OTT - Language

[Krull]

Ah, Websters Dictionary. Of course, how stupid of me. Referred to in a line in a song in 'Road to Morocco'.

"Like Websters Dictionary we're Morocco bound".

So, basically, no one knows why we spell words a different way?

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

In my "Compact Dictionary of Canadian English" it says, Armour or Armor, Harbour or Harbor, so I guess it's arbitrary.

[babar]

okay, don't quote me on this, as I'm trained as a computer weenie, not a linguist or historical expert.

First we have the Romans who conquered Britain. So you've got a bunch of people running around speaking Latin (arma). Then you've got the Normans who I believe were Frenchy and then you've got a bunch of people speaking French (armure) ... at least in the court (royal not legal). So at the minimium, you've got Latin, French and whatever indigenous languages (Irish, Welsh, Cockney, etc).

At that time, most people don't need to read or write, so spelling is phonetic (write something however it sounds). But you do have monks (sans 25% martial arts bonus) laboring in abbots and monastaries copying old Latin texts, not necessarily having any understanding of what they are copying.

Then you've got Gutenberg (?) coming along with movable type (not the printing press as usually attributed), so suddenly reading and writing are accessible. So then you probably some translating of old Latin and French documents (however else are you going to learn how to read?) into what passes for English at the time, but people in Britain still don't have standard spelling or maybe they do, but the country folk (the kind that ship off to America) don't use it.

So then you have Daniel Webster whom most people think of as the friendly dictionary man, although in reality I think he was a lawyer and I'll leave it at that. So he thinks this stuff should be standardized so when somebody reads what I write, they don't have scratch their head and wonder what I really mean or if it's this word or that. So you have Webster's dictionary. He might also have had some competition from Funk and Wagnall, I don't really remember. So you have the Brits who have a lot French influence (armour) and the Americans who don't (armor), and you have a lot of lopping off of unnecessary letters - town vs. towne (which might also be French). So you've got arma -> armure (since French is based on Latin, because the Romans also conquered France or as they called it Gaul) -> armour -> armor. There was probably also some element of wanting to be different from the British.

[Randall]

Originally posted by brianward420: well when you pronounce armor do you say ar-moooouuuuur (armour) or ar-more (armor) in america we say armor because it doesn't have the gay ooouuuuuur feeling to it

We pronounce it the same in the UK

Leicester Square or Cheltenham on the other hand... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Ziggurat]

I think most of it is an evolution resulting from isolation from England, and dropping the French affectations. Here are some words that are different. Sorry for the long post. - Zig -

