Two nations divided by a common language. (2 Viewers)

[The_Doc_Man]

I'm still convinced that pizza is an American UPF concoction. I simply don't believe that the Italians could ever come up with anything as unhealthy.

Pizza was based on a Naples dish involving flatbread with toppings including cheese. However, a dish very much like pizza was recorded in 997 AD in the town of Gaeta. There is a nice Wikipedia article on it. And from historical evidence, I'm afraid your disbelief instinct is wrong. Italians ARE credited with both the early snack of melted cheese on flatbread and the later, more complex composition from the 18th & 19th centuries. Yes, the Italians came up with a very unhealthy dish.

 

[CJ_London]

The margherita pizza was named after an Italian queen and the colours of the ingredients represent the colours of the Italian flag

There are more localised versions of Asian food - I believe the Chinese chow mein was invented in San Francisco, the Indian tikka masala in the uk for example

 

[DickyP]

Pizza was based on a Naples dish involving flatbread with toppings including cheese.

Not disputing pizza is Italian but what is fun is the way every town down the Amalfi coast claims it is them who invented it!

It also isn't necessarily unhealthy - just the sugar and fat laden commercial versions with the ultra processed toppings!!

 

[DickyP]

When I was learning English (which still am), I tried to grasp the difference between Britain and American English (which I don't any more).

Very sensible since we can't agree. However, we will, of course, tell you when you are wrong. Wrong here is defined as "I disagree with you" whatever the actual evidence.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Not disputing pizza is Italian but what is fun is the way every town down the Amalfi coast claims it is them who invented it!

It also isn't necessarily unhealthy - just the sugar and fat laden commercial versions with the ultra processed toppings!!

Actually, both of those are problems, but the one that is worse for me is the fats that render into oils that puddle on the cheese. With my gall bladder no longer a part of me, I am somewhat fat-sensitive. Pizza is one of those things I can no longer eat unless it gets blotted to remove the oil slicks. Fried chicken is another favorite that I can't have ... except, believe it or not, Popeye's Fried Chicken, because they use a different cooking oil that doesn't hit me so hard. Whatever KFC uses, or a southern USA chain called "Brother's", that also hits me badly. Fried seafood is another one I have to watch, depending on who makes it. I have found a couple of local seafood chains that drain their offerings pretty well. But in general, fried foods and pizza, two things I used to absolutely love, are no longer my friends.

 

[DickyP]

Oil is the problem with a lot of foods. Fish and chips was traditionally cooked in beef dripping which makes a far less greasy, crisper product. Have to find chippies that still use it though which are few and far between.

 

[Isaac]

Came across another difference today which surprised me. I got talking to two American tourists in my home city of Norwich. I used the expression "to throw the baby away with the bathwater", which they'd never heard before. Do our US members recognise this expression?

Yes, my parents used that expression all the time - but it's aged, and only older people may have heard it

 

[DickyP]

Yes, my parents used that expression all the time - but it's aged, and only older people may have heard it

Possibly youngsters don't have baths anymore!

 

[CJ_London]

When I was a kid, there was a children’s program(me) called Captain Pugwash. I can’t remember all the characters names but the two I do recall were Seaman Staynes and Roger the cabin boy.

Didn’t appreciate the double meaning until I was older and I guess the BBC wasn’t so hot on appropriate content at the time

Edit - just found this link

Captain Pugwash (TV Series 1957–1975) ⭐ 6.8 | Animation, Family

5m | TV-Y

m.imdb.com

To a more up to date version but the names have been changed - but reminds me of another character - Master Bates

 

[Cotswold]

Very sensible since we can't agree. However, we will, of course, tell you when you are wrong. Wrong here is defined as "I disagree with you" whatever the actual evidence.

Maybe the Americans would benefit if they learnt to spell correctly?
Always a constant irritation to the English.

 

[NauticalGent]

Maybe the Americans would benefit if they learnt to spell correctly?
Always a constant irritation to the English.

And take away the fun you have in correcting us?!?! Perish the thought!

