The Majestic Channon Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 Everything's ' awsome' 'you do the math' 'Note to self' .. some people watch too much gilmore girls And many more Is it just me who hates this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry the Badger Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 I don't think anybody is trying particularly. It is, unfortunately, the natural development of the language. This has happened throughout the centuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 "Can I get....." That one makes me grit my teeth, and want to punch them. (The person, not the teeth.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 Q.How are you? A. I'm good. That annoys me more than anything. And DJs over here like Steve Wright and the ginger tosser use it because they feel it makes them sound trendy and current. Whenever somebody responds that way to my polite enquiry as to their general health and wellbeing, I often quietly think - I didn't ask you about your behaviour. In the case of girls, I usually think - That's a shame. Personally I much prefer bad girls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/14130942 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14201796 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14285853 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintbletch Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 I don't think anybody is trying particularly. It is, unfortunately, the natural development of the language. This has happened throughout the centuries. I don't agree that it is a natural development of the language that has happened across centuries. I agree that language changes and always has. For centuries though; this has been down to the slow ebb and flow of population movement due to migration, displacement due to war/famine, etc. Technology introductions like the printing press and initiatives such as lending libraries have all increased the pace of change a little. However the arrival of the Internet/new media, satellite broadcasting and the popularity of American music artists has accelerated this enormously in recent times. There is a tipping point after which our youth will not know what the 'proper' words and terms are and I don't have great faith in our schooling system to change that. I for one mourn the speed at which our own language is being replaced by a global English based on Americanisms. I also realise that there is very little that can be done about it because as you say, it is natural for language to change and adapt. But the pace of change brought about by our now global inter-connectedness is totally unnatural. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 I'm actually guilty of using Australianisms. I very regularly say "No Worries" instead of "Your Welcome" at work when a customer says Thank-you. Lord knows where or how I adopted that, I reckon it's because I am a cockle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 people that start a sentance with "it's so...." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 I'm actually guilty of using Australianisms. I very regularly say "No Worries" instead of "Your Welcome" . Guilty as charged. Been saying it for as long as I remember, or at least from the 1st time I went to Oz sometime in the mid 80s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry the Badger Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 I don't agree that it is a natural development of the language that has happened across centuries. I agree that language changes and always has. For centuries though; this has been down to the slow ebb and flow of population movement due to migration, displacement due to war/famine, etc. Technology introductions like the printing press and initiatives such as lending libraries have all increased the pace of change a little. However the arrival of the Internet/new media, satellite broadcasting and the popularity of American music artists has accelerated this enormously in recent times. There is a tipping point after which our youth will not know what the 'proper' words and terms are and I don't have great faith in our schooling system to change that. I for one mourn the speed at which our own language is being replaced by a global English based on Americanisms. I also realise that there is very little that can be done about it because as you say, it is natural for language to change and adapt. But the pace of change brought about by our now global inter-connectedness is totally unnatural. What? So you don't agree, but you agree? Yes I know that it is not EXACTLY the same as has happened in the past, I know that the pace of change is being driven by the fact the world has become a much smaller place due to technology. However, it is still essentially the same process going on now as has been going on forever, the development of language. We may not like it but it is inevitable, it is the way language works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFrost Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 It's like how "guys" now refers to women and blokes now instead of just men. Had a waiter in a restaurant say that one to me and some friends the other day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durleyfos Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 "I'm so liking that" No, "I like that". