why do people who live in america say

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Tequila
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29 Mar 2007, 7:38 pm

larsenjw92286 wrote:
Wow!

People don't do that very often here!


Oh, I think you'll find they do. All the popular American TV shows get uploaded onto BitTorrent sites and other places. That means that us UK folk can watch them too. Same works the other way. How could many Americans/Canadians/Australians watch Doctor Who earlier than it airs in their own respective countries for example? :)



larsenjw92286
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29 Mar 2007, 7:39 pm

That is to say, Americans use DVRs (digital video recorders) instead.

By the way, if an American said, "I'll put my bike in the boot of my car" to another American, they would think the person saying it is very silly!


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Tequila
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29 Mar 2007, 7:41 pm

I'm sure they do. And almost all English people do. It's usually only a few thousand techies who bother with BitTorrent. It can be useful though. I'm going on holiday tomorrow. I'll miss all my favourite shows. My DVD recorder is on the blink but no worry: I can simply download them when I get back. :)



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29 Mar 2007, 7:43 pm

I echo. Right now I'm on page 700 of an Anthony Trollope novel, set in Victorian England, and my writing is a little more formal than usual these days.



larsenjw92286
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29 Mar 2007, 7:44 pm

And honestly, the British English term "boot" would sound silly to an American.


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larsenjw92286
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29 Mar 2007, 7:45 pm

Is there any specific reason for that?

I'm just curious.


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29 Mar 2007, 7:45 pm

Saying 'trunk' in England would also sound faintly silly.



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29 Mar 2007, 7:52 pm

I once heard a lady (a receptionist) who had an interesting accent. So I (finally) politely asked, and she was from the Isle of Jersey. Oh, never met anyone from there. Quite pretty, really. Accents here are even more regional than in the US, which are quite comical to my ear. Southern USA accents amuse me no end. In a nice way, I mean ...


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29 Mar 2007, 7:54 pm

Jersey as in the Channel Islands? I've heard the odd Channel Islands accent and they all sound quite posh. Manx accents are mild and fairly pleasant, though some of them sound quite Scouse.



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29 Mar 2007, 7:59 pm

larsenjw92286 wrote:
And honestly, the British English term "boot" would sound silly to an American.


hahah. If someone here called it a trunk people would be looking around for a chest or something. "Hood" is more forgiving, though.
Also they say "takeout" instead of "takeaways", and tbh the very first thing that comes into my head with the word "fag" is a ciggy.



larsenjw92286
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29 Mar 2007, 8:00 pm

It would also be silly if a British person asked for a "biscuit" here in America and they got a "cookie" instead!


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29 Mar 2007, 8:01 pm

I know!

British English is interesting!


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29 Mar 2007, 8:02 pm

Easiest thing to do with someone who isn't English is to start laying on the dialect really thick and speak fast. That throws 'em a bit.



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29 Mar 2007, 10:21 pm

My excuses:

Irish background - we dd use "arse"
The British Invasion
Memorizing many Tull lyrics
Avengers, Secret Agent, The Prisoner, Monty Python, The Goodies, Butterflies, The Goode Life, Fawlty Towers, Mr. Bean, Benny Hill, The Two Ronnies, Red Dwarf, Hitchiker's Guide, James Bond (early ones), Keeping Up Appearances, Many Kinks lyrics
Many hours of BBC aworld Service
Beatles Movies (over n over)
Reading Ian Flemming novels
The Mouse that Roared movies
Python related movies
Brit car magazines
Quatermass II
Diana Rigg, Patrick McNee, Patrick McGoohan (ohhhhhh! I love his character's deserved arrogance!)
Chef! (serious profession)
Ripping Yarns
The Secret Policeman's Balls
Characters in so many WW II movies
admiration of Sir Barnes Wallis, Sir Issac (need I mention his last name? No! he is my hero!)

and I fill my pickup truck's tank with petrol too


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larsenjw92286
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29 Mar 2007, 10:26 pm

Well, I don't know why someone posted a thread earlier that said we spell in British English a lot, but that's just us!


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29 Mar 2007, 10:48 pm

I have been a language sponge. Not only do I use BritSpeak, but several Yiddishisms are resident in my memory, and some good ol' Amarican Redneck talkin' too, ya'all. l'chaim mates.

PS. amd a while ago I psotted like a pirate anyone out to wreck society is right in me book mateys. Arrgh.

Reef that sail ya' lubber! We gotta backin' wind.

And my lingo is also spiked with words from aviation, the sea, archiecture, physics. . .


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