a.. ACCOMMODATION in the sense of lodging is singular in English and plural in American English
b.. ADMIRALTY in Britain is the Navy Department in the U.S.
c.. AGRICULTURAL SHOW is a State or County Fair.
d.. AIRY-FAIRY means superficial in a disparaging sense and is roughly "fanciful"
e.. ALLOTMENT is a small rented area for growing vegetables or flowers away from you home.
f.. ANORAK is an Eskimo word used by British for a windbreaker or parka.
g.. ANTI-CLOCKWISE is counter clockwise.
h.. ARTICULATED LORRY is a trailer truck.
i.. ASSISTANT - short for shop assistant - would be a salesclerk.
j.. AU PAIR is a foreign girl who lives as one of the family in return for helping with the children. Enables "foreign" girls to learn English in a family environment.
k.. AUBERGINE is an EGGPLANT
l.. BACKBENCHERS is a Member of the House of Commons who is not the Minister.
m.. BAD PATCH means a rough time
n.. BAGS OF is slang and means piles of - usually referring to money.
o.. BALACLAVA is a woolen helmet named after the site of a battle in the Crimean War
p.. BANGER is slang for a sausage
q.. BANK HOLIDAY is a LEGAL HOLIDAY in the U.S. Apart from Xmas they are all different in Britain
r.. BARGE POLE is a colloquialism for a ten-foot-pole
s.. BARRACK is to demonstrate noisily in public e.g. as in 'boo'
t.. BARRISTER is a TRIAL LAWYER
u.. BASH is to hit as in 'bang'
v.. BATH in Britain becomes BATHTUB in the US
w.. BATH OLIVER is a dry biscuit eaten with cheese
x.. BBC the British Broadcasting Corporation
y.. BEARSKIN is a high, black fur hat worn by Guardsmen
z.. BELT UP is slang for shut up
aa.. BILL is what one asks the waiter for and in the US becomes CHECK
ab.. BIRD is slang for 'girl' although in the US DAME would be closer
ac.. BIRO is a ball-point pen
ad.. BISCUIT is a CRACKER or a COOKIE
ae.. BIT used where Americans would say "part"
af.. BITTER is a type of beer
ag.. BLACK TIE is Mess dress or tuxedo
ah.. BLOCK OF FLATS is an apartment building or high-rise tower block, or a large house converted to flats
ai.. BLOKE slang for man
aj.. BOBBY is a police officer
ak.. BOG toilet
al.. BOG-ROLL toilet roll
am.. BOILER is the furnace
an.. BOLLARDS are barrels
ao.. BONNET is HOOD when referring to your car
ap.. BOOK as a verb to reserve rooms or theater seats
aq.. BOOT is the TRUNK of your car
ar.. BOOT SALE is a flea market or yard sale
as.. BOX television
at.. BOXING DAY is the first week-day after Christmas
au.. BRACES are SUSPENDERS which as an English word means GARTERS
av.. BRASS PLATE is the equivalent of a SHINGLE
aw.. BUBBLES & SQUEAK is cooked cabbage and potatoes combined and fried
ax.. BUILDING SOCIETY is a savings and loan
ay.. BUMBAG is the same as our fanny pack
az.. BUNGALOW is a single story house detached house
ba.. BUREAU is a writing desk with drawers and a lift-down flap
bb.. CAB-RANK is a taxi-stand
bc.. CALL-BOX is a telephone booth
bd.. CAMIKNICKERS are teddies
be.. CAMP BED is a COT which in Britain is used for a baby's CRIB
bf.. CANDYFLOSS is cotton candy
bg.. CARAVAN is a trailer
bh.. CAR PARK is a parking lot
bi.. CASHIER is a TELLER
bj.. CALICO is muslin
bk.. CALOR GAS is bottled gas
bl.. CASTOR SUGAR is finer than granulated sugar but not as fine as icing-sugar
bm.. CATS EYES are surface road reflectors
bn.. CHAR is slang for tea - the drink
bo.. CHAT UP is slang for handling someone a line especially to get to know a girl
bp.. CHEERS thanks; also used as a toast before drinking; also, "see you later"
bq.. CHEMIST is a DRUG-STORE
br.. CHESTERFIELD is a sofa
bs.. CHIPS are FRENCH FRIES
bt.. CLINGFILM is Saran wrap
bu.. CLOAKROOM is a half bath
bv.. COACHES are buses
bw.. COFFEE, WHITE, WITHOUT is coffee, cream, no sugar
bx.. COLLEAGUE is a co-worker
by.. CONVENIENCE is a REST ROOM
bz.. CONVEYANCING is buying or selling properties
ca.. COOKER is a stove
cb.. CORNFLOUR is cornstarch
cc.. COSTUME is a swimsuit
cd.. COURGETTE is a ZUCCHINI
