American English

[Galaxiom]

I must say that today I am extremely proud of my fellow Americans. It does not matter where or what the need, it seems America is there first, with the most and without expectations. Hardly had the dust settled from the tragic 8.9 earthquake before we were steaming to Japan's aid.

Yeah, it is incredible. Much faster than they managed to get to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

 

[Jacob Mathai]

Yeah, it is incredible. Much faster than they managed to get to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

I guess some folks always find the glass half empty when they talk about USA.

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

I guess some folks always find the glass half empty when they talk about USA.

I suspect Chippers comments on top of this from the British born , Aussie PM may have pushed him over the edge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K8CYsKr9XA

I guess she saw how well Tony Blair got paid for all the sucking up he does.

 

[Thales750]

So far 100 % of those who have mentioned it. Or alternatively - noone has mentioned it without bragging.
.

That's just resentment on your part ‘cause we took away your little empire after the 2nd World War.

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

That's just resentment on your part ‘cause we took away your little empire after the 2nd World War.

The fact that its been explained what was offensive about the original remark - and you plough on regardless of others opionions on teh matter, would be a whole lot more accurate assessment.

But you keep going with the self-aggrandisement , if it makes you feel better. You are blind to how its perceived clearly.

 

[dan-cat]

But you keep going with the self-aggrandisement , if it makes you feel better. You are blind to how its perceived clearly.

Do you remember your explanations on why the US is heavily criticized?

I think you are demonstrating quite clearly how sincere 'frustration' and 'a bit of fun' are easily muddled. I'm fairly sure Thales was just having 'a bit of fun'.

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

Do you remember your explanations on why the US is heavily criticized?

I think you are demonstrating quite clearly how sincere 'frustration' and 'a bit of fun' are easily muddled. I'm fairly sure Thales was just having 'a bit of fun'.

Yes - and we on point 3 I think. The only one I said should really bother an American. However chipper couldn't give two monkeys bells could he, though its the only one he can control, but then complains that the US gets a bad press.

Thales may have been joking - you are correct - but as a follow up to Chipper - it doesn't come across to well.

 

[Thales750]

The fact that its been explained what was offensive about the original remark - and you plough on regardless of others opionions on teh matter, would be a whole lot more accurate assessment.

But you keep going with the self-aggrandisement , if it makes you feel better. You are blind to how its perceived clearly.

I was kidding or rather inciting.

No one you will ever meet is more about the human race and not so much about National Pride.

National Pride is good as long as it promotes positive self actuation. Beyond that it causes war and strife, neither of which is useful.

 

[Thales750]

Do you remember your explanations on why the US is heavily criticized?

I think you are demonstrating quite clearly how sincere 'frustration' and 'a bit of fun' are easily muddled. I'm fairly sure Thales was just having 'a bit of fun'.

You are correct, as usual.

 

[Vassago]

So far 100 % of those who have mentioned it. Or alternatively - noone has mentioned it without bragging.
.

Really? Where? You seem about as ignorant, closed-minded, and one-sided as you claim the Americans are.

This is directed at anyone in particular, but a thought for everyone. In modern times, pointless bickering over religious and political differences seems so trivial and pitiful during natural disasters such as this. If this happened closer to home, would you refuse to help or accept help from someone and their family just because they are Muslim, gay, black, American, Canadian, Republican, British, Irish, Asian, etc...? I wish humanity could band together and stop fighting useless wars on invisible entities or bickering over a "holier than though" status when our biggest and most unpredicable enemy is still nature. Nature doesn't discriminate and has no self-serving agenda based on any of these traits. When does humanity trump these ridiculous nationality, race, sexual preference, political, or religious cards? It's just so sickening that people would use this disaster to push a personal agenda or position on one of these non-essential issues in the grand sceme of humanity.

