepped on your foot. I'M sorry."
Funny funny observations. I can't think of any Britishisms, but I'm sure they exist. How can I teach correct English to French people when the language is being used so lamentably?
Oh when I was traveling in Britain for a month I had dozens. Now all I can think of are:
ReplyDeletecar park
zebra crossing
Hospital instead of "the hospital"
and constantly hearing "sorry, sorry" when it was clearly used as nothing more than a reflex and meant nothing.
I am not a fan of 24/7 but I know what you mean about "sorry, sorry". I always say "no you're not" and people get quite angry!! Is a car park a parking lot?
ReplyDeleteI guess (being a Brit in the US) I've got used to most of those phrases now, and they all seem quite normal. 'Normalcy' did used to make me snigger though.
ReplyDeleteRe: UK language - I think sometimes, just too many words are used to stumble apologetically into a question, instead of the more direct approach (for example - 'can I get?' versus: 'Excuse me, do you think it would be possible for me to...'
Yes, a parking lot or parking garage is a car park which to me sounds like a place you take your car to let it run loose off a leash.
ReplyDelete"You've been such a good car. I'm going to take you to the car park to run around for awhile."
When I was staying with an English friend in Oxford I kept saying, "Stop apologizing. You didn't do anything!" But the worst was in London on the tube. I can remember being shoved a bit and stepped on someone's foot. They turned and said, "Sorry, sorry." I just stared at them dumbfounded before saying, "No, I stepped on your foot. I'M sorry."
Funny funny observations. I can't think of any Britishisms, but I'm sure they exist. How can I teach correct English to French people when the language is being used so lamentably?
ReplyDelete