ce.. COT is a small child's bed or crib
cf.. COTTAGE traditionally a pretty, quaint house in the country, perhaps with a thatched roof (although the name is stretched nowadays to encompass almost anything except a flat), may be detached or terraced
cg.. COVER NOTE is an Insurance binder
ch.. CRACKING great ("What a cracking bird!")
ci.. CRICKET is a ball game to which Americans have no equal
cj.. CRISPS are potato chips
ck.. CUPBOARD in Britain is CLOSET in the US
cl.. CURRENT ACCOUNT at a bank is a CHECKING ACCOUNT
cm.. C.V. (CURRICULUM VITAE) is a resume
cn.. DAME in Britain refers to a lady who has been knighted
co.. DAY-RETURN means a ROUND-TRIP ticket usually on the railway
cp.. DEMERAEA sugar is the brown sugar usually on the tables in pubs, not at all like our baking brown sugar
cq.. DETACHED is a house that stands alone, usually with its own garden
cr.. DEVIATION is a detour
cs.. DIARY is our calendar/date or appointment book
ct.. DINNER JACKET is a TUXEDO
cu.. DORMITORY is a multiple bedroom usually found in boarding schools and is NOT a barracks
cv.. DRAUGHTS is the game of CHECKERS
cw.. DRESS CIRCLE in the theater is the FIRST BALCONY
cx.. DRESSING TABLE is the equivalent of the American DRESSER
cy.. DRESSING GOWN is a ROBE or bathrobe
cz.. DUAL CARRIAGEWAY is a DIVIDED HIGHWAY
da.. DUMMY is a pacifier
db.. DUSTBIN is a GARBAGE CAN
dc.. DUSTMAN is a garbage collector
dd.. DUVET is a eiderdown quilt
de.. EARLY-CLOSING is an infuriating custom of shops closing one afternoon a week
df.. EARTH as a verb and as an electrical term equals to GROUND a wire
dg.. ELASTOPLAST is BAND-AID
dh.. ELEVEN is a FOOTBALL or CRICKET TEAM (from the number of players)
di.. ENGAGED is what the operator says when the telephone line is BUSY
dj.. ERNIE is 'electronic random number indicator equipment' and selects Premium Bond winners
dk.. ESTATE AGENT is a REAL-ESTATE BROKER
dl.. ESTATE CAR is a STATION WAGON
dm.. EX-DIRECTORY is a UNLISTED TELEPHONE NUMBER
dn.. EX-SERVICE MAN is a VETERAN
do.. FAG is a cigarette
dp.. FANCY DRESS is costumes
dq.. FANCY DRESS PARTY is a costumes party
dr.. FEN is swampland or marsh
ds.. FIRST FLOOR in a building is SECOND-FLOOR in the US
dt.. FISH-FINGERS are FISH-STICKS
du.. FITTED applied to carpets means WALL-TO-WALL
dv.. FIZZY DRINK is pop/soda
dw.. FLAN is an open sponge or pastry case with a fruit or sweet filling
dx.. FLANNEL is a face-cloth
dy.. FLAT is an APARTMENT usually one floor
dz.. FLEET STREET is a colloquialism for the PRESS
ea.. FLEX is an electric cord
eb.. FLY-OVER is an over-pass
ec.. FOOTBALL is rugby, not American football
ed.. FORTNIGHT means two weeks or fourteen nights
ee.. FREE HOUSE associated with a Pub means it can sell any brand of beer it wishes, it is not linked to any specific brewery
ef.. FRINGE (HAIR) is BANGS
eg.. FULL STOP is the black dot at the end of a sentence called in the US a period
eh.. GAMMON is ham
ei.. GARDEN is the property outside a house which in the US is a YARD
ej.. GATEAU is a type of layer cake
ek.. GEARBOX is TRANSMISSION
el.. GEAR-LEVER is GEARSHIFT
em.. GEORDIE (pronounced JORDY) is a native of Tyneside and also the dialect he speaks
en.. GEYSER (GEEZER) is a water heater
eo.. GIVE-WAY as a road sign means YIELD
ep.. GLASS is CRYSTAL
eq.. GONGS are slang for military medals
er.. GOVERNMENT means administration and refers to the people currently running the country
es.. GENERAL PRACTITIONER (GP) is a internist or doctor
et.. GREASPROOF PAPER is wax paper
eu.. GREEN BELT is a no-building zone around a town or city
ev.. GREENGROCER is a fruit/vegetable store
ew.. GRILL as a verb is to BROIL
ex.. GUILLOTINE is a paper-cutter
ey.. GUMBOOTS are rubber boots
ez.. GUMSHIELD is the same as a mouthgaurd
fa.. GYMKHANA is a local Horse Show
fb.. GYM SHOES are SNEAKERS
fc.. HABERDASHERY is pins, needles, ribbons, thread etc. : and is what you ask for in a shop
fd.. HAGGIS a traditional Scottish dish made from a sheep's inside