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 Omg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintbletch Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 What? So you don't agree, but you agree? Yes I know that it is not EXACTLY the same as has happened in the past, I know that the pace of change is being driven by the fact the world has become a much smaller place due to technology. However, it is still essentially the same process going on now as has been going on forever, the development of language. We may not like it but it is inevitable, it is the way language works. Perhaps I didn't make that very clear. I'm sorry you didn't understand Barry the Badger. The OP posed the question about why this trend was so apparent 'nowadays'. You appeared to be saying that this was just a natural process. My response, was attempting to say that whilst I agree there is a natural process, the reason 'why so many people are trying to sound American nowadays' is that the natural process is being accelerated by unnatural means. Now you could argue, and perhaps you are - it's not clear, that everything that causes language to evolve is natural. I would say that the natural evolution relies on direct, face-to-face communication. Everything else that has allowed for our language, grammar and memetics to evolve is unnatural. This includes books, phones, TV, Internet, etc. And I feel that it is these unnatural influences that have hastened the pace of evolution. As you say, it doesn't change the fact that the process has started and by the end of it we'll all be talking a homogeneous blend of global English heavily influenced by American culture. But, if you are saying that the pace of change is natural, then I don't agree. My daughter has met very few Amercans face-to-face but that didn't stop her from referring to the sloping front section of a car as a 'hood' the other day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint-scooby Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 Its the Wiggers I have a problem with ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Bateman Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 Working for an American company and with a lot of American people, I keep trying to resist picking up their stupid sayings and wrong spellings. Someone had the cheek to tell me I had the wrong spelling for "favourite" (as is this web-browser, bloody Chrome), I told them to f'off. Zee Reach out to Loop in Math and other general nastiness. Still, they all now know what the words mush and cacker are and I've just recruited someone else in here from this forum, so that's two of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 I was about to go into a local bakery shop this morning and I changed my mind because the 'offers' board outside read 'Check it out'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 Gee. What a swell thread already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 I must have missed the meeting where it was decided that "my bad" was acceptable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaMarlin Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 Why should we blame Americanisation for strangling English when we do a prefectly good job of it ourselves? Have you ever heard Geordies talk, and how they mangle the language? "He's went and tooken it," and the use of "us" for "ours" as in: "What's for us teas, lass?" make me cringe. But that's accepted as regional variation. I still get riled by the difference between US and UK rivers. Mississippi River, Colorada River v River Thames, River Itchen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 Gee. What a swell thread already. It would be if this were the 1950s. Don't get out much t? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpb Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 I have never been comfortable with calling children 'kids' - in my mind kids are still young goats but 'a bunch of' really annoys me - I once heard an American tourist call out "There's a bunch of shops over there." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 prefer americanism to grimey londonism.... s'up blud...u wan anyting..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattio Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 What a spiffing thread chaps, keep it up... Pip pip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Bateman Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 prefer americanism to grimey londonism.... s'up blud...u wan anyting..? Spotty white boys trying to sound Jamaican?? Morons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Bognor Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 "Can I get....." That one makes me grit my teeth, and want to punch them. (The person, not the teeth.) This makes my blood boil. If I was serving someone who said that to me, they would GET "No you can't ****ING get it. That is my job you ****ing knob jockey. You're not a yank, so don't try to pretend otherwise you ****" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Warrior Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 Whats your point Buddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithy Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 I have a problem with people talking like everthing is a question? Its getting worse and worse? Its becoming more and more popular? It really gets on my t!ts? The sentance always finishes on a high note? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 I don't think people are consciously trying to sound American. Language evolves, and the Americans have vast cultural power. Think of all the films you've seen this year and then consider the proportion that were American-made and feature actors with American accents. As saintbletch points out, many people don't even know that the words they are picking up are American in origin. Frankly, there are more important things to worry about, and suspect there is a touch of "oh feck, our Empire's gone and now our language is going too" about some of the comments on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 I have a problem with people talking like everthing is a question? Its getting worse and worse? Its becoming more and more popular? It really gets on my t!ts? The sentance always finishes on a high note? Yeah, they call that