Brilliant, it's spot on: How the British language has invaded America
|
They say America and Britain are two nations separated by one common language but linguistically the transatlantic allies are increasingly starting to borrow colloquialisms from each other.
One U.S. language watchdog, Ben Yagoda, is on a quest to track the British language invasion into the vernacular of the former colonies, pointing out the use of Britishisms like 'brilliant,' 'sport' and 'carry-on' in everyday use.
And imitation is indeed the highest form of flattery.
Besotted with the Brits: Author Ben Yagoda points out of the rise of Britishisms in American vernacular on his blog, Not One-Off Britishisms
Yagoda, a Journalism professor and author, has been keeping track of this linguistic phenomenon and even established an online journal to note his daily encounters with borrowed words from the Brits.
He noticed the subtle difference in phraseology when he taught as part of a University of Delaware study-abroad program in London in the mid-90s.
'In about early 2000s, I started noticing that a number of these expressions had been picked up in the U.S.,' he told the MailOnline and he even analyzed the sensation in an academic article in 2003.
Now he chronicles the infiltration of jargon from the UK on his blog, Not One-Off Britishisms, posting newspaper clippings, TV sound bytes and the like.
Posts include a picture of an American chip company labeling their product as 'crisps,' a Nike gift card that refers simply to 'sport' instead of the American plural and Jessica Simpson's new perfume, 'I Fancy You' -
an obvious loan from across the pond.
Copy cat: Chips referred to as crisps (left) and Jessica Simpson's perfume (right)
Sport or sports, that is the question: Nike opted for the British word in marketing for their gift cards
Yagoda said that British visitors to his blog find it thrilling that Americans are adopting parts of their language.
'A lot of readers from the UK are charmed and amazed that there would be this phenomenon... because they are used to the reverse trend [American phrases creeping into Britiain], they just think that it is hilarious.'
In the past, 'people who used British phrases did so to sound
pretentious' but now journalists, bloggers and writers are incorporating
Britishisms as just 'another way of distinguishing themselves,' he said.
The response from Americans on the whole seems to be positive, 'it's still more a novelty item.'
Keep Calm: The popularity of the 'Keep Calm' meme has exploded with comical versions of the WWII poster
The onslaught of Britishisms has come as part of an increasingly globalized world and the easy access to media and goods from across the Atlantic.
British personalities are popping up on U.S. television - Simon Cowell was responsible for choosing the American Idol after all - educating audiences on the proper use of the Queen's English.
TOP BRITISHISMS HEARD IN THE U.S.
Bent: dishonest
Bespoke: custom-made
Bit: part
Chat up: to hit on
Cheeky: saucy
Cheers: thanks
Cock-up: screw-up
Daft: stupid
Da: father
Do the washing up: wash the dishes
Effing: fricking
Faff: to fuss
Fancy: to like
Full stop: a period at the end of a sentence
Ginger: red hair
Go missing: disappear
Gobsmacked: flabbergasted
Journo: journalist
Keen on/keen to: to like or be eager to do something
Kerfuffle: commotion
Loo: bathroom
Minder: one who looks after something
Move house: to move
Nutter: crazy person
On holiday: on vacation
One-off: something that only happens once
Posh: fancy
Run-up: lead-up
Sacked: fired
Snog: to make out
Sell-by-date: expiration date
Spot-on: perfect
Tick: check a box
Top up: fill to the top
Trainers: sneakers
Source: http://britishisms.wordpress.com/list-of-entries/
TV shows like Downton Abbey are becoming mainstream, acts like Adele, Mumford & Sons and One Direction are on many an iTunes playlist and Hollywood is packed full of British stars.
Some Americans have long had a coy admiration for their former colonizers but recently the meteoric rise of Duchess Kate after the 2011 Royal Wedding has exposed the closeted anglophile.
Given the 'special relationship' enjoyed by America and Britain, the evolution of language between the two seems natural.
Few Americans see the need for a redo of Paul Revere's midnight ride, to sound the warning that 'The British are Coming.'
But American jargon, transmitted through movies, TV shows and music, has not gone down so well over in the UK.
British journalist Matthew Engel sounded the alarm about the 'stream of Americanisms entering the language,' in a 2011 BBC article.
He even compiled a list, gathered from reader feedback, of the top 50 American exports - that included phrases like '24/7,' 'touch base,' and 'my bad.'
'Britain is a very distinct country from the U.S. Not better, not worse, different,' he wrote.
'And long live that difference. That means maintaining the integrity of our own gloriously nuanced, subtle and supple version - the original version - of the English language.'
Check and mate.
-
Obama campaign defends his comment to voters to get...
-
'This is our Katrina': Misery for 2.5 million STILL without...
-
At last some good news for New Yorkers: Thousands of RATS...
-
Mother whose two boys were swept out of her arms in...
-
U.S. student 'stabbed 25 times in his sleep by roommate' at...
-
That's a Mitt rich: Romney's 16-year-old granddaughter...
-
'I eat it for meat... it's just a different animal': Outrage...
-
It's been a long time coming! North Korea's 'Hotel of Doom'...
-
'Missis Kwin' sends her love: Charles and Camilla fly in to...
-
How do I look, boys?! Chinese teacher dresses up as sexy...
-
New pictures reveal flooded subway tunnels under the East...
-
'We don't let her fight alone': Family's heartbreak as...
Never heard an american call it the loo unless they were saying it in a joking manner while putting on a an accent. And as for snog, I've never ONCE heard any american use that word.
- Shanny , Orlando, United States, 02/10/2012 20:40
Report abuse