fe.. HAIRDRESSER is a man or women's 'barber shop' or 'beauty shop'
ff.. HAIRSLIDE is a barrette
fg.. "HALF" when addressed to a bar-tender means a half-pint of beer
fh.. HALF-TERM is a mid-term vacation of short duration
fi.. HARD CHEESE is tough luck
fj.. HAT TRICK is a cricket term for taking three wickets by three successive balls but it is often to any triple triumph
fk.. HAVE-A-BASH means give it a try
fl.. HAVE NO TIME FOR means to have a low opinion
fm.. HESSIAN is burlap
fn.. HIGH STREET preceded by 'the', is the American Main Street
fo.. HIGH TEA served late in the afternoon usually contains a cooked item such as eggs or sausages - this is not to be confused with 'tea' or 'afternoon tea' which is merely a cup of tea with a cake or very small sandwich
fp.. HIRE PURCHASE is to buy on an installment plan
fq.. HOB is an installed gas, electric range top
fr.. HOLIDAY is a vacation although the university still uses vacation for the time after term finishes
fs.. HOMELY is simple or unpretentious and not the 'ugly' meant in America
ft.. HOOD of a car is known as 'BONNET' in England but of a cloak or coat is still the same
fu.. HOUSEMAN in a hospital is a doctor or 'intern' in America
fv.. HOOVER is to vacuum
fw.. HUNDREDWEIGHT is 112 pounds and 20 Hundredweight are in 1 ton
fx.. HUNT an Englishman hunts fox or deer but shoots game birds or rabbits
fy.. ICE on menus means ice-cream
fz.. ICING SUGAR is similar to our powdered sugar
ga.. IMMERSION TANK is a hot water heater in a house
gb.. INTERVAL is an intermission
gc.. IN TRAIN means coming along as in 'the work is progressing'
gd.. IRONMONGER is a hardware shop
ge.. JAB is a shot or immunization
gf.. JAM is what Americans would call jelly
gg.. JELLY is what they call Jell-O
gh.. JERSEY is a sweater
gi.. JOINT (of meat) as in Sunday Joint is a piece of roast meat
gj.. JUMBLE SALE is a rummage sale
gk.. JUMPER is a sweater (or woolly, or jersey), the American 'jumper' is a pinafore dress
gl.. JUNCTION is an interchange on motorway
gm.. KEDGEREE is a dish of fish, rice and eggs and often served at breakfast
gn.. KETTLE (FOR HOB) is a tea kettle
go.. KIOSK can be a news-stand or a telephone box
gp.. KIP sleep ("I could do with a kip" or "He's kipping on the sofa.")
gq.. KITCHEN PAPER is paper towels
gr.. KNAVE is a jack in playing cards
gs.. KNICKERS underwear for women
gt.. KNOCK BACK DOUGH is to punch down dough
gu.. KNICKERS are ladies' underpants
gv.. 'L' plates are large red 'L's which a person learning to drive must put on his car
gw.. LACQUER is hair-spray
gx.. LADDER in a stocking is a 'run' in America
gy.. LADYBIRD is a lady bug
gz.. LAGER is beer
ha.. LANDLORD in a pub is the inn-keeper
hb.. LARDER is a pantry
hc.. LAY A TABLE is to set the table
hd.. LAY-BY is a roadside parking area at the side of the road
he.. LEADER can be a newspaper editorial, the leading counsel of a team of lawyers or the first violinist in an orchestra but NOT the conductor as is popular in America
hf.. LEMONADE is Sprite, 7UP
hg.. LETTER-BOX is a mail-box
hh.. LEVEL-CROSSING is a grade crossing
hi.. LIFE GUARD is a member of a regiment of the Royal Household Cavalry
hj.. LIFT is an elevator
hk.. LINE on a railway means track
hl.. LOO can be an 18th century card game or a lavatory or bathroom or whatever you wish to say
hm.. LORRY is a truck
hn.. LOUNGE SUIT is a business and NOT clothes for lounging in
ho.. MAC is an abbreviation for macintosh or raincoat
hp.. MAKING CONTACTS is networking
hq.. MAGISTRATE is very close to a justice of the peace
hr.. MAINS is an electric circuit box
hs.. MAISONETTE is an apartment on 2 or more floors
ht.. MAJORITY as a voting term this equals a 'plurality' in American terms
hu.. MANCUNIAN is someone from Manchester
hv.. MANGETOUT are snow peas
hw.. MARKET many towns have a weekly market day with wares on stalls (booths) in the open air - the right to do so goes back hundreds of years & the AA book lists them all - so does a list available from my office
