English vs English

[deanb]

So this was an old thread that got a fair bit of use.

 

While the base language for UK n US may be the same, hundreds of years apart have lead to some changes in the words we use, the meanings some words have and the phrases and such that we use.

 

Obviously main difference is the lack of U in the US words.

 

A good starting point that was linked in last time is here:

http://www.bg-map.com/us-uk.html

 

Here's a nice fun one too.

 

 

So got any words that you've maybe picked up on watching Doctor Who, Top Gear, Office etc you don't have a clue about, or vice versa with CSI, holly wood, Office etc just yell up.

[Akuam4n]

I know I spell colour, with a u. Why? I thought it was cool in elementary school. I also call my mother my mum occasionally, and say eh a lot. I don't think I use much slang, really.

 

I've seen that video before though, god I love Hugh Laurie.

Edited December 31, 2010 by Iamaquaman

[deanb]

Another good one, though we've found the Thru thing is untrue and it's just short hand.

[Hot Heart]

'...the Dutch speak four languages and spoke marijuana'.

 

It all makes sense...

[Dee]

I tend to say things like 'fuckin' mint' or 'mingin' and 'do one'. I have a friend from the UK who I speak to a lot and it's rubbed off on me. I also watch a lot of Eastenders, so I've picked up on their slang too.

[TheMightyEthan]

Just since joining the forum I've started saying stuff like "I've not" instead of "I haven't." It's weird.

[Yantelope]

Takeaway food = takeout or carryout or togo.

 

I've never heard it referred to as takeaway before.

[LucasReis]

Interesting thread.

 

I'm not a native English speaker, but I use English way more than my own language for writing and even speaking (my job is heavily English-based because most of my clients are foreign). It's funny because I only started speaking English when I was 16, and I learned it by myself because I had a lot of interest in it (blame my interest for American and British music, and English-sung music in general and also the fact that I used to read a lot of GamePro, EGM and other US magazines).

 

And also blame pop culture in general, because my accent is very American oriented. I really like to spot the differences between British, American and other accents such as Jamaican (a really fun version of English to my ears). I admit I had a hard time when I went to England for the first time, because I'm really used to the American accent, but after like 1 hour I was already used to it. It's cool to notice the different expressions used in both "versions" of the language. The same things happens with authentic Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese.

 

That said, one of the things I like the most about the British is their sense of humor and the expressions they use for cursing, which are really funny!

[Yantelope]

That said, one of the things I like the most about the British is their sense of humor and the expressions they use for cursing, which are really funny!

 

That's why Top Gear is awesome.

[Battra92]

In America we stays parts or pieces

 

In UK they say bits

 

To me, this is a bit:

 

or this:

 

or these are bits:

 

THESE are pieces:

[Battra92]

This was quite interesting for different British accents. It also brings up a good point that we should make a point to speak correctly with the largest vocabulary possible.

[Yantelope]

Winston Churchill said that using a big word when a little word would do was utterly reprehensible.

[Hot Heart]

In America we stays parts or pieces

 

In UK they say bits

 

To me, this is a bit:

 

First image is a drill bit...

 

You'd say a 'bit of' something, but it's informal. No distinction there.

[Battra92]

In America we stays parts or pieces

 

In UK they say bits

 

To me, this is a bit:

 

First image is a drill bit...

 

You'd say a 'bit of' something, but it's informal. No distinction there.

 

The only time I hear Americans say bit when not referring to the equine or drill versions is in relation to "bits and pieces." One singular part is never referred to as "that bit there;" it's always "that piece/part there"

 

Or when referring to the worst piece of candy this side of Mary Janes:

[deanb]

Well a bit is also a small part of something. Which In all those cases the bit are a small part of a drill, tack and computer. You can have a bit of cake, bit of pizza, be a little bit tipsy.

 

Oooh Tipsy.

 

Drunk:

• Tipsy
• Pissed
• Wrecked
• Rat-arsed
• Blasted
• Trollied (Trolleyed?)
• Plastered
• Wellied
• Smashed
• Trousered

 

And probably many more.

 

edit: Apparently I never posted this. Damn people getting me side tracked.

[TheMightyEthan]

Winston Churchill said that using a big word when a little word would do was utterly reprehensible.

They drill this into us at Law school, tell us never ever ever write in legalese. The point being that you'll be a less effective advocate; the judge isn't going to be impressed by your big words and complex sentences, but he will have a harder time following your arguments, and therefore be less likely to rule in your favor.

 

Most lawyers apparently don't get the message though. I know I still struggle with keeping sentences short.

 

Whatever your field though, engineering advice to live by:

 

KISS

[Hot Heart]

I still struggle with keeping sentences short.

 

Quite the opposite of the UK legal system!

 

DO HO HO HO!

[TheMightyEthan]

Well a bit is also a small part of something. Which In all those cases the bit are a small part of a drill, tack and computer. You can have a bit of cake, bit of pizza, be a little bit tipsy.

But that's what he's saying, in America you don't have a bit of cake or pizza, though you can be "a little bit" whatever, though usually in that case you'd leave off the bit and just be "a little drunk."

 

In America (these are just the ones I can think of, others can add more):

 

Tipsy

Drunk

Wasted

Crunk/crunked-up

Hammered

Soused

 

*Edit*

 

Sloshed

Plastered

[slithy toves]

you forgot a personal favorite of mine, sloshed.

[deanb]

Yeah I was just kind of expanding up on it. We'd have parts n pieces as like..components. So the cream is part of a cake. RAM is part of a computer. But RAM isn't a bit of a computer. If you stuck a IED inside your computer then yeah it'd become bits n pieces.

Actually you probably could say 'the ram is only a tiny bit of the computer'.

But you definitely wouldn't eat a part of a pizza.

 

 

Hammered n wasted are others we have. Soused n crunked are new. Actually wasted n hammered are pretty common dunno how I forgot them.

[Hot Heart]

But you definitely wouldn't eat a part of a pizza.

 

You'd have a piece of pizza or piece of cake. Hence, why I was never seeing Battra's distinction. I think it just varies case to case?

[Battra92]

We wouldn't eat a bit of pizza either; we'd eat a slice or just "some pizza."

[TheMightyEthan]

I'd eat a piece of pizza.

 

But what Battra was saying is that outside of a drill bit, a horse bit, or a binary bit, we almost never use the word "bit"... Well, it's also the past tense of "bite" I guess...

[deanb]

But you definitely wouldn't eat a part of a pizza.

 

You'd have a piece of pizza or piece of cake. Hence, why I was never seeing Battra's distinction. I think it just varies case to case?

 

Yeah but the phrase was bits n pieces or parts n pieces. I think the piece we use the same.

 

You'd have:

bit of pizza, some pizza, piece of pizza, slice of pizza. But I don't think a part.

If you were eating a part of the pizza it'd be in reference to just like picking the toppings off or something. "jim stop just eating part of the pizza n eat the whole slice"

 

Part = component

bit = small amount.

[TheMightyEthan]

I wouldn't ever say "I ate a part of pizza" referring to a slice, but if someone was like "Hey, what happened to the pizza?" I might say "I ate part of it." Usually that would mean I had a few pieces, though.

 

Part = "component" or "fraction"