Rescuing British English

Status
Not open for further replies.
Bob said:
When waiting at a bar counter to be served I usually hear someone say to the barmaid or whatever "can I get....". I could explode, it should be "can I have......" (pint of bitter, bag of crisps etc...) Drives me mad.
Click to expand...

That really gets my hackles up!

Worse, some folks are taking to "I want a pint of whatever and a bag of crisps". Want?
 
Digimonkey said:
It's the misuse of plurals that get on my thrupenny bits the most - it's fora not forums - equally stadia not stadiums. Don't start me on split infinitives. Colour not color, honour not honor. Yours pedantically - I. Oh - @Boru62 - I think you have opened a can of worms here K?
Click to expand...
As if I would intentionally do such a thing Iain. ;) It was something my son said which sparked me off, he said the second season of a certain TV programme was starting. Season? I think he meant series.:mad:
 
Digimonkey said:
It's the misuse of plurals that get on my thrupenny bits the most - it's fora not forums - equally stadia not stadiums. Don't start me on split infinitives. Colour not color, honour not honor. Yours pedantically - I. Oh - @Boru62 - I think you have opened a can of worms here K?
Click to expand...

OK I admit we've bastardized the English language, and back in the day you Brit's made a better Gillette ( I have 12) but you have to admit we got ya on deep dish pizza, fried chicken, and grits.
 
Boru62 said:
This is a petition to enforce all speakers of British English to refrain from using Americanisms.
It is a cake of soap, not a puck and a pack(et) of blades not a tuck, cars have rear lights not tail lights etc.
Please sign the petition and if you like, list a word you feel is being replaced. Just like the red squirrels are being usurped by their American alternative.
Click to expand...

I'm guilty of using the word 'puck' instead of cake, and tuck as well but I am pleased to be correct.

***
I'd like to add a few more words that need to be reclaimed/used instead.

"Fag" a colloquial term for a cigarette, not an insult for a homosexual.

Many people seem to use the word "Season" to describe a duration of a television programme, the correct term is "Series".

Also "Apartment" instead of "Flat".

"Biscuit" is not some kind of staple in Southern Cuisine but a flat disc of goodness often found in a cylindrical tube with the word 'McVities' on the side (other brands are available); not all Biscuits are Cookies - the only biscuits that are cookies are ones with chocolate chips (or raisins), calling a Hob Nob or a Digestive 'A Cookie' is an abomination to the English language, it's a biscuit ffs.
 
Last edited:
Steve Bowles said:
320 million speakers of American English vs 60 million speakers of British English.

You lose. :p
Click to expand...

There's no problem with Americans using American English.

For example iff your name is Chuck or Randy and you live in an apartment in Texas then it's fine to use the word 'Cookie' etc.

On the other hand if your name is Nigel or Keith and you live in a flat in Stourbridge then if you use the word apartment to describe your residence or cookie to describe a Fig Roll then one will be ridiculed, and rightly so.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom