Lady Macbeth must have had the same problem with " Out, damned Spot! out, I say!—"!margaretcarnes wrote:Which brings to mind that classic line in the movie 'Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' --'Take the dog out'...Bangjohnnyk wrote:One Americanism I don't enjoy is, "Do you want out?" when the speaker means "to go out".
British English
Re: British English
Re: British English
Agreed...however it is quite unusual as I sometimes say "ill-gotten gains"Dr Mike wrote:Gotten, I agree, it sounds ugly and sounds SOOOO american---its actually old English--as is Fall for autumn.
One of the most readable books on the language is Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson, who documents all this.
Re: British English
In the English language, there is still much ambiguity as to why many things are said in a certain way. This also applies to many grammar rules too as their origins are unclear and still being investigated as to why it's the way it is, the answer in quite a few cases is that we just don't know. I also agree that common usage slowly changes the language too.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol
Re: British English
There's 'correct' English and there's everyday English and slang. It's the old ESL debate about accuracy vs. communication.
To me the language is what the people speak on a daily basis. I don't like to see/hear people murder a great language but no doubt Chaucer would have thought that of Shakespeare if he hadn't croaked 200 years before.
To me the language is what the people speak on a daily basis. I don't like to see/hear people murder a great language but no doubt Chaucer would have thought that of Shakespeare if he hadn't croaked 200 years before.
Happiness can't buy money
Re: British English
AMERICAN ENGLISH
You want to go out?---means do you want to leave the house, building or room
You want out? means do you want to leave the deal, partnership or arrangement.
I'm Canadian we speak both languages.
You want to go out?---means do you want to leave the house, building or room
You want out? means do you want to leave the deal, partnership or arrangement.
I'm Canadian we speak both languages.
Re: British English
Oh. thought you spoke French!Dr Mike wrote:AMERICAN ENGLISH
You want to go out?---means do you want to leave the house, building or room
You want out? means do you want to leave the deal, partnership or arrangement.
I'm Canadian we speak both languages.
Re: British English
People also use "want out" for leaving a place.Dr Mike wrote:AMERICAN ENGLISH
You want to go out?---means do you want to leave the house, building or room
You want out? means do you want to leave the deal, partnership or arrangement.
I'm Canadian we speak both languages.
I speak les deux langues aussi! 555
Happiness can't buy money
Re: British English
Don't let the French hear you say that!bapak wrote:Oh. thought you spoke French!Dr Mike wrote:AMERICAN ENGLISH
You want to go out?---means do you want to leave the house, building or room
You want out? means do you want to leave the deal, partnership or arrangement.
I'm Canadian we speak both languages.
Re: British English
As incorrect as it may be(And it is COMPLETELY incorrect) I'd rather hear of Children going up in the treehouse than children going dowin in the treehouse......
and to clarify: In Yanklish "Do you want out" would imply out of a particular situation, not a locational issue.
and to clarify: In Yanklish "Do you want out" would imply out of a particular situation, not a locational issue.
Re: British English
Agree, but I have heard it used for locational situations quite often, like people talking to pets as one example.bcrglobal wrote:As incorrect as it may be(And it is COMPLETELY incorrect) I'd rather hear of Children going up in the treehouse than children going dowin in the treehouse......
and to clarify: In Yanklish "Do you want out" would imply out of a particular situation, not a locational issue.
Happiness can't buy money
Re: British English
How about begat and no doubt the past tense would be begatten !richard wrote:A word that makes me cringe is 'gotten'
No relation to "Got in himmel" then? (excuse the spelling and lack of germanic tone markers) ha, ha and I do concede its not English??
I always James Boland "when the boat comes in" for "fishes" now I know it was a stuttering King James.
As for American English -says it all, yet another oxymoron!
Re: British English
an ex was a Londoner, don't get me started on British misuse of English and all she "et" food wise.
Always told her no, is like the number after seven, and ate/eight food.
At least with Americans, their pronounciation makes it at least understandable.
And NO.. I will NOT have fries with that...at least the poms know how to make real chips
Always told her no, is like the number after seven, and ate/eight food.
At least with Americans, their pronounciation makes it at least understandable.
And NO.. I will NOT have fries with that...at least the poms know how to make real chips
Quitters Never Win & Winners NEVER Quit........
Trying To Talk Sanity To The Insane, Only Drives You Nuts........
How Many Social Workers, or Psychologists, Does it Take To Change a Light Bulb ?.....
Only One....But The Light Bulb Has To Want To Change & Admit It Has A Problem.....GRIN
Trying To Talk Sanity To The Insane, Only Drives You Nuts........
How Many Social Workers, or Psychologists, Does it Take To Change a Light Bulb ?.....
Only One....But The Light Bulb Has To Want To Change & Admit It Has A Problem.....GRIN
Re: British English
Just a comment....I've noticed a lot of people using the word 'to' instead of 'too' as it applies to 'also' or a higher degree of something. Is that a British thing and 'too' is not used? Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: British English
'too' is used by people who can write English correctly. Many can't.prcscct wrote:Just a comment....I've noticed a lot of people using the word 'to' instead of 'too' as it applies to 'also' or a higher degree of something. Is that a British thing and 'too' is not used? Pete
Happiness can't buy money
Re: British English
I have to check my daughter's Oxford Press readers again as she comes home with them. I swore I also saw 'to' in there instead of 'too' which got me thinking initially about the use of 'too' in British English. Some forum usage just reminded me of it. Petejohnnyk wrote:'too' is used by people who can write English correctly. Many can't.prcscct wrote:Just a comment....I've noticed a lot of people using the word 'to' instead of 'too' as it applies to 'also' or a higher degree of something. Is that a British thing and 'too' is not used? Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source