hx.. MARROW is a very large zucchini
hy.. MARTINI is vermouth - if you want a Dry Martini ash for a Gin & French
hz.. MASH is mashed potatoes
ia.. MATCH is what two sides play on a sports field and is equal to an American game
ib.. MEAN is tight-fisted or stingy as opposed to the American 'cruel' or ill-tempered
ic.. MEWS HOUSE is a hose that's converted from old stables or servants' lodging (usually 17th or 19th century) and is the town equivalent of a genuine cottage
id.. MINCE or MINCED MEAT from the butcher is chopped meat of hamburger however MINCEMEAT is chopped apples, raisins etc. Which goes into a mince pie
ie.. MOOR is open land often with heather
if.. MOTORWAY is a Freeway
ig.. MORNING TEA is often served in your hotel room before you go down to breakfast
ih.. MUFFIN is a small, spongy cake served toasted and buttered - do NOT confuse with the American 'English Muffin' which does not exist in England.
ii.. MUSLIN is cheesecloth in America but American 'muslin' is calico in England
ij.. NAFF tacky
ik.. NANNY is a child's nurse
il.. NAPPY, a corruption of napkin, is a diaper
im.. NETS are sheer curtains
in.. NEWSAGENT shop selling newspapers
io.. NOTECASE is a billfold
ip.. NO ENTRY is wrong way (traffic sign)
iq.. NO OVERTAKING is no passing
ir.. NOTICEBOARD is a bulletin board
is.. NUMBER PLATE is a license plate
it.. OFF HIS ROCKER is out to lunch
iu.. OFF LICENSE is a shop which can sell alcohol all day but it must be taken away or consumed 'off' the premises
iv.. OFF-THE-PEG refers to 'ready-to-wear' clothes
iw.. OPHTHALMIC OPTICIAN test eyesight, prescribe glasses, and diagnose eye diseases
ix.. OPHTHALMIC MEDICAL PRACTITIONER treats eye diseases, test eyesight, prescribes lenses
iy.. OUT OF BOUNDS is equivalent to the American term 'off-limits'
iz.. OVERLEAF is the reverse side of a page as is P.T.O. (please turn over)
ja.. OVERTAKE is a driving term meaning to pass another car
jb.. OXBRIDGE is a portmanteau word for the ancient universities of Oxford and Cambridge
jc.. P45 is a pink slip
jd.. PANDA CAR is a small police car
je.. PANTOMINE has no American equivalent and is an English Christmas entertainment based on a fairy-tale with a lot of modern singing, dancing and humor - it is not mime
jf.. PANTS are underpants in American - the English equivalent of American pants is trousers
jg.. PARAFFIN is kerosene - American 'paraffin' is paraffin wax or white wax
jh.. PASTRY CASE is a pie crust
ji.. PASTY is an individual pie as in Cornish Pasty
jj.. PAVEMENT is sidewalk
jk.. PERAMBULATOR shortened usually to 'pram' is a baby-carriage
jl.. PETROL is gasoline
jm.. PILLAR BOX or POST BOX is a mail-box and its painted red not blue
jn.. PLAIT is a braid when applied to girls' hair
jo.. PLASTER is a band-aid
jp.. PLIMSOLLS are shoes such as American deckshoes
jq.. PLONK (SLANG) is wine
jr.. PORRIDGE is oatmeal
js.. POLYFILLA is spackle compound
jt.. POPPERS are snaps
ju.. PUDDINGS (the term) can be used to group all desserts whether it is cake, pie, ice-cream, custards. British puddings are not like our custard type "Jell-O" pudding
jv.. PRANG (in a car) is a fender bender
jw.. PREMIUM BOND is a Government Lottery Bond which has no interest
jx.. PROVISION is accrual
jy.. PUB is a public house which is a bar with an English atmosphere which cannot be defined in this small space - go an see one
jz.. PUB WITH ROOMS - is similar to an inn
ka.. PUSH-CHAIR is a child's stroller
kb.. PYLON is a high tension tower
kc.. QUEUE as a verb it means to stand in line - and woe betide you if you cut in
kd.. QUID (slang) is a one pound note
ke.. RED INDIAN means an American Indian - 'Indian' alone means a native of India
kf.. REDUNDANT is to be released from a job
kg.. REEL is a spool
kh.. REFUSE COLLECTOR is a garbage man
ki.. REGISTER OFFICE is a marriage clerk's office
