Britspeak vs Americanese

[Valjean]

Or is that Americaneze?
I've found the international talkboards quite educational over the years, linguistically. I've learned that the British don't have yards but, rather, gardens; they wear their pants under their trowsers and paraffin is not a wax, but kerosene. And don't even think of asking a Brit to fetch your fanny pack.
In Australia Utes are not native Americans, but cars.

Anyone else have any examples of the peculiar expressions these strange foreigners use?

 

[Kathryn]

Well, the last time I flew on British Airways, they tried to serve me Toad in a Hole and Spotted Dick. I passed on those but I did indulge in clotted cream and strawberries.

After I got off the plane, I smoked a ***.

 

[Madhuri]

Has anyone seen my thongs? I mean...flip flops.

Put a nappy on that baby...I mean diaper.

I love beetroot...I mean beets (that's for Enchanted!)

I find Australian language interesting because we say some things as the English do and some things as the Americans do. For instance, we also say 'yard' here.

 

[enchanted_one1975]

Don't be daft, Seyorni.

 

[Kathryn]

If your car is running rough, take a look under the bonnet.

 

[Father Heathen]

Don't forget cookies, biscuits and crackers. And fries, chips and crisps. Oh, and soccer and football.

 

[JMorris]

Don't forget cookies, biscuits and crackers. And fries, chips and crisps. Oh, and soccer and football.

there is no such thing as soccer. there is only football, and american football

 

[dust1n]

I went wee wee in me britches! I mean, I ****** myself.

 

[Kathryn]

Bloody hell.

 

[MissAlice]

Dont' know, too poor to fly or learn.

 

[Kathryn]

"So, what are you guys doing for Guy Fawkes Day?"

 

[Kathryn]

"Boxing Day party at my flat!"

 

[Kathryn]

The only time I'm a damn Yankee is when I'm in the UK - or Australia, I guess.

 

[Comicaze247]

(Australian ---> American)
"Let's all get pis**d!" ----> "Let's all get drunk!"

(British ---> American)
"I'm gonna go smoke a f*g" (rhymes with "bag") ---> "I'm gonna go smoke a cigarette"
"Where's the loo/washroom?" ---> "Where's the restroom?"
"Spud" ---> "Potato"
"Flat" ---> "Apartment"
"Flatmate" ---> "Roommate"
"Knickers" ---> "Panties"
"Herbs" (pronounced herbs) ---> "Herbs" (pronounced erbs)
---"You say "erbs" and we say "Herbs," because there's a f***ing "H" in it." - Eddie Izzard

EDIT:
(British/Australian ---> American)
"Honour" ---> "Honor"
"Colour" ---> "Color"
(and so on with several other "-our/-or" words)

 

[Peacewise]

What is my major gripe with americanese/ise/ize? Ah well what is up with not using the metric system? I mean like come on isn't a crash into Mars enough to convince good ol' us of a that metric is better than imperial?
Besides, I thought usa left the brits a while back, since imperial was created by the great imperialists brit's perhaps usa should go with the great republicists, da french and their metric system.

I find that having to use three different dictionaries for english is annoying. I got the Macquarie for Australian english. The shorter Oxford for english english. and Websters for American english.
Aint it weird that only Websters is available for free on the net, you guys want us all to speak Amercian english, i'm sure!

 

[JMorris]

What is my major gripe with americanese/ise/ize? Ah well what is up with not using the metric system? I mean like come on isn't a crash into Mars enough to convince good ol' us of a that metric is better than imperial?
Besides, I thought usa left the brits a while back, since imperial was created by the great imperialists brit's perhaps usa should go with the great republicists, da french and their metric system.

I find that having to use three different dictionaries for english is annoying. I got the Macquarie for Australian english. The shorter Oxford for english english. and Websters for American english.
Aint it weird that only Websters is available for free on the net, you guys want us all to speak Amercian english, i'm sure!

thats only because we want you foreigners to learn to speak correctly.

 

[Comicaze247]

thats only because we want you foreigners to learn to speak correctly.

Don't you mean "talk right?"

 

[Peacewise]

thats only because we want you foreigners to learn to speak correctly.

cor blimey, u yanks canny spake english proper like.

Given enuff time, i'm sure we will all b speakin text speak soon enough. g8!

 

[JMorris]

Don't you mean "talk right?"

lol

cor blimey, u yanks canny spake english proper like.

Given enuff time, i'm sure we will all b speakin text speak soon enough. g8!

lol. some of us already are.:drool:

 

[monta]

English people say yard as well, but a yard is not the same as a garden, the yard is the area around the house it might be grass, concrete or paved the garden is either the area at the front or back of the house that has been planted.

Have you ever heard the term NIMBY- Not in my Back Yard .