6
   

Could you please take a glance at this?

Forums: English, Esl, Grammar
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layman
 
  0  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 02:00 pm
@izzythepush,
The difference between American and British uses now seems barely noticeable. It's kinda funny how the most minute differences can cause large-scale misunderstandings.
contrex
 
  1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 03:23 pm
@FBM,
FBM wrote:
learned (learnt?)

We use both, also spelled/spelt, burned/burnt etc
contrex
 
  1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 03:24 pm
@layman,
layman wrote:
The difference between American and British uses now seems barely noticeable. It's kinda funny how the most minute differences can cause large-scale misunderstandings.

Rather a nonsensical post, I think.

izzythepush
 
  1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 04:34 pm
@contrex,
That's about par for the course. I don't bother reading his posts.
layman
 
  0  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 04:39 pm
@izzythepush,
Quote:
I don't bother reading his posts.


Well, now, aint that special, Izzy!?

You're the one who said the British can and do use the word "sale" to denote a discount, just as Americans do.
0 Replies
 
chai2
 
  1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 05:32 pm
@izzythepush,
izzythepush wrote:

We use the phrase 'having a sale' or 'sale item' to indicate something is at a lower price, but saying something is on sale just means it's available.

Eg. Carpet Warehouse is having a 24 hour sale. Sale items include Axminster carpets, all sale items were previously on sale at for least twice as much as they cost today.


Yes, we Americans say the same thing as above re the Carpet Warehouse phrase.

A store "has a sale" when certain items or "on sale" and those are "sale items. Seems like there is some overlap in meanings across the pond.

To muddy the waters further, sometimes we will say "on sale now" when it's not a price reduction, but is something that's not available all the time, like a certain fruit that's very popular, but only available for a short time.

When I hear the term "reduced prices" the connotation is that it's an item that may be past its prime, e.g. a food that must be eaten in a short time. Or it could be an item that didn't sell well, and they need to unload it.
contrex
 
  1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 06:21 pm
@chai2,
chai2 wrote:
When I hear the term "reduced prices" the connotation is that it's an item that may be past its prime, e.g. a food that must be eaten in a short time. Or it could be an item that didn't sell well, and they need to unload it.

In Britain, every supermarket has a "reduced" or "bargain" section where that kind of item is available, also many supermarkets have offers, the celebrated BOGOF, (Buy One Get One Free), or multibuy offers, e.g. £1.50 each or 3 for £3, or they will have temporary special offers on certain things, often staples such as milk, bread, etc. This is the traditional British supermarket ploy - get the customers in for the cheap offers and they may well buy other things too, just because they are in the store. However many shoppers resent being thus manipulated, and increasingly are going to (mainly German-owned) chains with a different business model, namely no offers or special deals, just everything cheaper. The names that come to mind are Aldi and (my favourite) Lidl.
FBM
 
  1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 07:32 pm
@contrex,
contrex wrote:

FBM wrote:
learned (learnt?)

We use both, also spelled/spelt, burned/burnt etc



This is a bit of trivia, but those inflections have survived in the southern US. I grew up saying 'learnt,' 'burnt,' 'spelt.' They beat it out of me in school, claiming that it was backwards, when in reality it was legit BrE.
chai2
 
  1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 08:34 pm
@contrex,
Same thing here contrex, about getting people in the door with a sale item.

BTW, we call your BOGOF, BOGO's
0 Replies
 
chai2
 
  2  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 08:39 pm
@FBM,
FBM wrote:

contrex wrote:

FBM wrote:
learned (learnt?)

We use both, also spelled/spelt, burned/burnt etc



This is a bit of trivia, but those inflections have survived in the southern US. I grew up saying 'learnt,' 'burnt,' 'spelt.' They beat it out of me in school, claiming that it was backwards, when in reality it was legit BrE.


Apparantly the way southerners speak has more in common (not including the accent) with Brits than any other region in the U.S.

I was listening to NPR, and they had a segment on Shakespeare being spoken in the original style that was being spoken at the time. Guess what? A lot of it actually rhymes. Also, the humor is much more apparent. When Americans were asked to perform in this style, the Southerners had the easiest time of it.

I'll try to find that story.

What I really recall is how the OP (original pronunciation) was so much more relaxed and natural sounding. Not at all stuffy and snobby, which is my impression when I hear Shakespeare recited.
FBM
 
  1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 08:44 pm
@chai2,
I'd like to hear that...
layman
 
  -1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 08:48 pm
@chai2,
Quote:
Not at all stuffy and snobby, which is my impression when I hear Shakespeare recited.


If it aint that, then it can't be (modern) british English, I figure.
0 Replies
 
chai2
 
  1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 08:55 pm
@FBM,
Easy enough to find.

Here's the link. Hope you can access the "listen to" feature.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2012/03/24/149160526/shakespeares-accent-how-did-the-bard-really-sound

One thing the recording says is that it sounds more Appalachian. I agree.
FBM
 
  1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 09:04 pm
@chai2,
Thanks for that. It was interesting, but now I'm wanting more. I'm off to google around and see what else I can learn about it...
FBM
 
  1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 09:09 pm
0 Replies
 
chai2
 
  2  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 09:11 pm
@FBM,
FBM wrote:

now I'm wanting more. I'm off to google around and see what else I can learn about it...


Careful. That's how I learn WAY too much about things like serial killers, furries and how to remove ear wax.
FBM
 
  1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 09:14 pm
@chai2,
Heh heh. I was careful.

Shakespeare isn't the first thing that comes to mind when I hear this:



BUT...I can find it very plausible that a great number of the phonological elements therein are closer to those of the Bard than those of modern Britain.
layman
 
  0  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 09:25 pm
@FBM,
Interesting, but I don't think a lot of those words are/were confined to "mountain" people. Most of them were probably common everywhere at one time (especially the south). I mean commonly understood, not necessarily commonly used by all.
chai2
 
  1  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 09:29 pm
@FBM,
si-gogglin?

I say cattywumpus.

From Urban Dictionary....

TOP DEFINITION
cattywumpus
Skewed or sideways to, out of alignment.
Bubba, you got that manifold gasket in there all cattywumpus.
layman
 
  0  
Reply Sat 28 Mar, 2015 09:32 pm
@chai2,

Quote:
Skewed or sideways to, out of alignment
.
As they say in the military, "snafu" (situation normal: all fucked up)
 

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