uptalking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 Yeah, they call that uptalking. Thats not what I call it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry the Badger Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 Now you could argue, and perhaps you are - it's not clear, that everything that causes language to evolve is natural. . That is exactly what I'm saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpb Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 "I'm going to the bathroom," also annoys me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 (edited) Why do us English folk moan so much about everything ?? jeez louise Edited 29 July, 2011 by Smirking_Saint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jawillwill Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 Jeez, some of you guys have got some real fries on your shoulders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpb Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 I was once watched teaching by an American student who was shocked when I told the class to get out their pencils and rubbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigersaint Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 This thread makes me wonder if there is some American citizen out there in the US posting the opposite on a forum and asking "Why are so many people trying to sound Brit nowadays?" I'm sure it must happen both ways with global communication so widespread these days. All types of exchange and interpretation of the English language from one country to another probably changes and spreads to people the world over evolving the language. Language spreads easily and new words, terms, and catch phrases can regularly be heard amongst groups of friends, I'm sure we've all noticed it when one friend utters a new phrase out of the blue and within weeks most of your friends are using it too. TV advertising is another, "Simples" anyone? Grrrrr... Hate it when I hear people say this! I don't think it's that many people are trying to sound American these days, we've probably sent as many their way including the English language to begin with. With the fast growing evolution of Global communication in the last 15 years I doubt there are many decades left before the entire globe will be left speaking a single dialect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheaf Saint Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 I'm sure it must happen both ways with global communication so widespread these days. All types of exchange and interpretation of the English language from one country to another probably changes and spreads to people the world over evolving the language. I think you're right, and it is not limited to English either. I am currently trying to learn Spanish and I am using various different sources for my learning. There is a website I use where I can watch videos of people speaking with both Spanish and English subtitles. The videos come from many different places - either from Spain or from various Latin American countries - and on top of the obvious differences in pronunciation, you can recognise the different trends for using certain words and grammar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintbletch Posted 30 July, 2011 Share Posted 30 July, 2011 (edited) This thread makes me wonder if there is some American citizen out there in the US posting the opposite on a forum and asking "Why are so many people trying to sound Brit nowadays?" I'm sure it must happen both ways with global communication so widespread these days. All types of exchange and interpretation of the English language from one country to another probably changes and spreads to people the world over evolving the language. Language spreads easily and new words, terms, and catch phrases can regularly be heard amongst groups of friends, I'm sure we've all noticed it when one friend utters a new phrase out of the blue and within weeks most of your friends are using it too. TV advertising is another, "Simples" anyone? Grrrrr... Hate it when I hear people say this! I don't think it's that many people are trying to sound American these days, we've probably sent as many their way including the English language to begin with. With the fast growing evolution of Global communication in the last 15 years I doubt there are many decades left before the entire globe will be left speaking a single dialect. Some evolutionary scientists refer to the process you're describing as memetics. The argument is that in the same way that our genes move around the gene pool over time based on the the dominance (fitness) of the gene owner, so memes do the same. Instead of a unit of genetic information; a meme is a unit of cultural information - a word, phrase, idea, concept, behaviour, belief, philosophy, etc. As we see others 'benefiting' from using a word, phrase, behaviour, etc. so we turn to it to derive the same 'benefit' for ourselves. Albeit largely subconsciously. I do agree that the process you describe above can work both ways, such that English memes find themselves in use in the rest of the world. The issue however is the dominance of US-based media companies. Massive media organisations can bankroll the best film, tv productions, music, video games. Global programming like this makes a lot of commercial sense to massive media organisations. As our language is 'the same' then many of the best 'products' come to us from the US. Our youth then understandably watches, listens and plays all day long, immersed in a language similar but not the same as ours. Over time the transfer of 'memes' happens by stealth. The Internet has accelerated that process still further. I have to say that if we hadn't had such a strong national broadcaster over the past 50 years, the majority of our television intake of comedy and drama would have originated in the US and our