 

[Cotswold]

There is similar situation in Thailand. There everyone speaks English with an American accent. I can only think that they spend all their time learning English by watching films made in the USA.

Some companies (the terrible Virgin Media being one) subcontract support to Asian countries and again we hear those sort of phoney American accents. Which, with their natural accents distorting them, they can be really difficult to understand. May as well drop the line and try again for someone else who may be better. But in the end invariably, you just give up and accept Virgin support doesn't.

 

[Isaac]

I'm originally from Ohio and they definitely know what a taco is. That must have been an isolated missed word. I don't remember going to many Mexican restaurants while there in my youth though. I remember maybe once or twice eating Mexican food outside of what my mother made for us at home on occasion, which was you guessed it, taco's.

When I met my wife (from Mexico) and started to spend time there and with Mexicans in a more intimate and longer term way, I found out a lot of things that were interesting to me. Frijoles is a staple. The ubiquitousness of cheese is an American thing, and doesn't really happen in Mexico. They would think lettuce and ranch sauce pretty funny in a taco. And, Taco means something very small and that only.

 

[AccessBlaster]

Yep, no cheese or lettuce required. And always, always drink Mexican beer with Mexican food.

 

[Isaac]

Yep, no cheese or lettuce required. And always, always drink Mexican beer with Mexican food.

when I was about 14-15 my brother got married in Mexico. We were in a hotel with plenty of free time in the day preceeding it. I'd sneak into the bar and order "dos dos equis" quite a few times. It was only my second time drinking. My family is mostly tetotallers, so that was a big deal. Not sure how nobody smelled it on me. A memorable experience.

(then I drank enough in my 20's, 30's and 40's for a lifetime, so am no longer allowed - )

 

[DickyP]

When I was a kid, there was a children’s program(me) called Captain Pugwash. I can’t remember all the characters names but the two I do recall were Seaman Staynes and Roger the cabin boy.

Didn’t appreciate the double meaning until I was older and I guess the BBC wasn’t so hot on appropriate content at the time

Edit - just found this link

Captain Pugwash (TV Series 1957–1975) ⭐ 6.8 | Animation, Family

5m | TV-Y

m.imdb.com

To a more up to date version but the names have been changed - but reminds me of another character - Master Bates

Actually the character names is a myth. I got this, I might add, directly from John Ryan himself when he was signing my daughter's copy of 'Pugwash and the Buried Treasure'. He agreed that Master bates sounded bad the way Pugwash pronounced it but the Cabin boy was always Tom and there never was a seaman Staines. What did bug him, however, was that the BBC changed Tom from being home counties English to Irish, and the pirate Barnabas (west country) replaced by Jonah a Jamaican, without reference to him.

 

[Cotswold]

......

What did bug him, however, was that the BBC changed Tom from being home counties English to Irish, and the pirate Barnabas (west country) replaced by Jonah a Jamaican, without reference to him.

All that time ago and the BBC were distorting the original story.
Now totally custom and practice at the BBC. Presumably the BBC are busy 'training' their own AI to avoid any human error by missing to change something that should comply with the BBC rules of truth and propaganda.
Satire has had no effect at all in changing anything.

 

[CJ_London]

Another good myth ruined

 

[Mark_]

Back to the original, I've a feeling asking someone to grab your rubbers (or Wellies) out of your boot would confuse most Americans. Not sure if those are still common terms in the UK though. For the US, that would be grabbing your rain boots (Galoshes) out of the trunk.

I've always had fun with how different languages (or even different regions) can really mess with those who are not local. Had to do training with someone who referred to the "uppity box". Took a bit to figure it was an elevator.

 

[BlueSpruce]

Maybe 40 or so years ago, I was told of a Brit living in California who applied for the word BOLLOCKS for his car number plate.
The authorities over there who hadn't a clue of the meaning, allowed it.

I thought Bollocks meant BS or Rubbish? Words I often hear Brits use are Mate and Bloody, and the phrase Piss Off. Then there's the word Dodgy, which in the US we use Sketchy or Dicey.