kj.. REMEMBRANCE DAY is November 11 or the nearest Sunday and is Veteran Day in America
kk.. RESIDENT is the name for a person registered at a hotel
kl.. RETURN TICKET is a round-trip ticket on a train or bus
km.. RING ROAD is a circular route around a town
kn.. RING UP is to telephone
ko.. ROAD WORKERS is road construction or road repair
kp.. ROUNDABOUT is a traffic control or a merry-go-round
kq.. RUBBISH is garbage
kr.. RUCKSACK is a backpack
ks.. RUNNER BEANS are string beans
kt.. SACK is to be fired from a job
ku.. SCONE is an American soda biscuit and its eaten with butter and often jam and cream
kv.. SCOTCH EGG is a hard-boiled egg in sausage meat
kw.. SELLOTAPE is scotchtape
kx.. SEMI-DETACHED is a duplex or two-family house
ky.. SEND DOWN means to expel from University although it may indicate only a temporary absence
kz.. SERVIETTE is a napkin
la.. SHANDY is a drink made from beer and lemonade
lb.. SHEPHERD'S PIE is a dish made from minced beef and potatoes
lc.. SILENCER of a car is the muffler
ld.. SISTER in a hospital is the head nurse of a ward
le.. SLAP-UP four-star, excellent-refers to food
lf.. SLATE is to express a harsh criticism
lg.. SLIPROAD onto a motorway is a ramp
lh.. SOLICITOR is an attorney
li.. SPONGE BAG is a toilet kit
lj.. SPONGE FINGER is a long, soft, sweet cake or 'lady-finger'
lk.. SPROUTS is Brussels sprouts
ll.. SQUASH is a fruit drink
lm.. STALL in a market is a 'booth' but in a theater is an orchestra seat
ln.. STARTER is an appetizer
lo.. STONE referring to weight is 14 pounds
lp.. SUBWAY is a pedestrian underpass
lq.. SUMMERTIME is when daylight saving time is in effect
lr.. SUPER means 'terrific' i.e. splendid
ls.. SURGICAL SPIRIT is rubbing alcohol
lt.. SURGERY is a doctor's office
lu.. SUSPENDERS are garters
lv.. SWEETS are candy
lw.. SWISS ROLL is a jelly roll
lx.. TA informal thank you
ly.. TABLE the verb means to submit for discussion (the reverse of its American meaning)
lz.. TAILBACK is a line of traffic
ma.. TAKEAWAY is carryout
mb.. TALLBOY is a highboy
mc.. TAP is faucet
md.. TARMAC is pavement
me.. TATTY is shabby
mf.. TEAT is a nipple for baby's bottle
mg.. TERM is one of the three educational parts of the year - roughly like a semester
mh.. TERRACE HOUSES is a row of 3 or more usually 2 or 3 stories high
mi.. THEATRE in a hospital is the operating room
mj.. THIRD PARTY INSURANCE is liability insurance
mk.. TIGHTS are pantyhose
ml.. TIN as a food container is a can
mm.. TOAD-IN-A-HOLE is a dish of sausage 'bangers' in batter
mn.. TO PINCH is to steal
mo.. TORCH flashlight
mp.. TORY is a member of the Conservative party
mq.. TRAINERS are sneakers
mr.. TROUSERS are slacks
ms.. TUBE in the subway
mt.. TWEE is arty
mu.. UNDERDONE referring to meat is rare
mv.. VACUUM FLASK is a thermos bottle
mw.. VAN is a small truck
mx.. VAT is Value-Added Tax. Similar to sales tax in the states
my.. VERGE (OF ROAD) is the shoulder
mz.. VEST is an undershirt in Britain not the American meaning of a 'waistcoat'
na.. VILLAGE is a small town without a mayor and usually with under 3,000 people. In the UK can be a handful of houses with a church and a pub, or a larger settlement with shops and community center
nb.. WASHING UP LIQUID is dishwashing liquid
nc.. WASHING UP POWDER is laundry soap
nd.. WC stands for "water closet", in other words, the toilet
ne.. WELLINGTONS are rubber boots named after the Duke of Wellington
nf.. WHISKY is Scotch
ng.. WHISKEY is Irish
nh.. WHITEHALL is a collective word referring to the government because so many government offices are located around the road
ni.. WHITE SPIRIT is alcohol
nj.. WINDSCREEN is a windshield
nk.. WING of a car is the fender
nl.. WIRELESS is the original term for radio and is often used by older people
nm.. WOOLLY is a sweater
nn.. WRITTEN OFF (CAR) is "totalled"
no.. ZEBRA CROSSING is a striped pedestrian crossing
np.. ZED is the letter 'z' (or "zee" as pronounced in American English)

