AMERICANISMS

I know this subject has been on before, started by Irene in 2010, but it’s crept deeper and deeper into the English language since then, and has now reached saturation levels.

It’s not so much about changing the language as replacing words that have been commonly used for a very long time, and I know the English language itself has changed radically over the centuries.

The other night on an advert on telly, they were advertising Werther’s Originals and, I noticed on one bag, were the words Werther’s Butter CANDIES! What happened to sweets?

There are many more which I detest and make me cringe. Which are yours?

Plus, they cawn’t talk proper like what wey con i’ Wiggin!

Cider has become Cidre and Centre has become Center.Chips have become Fries

They also take the u out of words as in color.

Is Cidre an Americanism?

Cidre is French, but I would never substitute an American spelling for an English one. Only idiots do that, and I hate the use of Z instead of S, as in Kidz etc.

The things that bother me more are the ones that are blatantly money making activities like Prom Nights where parents are expected to fork out a lot of money for evening wear, which the average kid in this country wouldn't dream of wearing.

Hallowe'en has become trick or treat; fairy cakes are now cup cakes; cookies for biscuits; cheerleaders. How did all that happen?

I was strolling down the sidewalk in downtown wigan a couple of days ago, Going to meet my broad in the diner at the junction of Mains and high St. two blocks down the street from the chapel, I ordered a bacon on a rye muffin with egg over easy and a side salad with mayo, they asked, " is that to go or ya eatin' in" , I said " I guess we're eatin' in but bring a doggy bag just in case" Sometimes my boss want to , touch base and. its usually ten klicks down the highway but, I can't say I've noticed any Americanisms

Behave yerself.

We were driving behind a van the other day for a heating Center. Can't they spell English? one Americanism that annoys me is "First off" instead of first of all.

"Off of"!

Anyone being interviewed nowadays, especially on tv always opens with “thanks for having me”. Never a simple “good morning/ afternoon/evening” which has been and is sufficient. More and more often this phrase has crept in.

I don't know if this has been imported from America but it irritates me when people say "up tick" and "down tick" instead of rise and fall. And last year, in the Library of all places, there was a very attractive poster decorated with Autumn leaves advertising books for the " Fall" !! Grrrr. !!

Even the Daily Mail as gardening content which uses the "Fall" instead of autumn or "Zones" This is a UK paper which should have UK gardening content.

Lyrics from the 60s,
I can't get NO satisfaction! And when people say, "that won't be happening, PERIOD" What's happened to full stop?

All comments made are things that I agree with, most especially "off of" and "fall".

Brasstoff: "I can't get no ....." isn't American per se. It's a double negative which should mean "I can't get any ....." or "I can get no....." Sadly, I hear a lot of English people use this double negative which makes me cringe. The most often of this is used in Police documentaries where the criminal says "I didn't do nothing wrong," which effectively means they did do something wrong.

When some one says "See you later" to a complete stranger more so in a shop

People say that to me all the time, Peter, over the phone. People I've never even met. I've often been tempted to reply "Okay, what time and where shall we meet."

Another one that aggravates me is when someone says "I'm going for a coffee", instead of "I'm going for a CUP of coffee!" It doesn't take long to say it correctly.

Another up coming one you hear more and more is,, " hey Bro",,,,

Has instead of as

When a check-out girl says to me See you later, I say what time do you want to meet up then.

Posted by: First Mate (2699)

Has instead of as

That's not an Americanism either. Not everyone can differentiate has and as, and know and no, and there, their and they're. Where and were, wear and we're. That's something many can't get their heads around and, it's not surprising. English isn't the easiest of languages to learn, even for the English, but this thread isn't meant to be a course in English comprehension.

It annoys me though mollie. Here we are criticising Americanisms when people cant get their heads round their own language.

I know what thi meanz mollie I have trouble with gramm ma Two too to 2 , there's know cure for stupid

gotten is another one that has crept in quietly...grr.

Another annoying phrase has crept in ...especially at a bar with the younger ones..."Can I Get"......annoys the life out of me....

Baby shower, where did that come from?

Aren't they all annoying? English people are adopting these terms, and I've seen/read people posting a particular one on here, and that's "woke." Another Americanism, without them realising it.

Tom: You're not stupid at all.

Posted by: First Mate (2702)
"It annoys me though mollie. Here we are criticising Americanisms when people cant get their heads round their own language."

Aye, alright, but let's just remember one thing. Some people have a disability named dyslexia (word blindness) but, as long as they can communicate, and people can understand them, then nobody should judge them. I'm the only person at work who knows how to use an apostrophe, despite explaining following a request to do so, and they still don't get it.

The birth of the ' auto spell' made me look unstupid because at Skool the teechers wrote me off as a duffer and I was told to sit at the back, Dyslexia had't been invented back then,

Well, it hadn't been recognised as a problem back then, so many school kids weren't diagnosed early enough. I have a cousin who could neither read nor write up until he was in his 20s. He just couldn't "see" words and how they were put together. To him it was just a jumble of mixed up scribble. He did learn eventually though, but it was hard work for him.

Any more Americanisms, apart from "have a nice day?"

Happy holidays instead of happy Christmas!

Oh yes, Tuddy. That's another one. Also, when they say Happy New Year's, instead of just Happy New Year. New Year's what? Or is it New Years for every year to come in the future? Who knows?