language as a distinct variant of English would have been near extinction now. I'd concede that we definately punch above our weight in music where we've had a massive influence around the world and perhaps BBC America is responsible for some US citizens using the term 'sonic screwdriver' but that's about it I fear. Edited 30 July, 2011 by saintbletch World has an ell in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintbletch Posted 30 July, 2011 Share Posted 30 July, 2011 Now you could argue, and perhaps you are - it's not clear, that everything that causes language to evolve is natural. [my emboldening] That is exactly what I'm saying. Well again we don't agree Barry the Badger. I agree that the process by which language evolves is natural. But the communication media are not necessarily natural. To illustrate my point; which thing is the most natural? the telephone? email? the text message? tv shows? radio shows? films? To my mind these are all unnatural accelerators of a natural process. The distinction is important because with non-natural media, governments can legislate to try to protect a language or culture - as the French and to a lesser degree the Welsh have tried. The process of language evolution cannot and shouldn't be resisted but the speed and means by which it changes can be influenced. Whether we should try to protect our language and even if we did try whether we could protect our language is another discussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpb Posted 30 July, 2011 Share Posted 30 July, 2011 Related to the discussion... Back in the times when we sent convicts to Australia, people used to use an outside toilet called the 'dung can'. We stopped using the expression over here but it lives on in Australia as the 'dunny' or 'can'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cascadia Saint Posted 30 July, 2011 Share Posted 30 July, 2011 That's just like, your opinion man. I've lived in the states for almost 8 years and I have picked up a lot of American words, phrases and inflections. I can't help it, I've seen other ex-pats and all have varying degrees of how much they adopt. I worked with one cockney who had been here for 30 years and he sounded more cockney now than when he left! I have no idea how he managed that. I have noticed in the last few years that more of my friends back in the uk saying 'dude' and other americanisms, it definitely surprises me sometimes when I hear words I'm only used to Americans saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revolution saint Posted 30 July, 2011 Share Posted 30 July, 2011 Related to the discussion... Back in the times when we sent convicts to Australia, people used to use an outside toilet called the 'dung can'. We stopped using the expression over here but it lives on in Australia as the 'dunny' or 'can'. I think Bill Bryson wrote a book about exactly these occurences. I'm fairly sure that "fall" was used in England before "Autumn" was - America kept it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpb Posted 30 July, 2011 Share Posted 30 July, 2011 I think Bill Bryson wrote a book about exactly these occurences. I'm fairly sure that "fall" was used in England before "Autumn" was - America kept it though. Maybe, I read it in 'The Adventure of English' by Melvyn Bragg. The way that English can develop in different countries is highlighted by this extract from a Jamaican nursery rhyme book,,, Rasta Garge, bulla and pear Kissed de girls and make dem swear When dem girls come out to play Rasta Garge, he haul dem body away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffo Posted 30 July, 2011 Share Posted 30 July, 2011 Thankfully it's mainly girls that speak like it here. 'Dude' is my pet hate though. Worst of all as has been mentioned previously, are the 'wiggas'. White lads trying to act black, dress black and speak black. Utter, utter c*nts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 30 July, 2011 Share Posted 30 July, 2011 Have to admit this whole 'like' thing gets right on my tits "I was, like, ... And she was, like,...omg... ****s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revolution saint Posted 30 July, 2011 Share Posted 30 July, 2011 Have to admit this whole 'like' thing gets right on my tits "I was, like, ... And she was, like,...omg... ****s The word "Like" is quite often abused. In the context you've described it's a redundant expression - there's no need for it. It's also used as a substitute for "similar to" as well which annoys me. For example, "steve de Ridder is like Chamberlain". Like is a form of approval, nothing more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 30 July, 2011 Share Posted 30 July, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dark Sotonic Mills Posted 30 July, 2011 Share Posted 30 July, 2011 My daughter has been invited to a 'Baby shower' this afternoon. WTF is this all about then? Peer pressure and guilt on friends and relatives to attend and to buy gifts for an as yet unborn child. Insidious creeping in of more Americanisms: the selfish, 'me, me, me' culture. What is wrong with accepting gifts from people who want to give them after the baby is born? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 30 July, 2011 Share Posted 30 July, 2011 My daughter has been invited to a 'Baby shower' this afternoon. WTF is this all about then? Peer pressure and guilt on friends and relatives to attend and to buy gifts for an as yet unborn child. Insidious creeping in of more Americanisms: the selfish, 'me, me, me' culture. What is wrong with accepting gifts from people who want to give them after the baby is born? Absolutely agree! And, recently, two women I know have had stillbirths at full term. Much better to wait until after the baby is born IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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