[ 08-19-2004, 10:46 AM: Message edited by: Ziggurat ]

[Gadgeteer Tom]

Reminds me of the first time I was in France, didn't speak (or read) French at all, so even menus were nightmarish (never will forget when my 'know it all' sister was ordering "Beef" that turns out to be "Calf Brains", he he!).
On the way back to the U.S.A. we stopped in London for a few days - I was soooo glad to go someplace that spoke English. But when we got our cab the cabbie asked "Put yer bags in the boot ?" and I replaid "Uh, I dunno, but could you put our suitcases in the trunk ?". Then in the hotel, "The lift is just to the left over there" and I replied "OK, but where's the elevator ?"

Spelling is the least of the real differences in usage - heck, I think that the Aussies may be aloser to American English (and that's not really that close at that !).

One of my characters does keep saying "Good work if I say so meself !" sounds British to me...

[Krull]

Impressive list, Zig.

Thanks!

[ 08-19-2004, 09:36 PM: Message edited by: Krull ]

[Scatter]

A lot of those appear fairly commonly in American speech.

Edited to be specific, words that i either learned as a child, as American English, or words i use and hear and think of as American, with the same meanings you listed. I'm NOT including words that are known to be British but are used often anyway. I AM including words that are origionally not even English and are also used in the US.
d, f, j, n, q, u, x, ae, af, ag, am, ap, as, au, az, ba, bf, bj, bm, bt, bv, bx, cf, cm, cq, cu, db, dy, ek, es, eu, fb, fc, fe, fj, fl, gf, gs, gz, hp, hw, ie, ik, ir, iz, ji, jn, kq, kr, ku, lb, lr, lv, ma, mc, md, mg, mr, mw, na, nd, nn, no.

[ 08-19-2004, 10:12 PM: Message edited by: Scatter ]

[Wolfie]

Originally posted by Gadgeteer Tom: Spelling is the least of the real differences in usage - heck, I think that the Aussies may be aloser to American English (and that's not really that close at that !).

No, our spelling is the same as UK "Queens" english (colour/favourite etc), and up until about the 1950-60s, public speaking was still very much with the prim and proper accent. The "Crocodile Dundee" / Steve Erwin over-the-top slang, is just that over-the-top, we all don't speak like that (thank the heavens).

However, as GT said, Poms, Yankies and Aussies may all speak the same basic laguage (albeit; English, Amaerican, and Australian), it's the expressions and terms for things what vary greatly between those countries (boot/trunk, lift/elevator), and indeed can from one region / county / state to another (think New Yorker to Califonian, Londoner to country folk etc).

Then you have other "english" speaking countries like Ireland, Scottland, Wales for example, have a friend who moved from Belfast (Ireland), might be speaking english, but when speaking quickly, be damned if I can understand a word!!

And let's face it, the english language is stuffed, I mean, "I before E, except after C", whoever came up with that rule should be taken out the back and shot!! And how about "I see a 'C' in the sea", try explaining THAT to someone trying to learn english.

[img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 08-19-2004, 11:09 PM: Message edited by: Wolfie ]

Um, General Discussion material people.

But so long as it is here, it is probably just tradition. The english have used it like that their whole lives. Changing would be like trying to implement the metric system to America, it just won't happen.

I also think the accents and such have a correlation to the spelling.