peteryoung: (Schwa)
[personal profile] peteryoung
  • Vive la difference and all that, but why do some Americanisms irritate people? My personal bête noire: "awesome", especially when used to replace "thank you". So what Britishisms irritate Americans and antipodeans?
  • Date: 2011-07-13 04:07 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] replyhazy.livejournal.com
    It makes me a bit crazy when people say something has "gone pear-shaped" because... er... I am pear-shaped.

    Date: 2011-07-13 04:12 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] voidampersand.livejournal.com
    The exact counterpart of "awesome" is "brilliant".

    Date: 2011-07-13 05:25 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] grytpype-thynne.livejournal.com
    In Leicester it is Bwillyant, although that doesn't quite capture the phonetics.

    Date: 2011-07-13 07:59 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] bugshaw.livejournal.com
    I haven't had an excuse to use this icon for ages - and now I do! Brilliant!

    Date: 2011-07-13 04:49 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] dyfferent.livejournal.com
    "sort of very" - it's either sort of or it's very, it can't be both FFS.

    "(dis) orientated" - having grown up using (dis) oriented, it sounds overly precious to me.

    Sporting terminology, but for your sport, such as 'hat trick'. And various cricket terms. I don't like American sporting terminology either mind.

    Doctors who use words like 'tummy' and 'womb' rather than the appropriate anatomical term; it feels infantile. And who tell you to 'pop off' your clothes. My clothes do not pop off.

    'Liase' as a verb. It has a slimy feel.

    I don't normally mind, but adults saying things like 'brekkie,' 'biccie,' and 'cuddle' again sounds quite childish if they're not actually conversing with children.

    I'm used to it now, but the use of cunt, twat, etc in reference to men used to take me aback considerably, as in the US the same terms are used to denigrate women and are the Heavy Artillery, coming just before actual punching.

    There are many more words I like than dislike, though.

    Date: 2011-07-13 07:08 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] replyhazy.livejournal.com
    My UK dance friends who use the term "cossies" for costumes throws me for a loop every time.

    Date: 2011-07-17 09:05 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] pennski.livejournal.com
    I'm curious. What replaces "cuddle"? Hug? Or something else?

    Date: 2011-07-13 05:26 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] grytpype-thynne.livejournal.com
    Possibly "We used to own your country, you know..."

    Date: 2011-07-13 05:46 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] peteyoung.livejournal.com
    Or "So how are things in the colonies these days?"

    Date: 2011-07-13 08:13 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] dfordoom.livejournal.com
    why do some Americanisms irritate people?

    Mostly it's just part of the knee-jerk anti-Americanism that is so common these days. American slang is no worse than English or Australian slang.

    Date: 2011-07-14 12:53 am (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] dfordoom.livejournal.com
    I get more annoyed by things like textspeak and other horrors of the digital age.

    Date: 2011-07-14 07:27 am (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] peteyoung.livejournal.com
    Txtspk has recently been found in secondary school exam papers in the UK. Now that is horrific!

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