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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Page 2 of 5 1 2 3 4 5 #1730 - 05/17/00 03:44 PM Re: UK English - US English Dictionary   Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Jackie Jackie   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Lucy-- non-sports fan that I am, I had to call for verification, but I was right: the professional basketball team, which puts balls through HOOPS, of PHILadelphia, Pennsylvania, is named the Seventy-SIXERS. Philadelphia is considered to be the seat of the Amercian Revolution, in 1776. Yes, a williwaw is a violent wind gust or storm. #1731 - 05/22/00 08:45 AM Re: UK English - US English Dictionary   Joined: May 2000 Posts: 112 David108 member David108   member Joined: May 2000 Posts: 112 Auckland, New Zealand Jo - I knew it was there somewhere! Try this site: http://pages.prodigy.com/NY/NYC/britspk/main.html >>I'm also interested in the separate development of the English language in Australia, Asia and the Carribean. << That's a whole new topic! I have learned that the English as spoken here in New Zealand seems to rely on abbreviations - a colleague today referred to the "Rellies" who came to visit: he was referring to his relatives. Children under 4 years old attend a "Kindy" (kindergarten), and the person who delivers snail mail is the "Postie". That last is pretty good, though, as it is completely gender-unspecific. I wonder what the end result will be? #1732 - 05/22/00 09:52 PM Re: UK English - US English Dictionary   Joined: May 2000 Posts: 679 Rubrick addict Rubrick   addict Joined: May 2000 Posts: 679 Somewhere outside New York The only differences (bar some very obscure words) between US and UK (ugh! , include Ireland in that) is the letter 'u' for such words as colour/color arbour/arbour and the 'shun' words such as connection/connexion. 'Bumming around' is aterm used this side of the pond (as is 'bum' for someone who does little with their life) but 'bum' does predominantly stand for a posterior/derriere/behind/backside/lower back. No wonder we want to shorten it!! #1733 - 05/22/00 09:58 PM Re: UK English - US English Dictionary   Joined: May 2000 Posts: 679 Rubrick addict Rubrick   addict Joined: May 2000 Posts: 679 Somewhere outside New York If you've heard the accent you will know why! He/she would be equally unintelligible in both the US and Oz. I have great respect for the Yorkies but they have an extremely accented English. Ah woodent say daat ah knew nowt boot wut ahwaz taw kinbout cos ahv huerd th'acksent and its pleen boo'ful. Greet cricket too. #1734 - 05/23/00 12:32 PM Re: UK English - US English Dictionary   Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 460 paulb addict paulb   addict Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 460 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia David, I’m sure you’ll be delighted to know that ‘rellies’, ‘kindys’ and ‘posties’ are all well and thriving in Aussie (at least, in the ‘Tassie’ part of it – we refer to the rest of the country as ‘the mainland’). And after we’ve watched the weekend ‘footie’ (Australian Rules – ‘carn’ the Bombers!), we might have a ‘snag’ or two on the ‘barbie’, and catch something on the ‘telly’ (which, I suspect, is now an international abbreviation for ‘culture’) [grin] #1735 - 05/23/00 06:00 PM Re: UK English - US English Dictionary   Joined: May 2000 Posts: 112 David108 member David108   member Joined: May 2000 Posts: 112 Auckland, New Zealand >>we refer to the rest of the country as ‘the mainland’<< ...and I have heard the whole country referred to as "that little island off the West Coast of New Zealand!" {grin} So perhaps this section of the thread should be renamed "Antipodean English"?? #1736 - 05/23/00 07:47 PM Re: UK English - US English Dictionary   Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 jmh Pooh-Bah jmh   Pooh-Bah Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 David 108 Thanks for the site - it just goes to prove that there is very few new ideas - someone's nearly always been there first. #1737 - 05/23/00 08:19 PM Posties and Barbies   Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 jmh Pooh-Bah jmh   Pooh-Bah Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 I suppose Kiwi's and Aussies just like to rhyme. I posted ages ago about Scottish "pinkies" and I've certainly heard "posties" mentioned here. Most of the others are pretty universal, I suspect. There was some discussion a while ago that UK children (Rubrick, should I be including Eire here, how about the BBC cop-out "These Islands" as the only thing that can describe us in a historical sense) were changing the way they spoke - finishing each sentence with an "up" beat, as though everything were a question. It was put down to watching too much "Neighbours". I wonder whether its part of a general (not necessarily conscious) trend, to sound more informal and friendly by using lots of diminutives, telly, barbie, rellies .... #1738 - 05/25/00 02:12 PM Re: UK English - US English Dictionary   Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 jmh Pooh-Bah jmh   Pooh-Bah Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 http://pages.prodigy.com/NY/NYC/britspk/main.html Note to tsuwm - you might like to look at how they spell the z word! #1739 - 05/25/00 06:20 PM Re: Posties and Barbies   Joined: May 2000 Posts: 112 David108 member David108   member Joined: May 2000 Posts: 112 Auckland, New Zealand >>finishing each sentence with an "up" beat, as though everything were a question<< That is very noticeable in "these islands" (New Zealand). Not only amongst younger people, but across the generations. This in a country that has more historical links to the British Isles than to the New World. I also notice it happening in South Africa - particularly amongst people for whom English is a second language, when they are speaking English. And include in that the tendency to use American pronounciations. Should we lament the ubiquitious telly? Page 2 of 5 1 2 3 4 5 Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------   Information and announcements   Q&A about words   Wordplay and fun   Words and languages in schools   Miscellany   Weekly Themes   Looking for (writers, speakers, ...) (Old) Weekly themes. 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