Sometimes I wish we did have an enemy from outside this world that would force us to work together. Maybe then, people would actually stop judging others based on their closed perception of what they are taught or read in the media. Yes, believe it or not, the media doesn't care about news, only making you read or watch it, so of course they are going to only show you stuff that will make you be quick to judge without any real research. Most of the time, they don't know what they are talking about.

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

I was kidding or rather inciting.

No one you will ever meet is more about the human race and not so much about National Pride.

National Pride is good as long as it promotes positive self actuation. Beyond that it causes war and strife, neither of which is useful.

I think the teams in Japan may be nore interested in the human story rather than the national one - shame a few Americans see it differantly.

 

[Jacob Mathai]

How about the great Organization called NATO (Needs America To Operate)?

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

Really? Where? You seem about as ignorant, closed-minded, and one-sided as you claim the Americans are.

This is directed at anyone in particular, but a thought for everyone. In modern times, pointless bickering over religious and political differences seems so trivial and pitiful during natural disasters such as this. If this happened closer to home, would you refuse to help or accept help from someone and their family just because they are Muslim, gay, black, American, Canadian, Republican, British, Irish, Asian, etc...? I wish humanity could band together and stop fighting useless wars on invisible entities or bickering over a "holier than though" status when our biggest and most unpredicable enemy is still nature. Nature doesn't discriminate and has no self-serving agenda based on any of these traits. When does humanity trump these ridiculous nationality, race, sexual preference, political, or religious cards? It's just so sickening that people would use this disaster to push a personal agenda or position on one of these non-essential issues in the grand sceme of humanity.

Sometimes I wish we did have an enemy from outside this world that would force us to work together. Maybe then, people would actually stop judging others based on their closed perception of what they are taught or read in the media. Yes, believe it or not, the media doesn't care about news, only making you read or watch it, so of course they are going to only show you stuff that will make you be quick to judge without any real research. Most of the time, they don't know what they are talking about.

I fully agree - which is why Chippers first and most comments are a little off key.

I'm sure Chipper thought his comments OK - but in an American English thread - I thought it worthy of saying how many outside the US would view the comments.
If Americans like chipper arent interested in how they are viewed - fair enough. But then dont complain when you are viewed negatively.

Of what exactly am I ignorant in this matter - I have only expressed how I feel about Chippers comments, which is entirely my view - but will be shared by many many - in my experience.

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

Back to the thread topic, the link below seems relevent, although I did spot the odd inconsistency.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365751/How-British-English-Americanisms-ARENT-taking-language-research-shows.html

What were the inconsitencies you spotted Brain. I fairly well conform to the British norm as found on the survey - though I thought a few of the norms found where a North/South thing as much as British/American.

Vorse/Varse/Vais was my Grandrads expression havin heard the differant requests for a vase in Waring and Gillows for 40 years, that was within the city.

 

[Brianwarnock]

One I remember was that in the text it said that for Brits Garage was like marriage, for US like mirage, but in the table Brits garaj and Yanks garidj that did not seem consistent to me I think the table is the wrong way round.

Brian

PS I agree with your British North/South comment

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

Ok something to ponder (without googling) which English word when spoken can have 12 different meanings?

Did we ever get the answer to this? I cheated and still dont know.

 

[AnthonyGerrard]

One I remember was that in the text it said that for Brits Garage was like marriage, for US like mirage, but in the table Brits garaj and Yanks garidj that did not seem consistent to me I think the table is the wrong way round.

Brian

I wondered on that one - to be honest a few of the pronunciations I could only work out cos I knwe what they were likely to be. But that ones odd at least yes.

 

[Brianwarnock]

Did we ever get the answer to this? I cheated and still dont know.

On the 12 different meanings it depends on what he means, great would be a great one to test it on, loads of meanings without considering grate and er grate.


Brian

 

[Vassago]

You are correct, it does seem to be the wrong way around. We do pronounce "garage" similarly to "mirage," only the first "a" has more of an "ah" sound.

 

[Vassago]

I think we also pronounce marriage and mirage differently, so I'm not sure how that may impact how we are reading each other's posts.