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Off topic: British offended by Americanisms
Autor de la hebra: Amy Duncan (X)
Gennady Lapardin
Gennady Lapardin  Identity Verified
Federación Rusa
Local time: 01:12
italiano al ruso
+ ...
.. Sep 6, 2011

Rather curious reference
Kim Metzger wrote:

"Critics ...requiring knowledge of ...Greek to be understood."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inkhorn_term


In the 12th century, with their far from liberal rules, the learned Greeks who spoke Classical Greek language, complained that the general Greek public in the Athenes didn't understand them. C'est la vie.
 
Aleksandar Gasic
Aleksandar Gasic
Montenegro
Local time: 23:12
inglés al serbocroata
+ ...
ouch... Sep 6, 2011

Tom in London wrote:

Even more jarring is non-English mother tongue Europeans whose English is an unholy amalgam of American and UK and who also use the word "gotten".....


Me sorry for no gut Anglish... me no grow up in UK so sometimes miss what is AE und what is BE.
Cut us some slacks, dude. With all the mess I personally encounter every day all over the Internet, movies, TV, this and that, I am surprised I still haven't reverted to Franglish. You sound almost disgusted at anyone not speaking perfect and exclusive language.
 
JH Trads
JH Trads  Identity Verified
Estados Unidos
Local time: 17:12
Miembro 2007
inglés al francés
+ ...
momentarily Sep 9, 2011

here is an example of this term's use in the US: in the building where I live there is a large button that if pressed long enough can open the entrance door, I think it is intended for people with disabilities. The instruction on the button reads "hold down momentarily", meaning that it is necessary to press it for a few seconds, that it does not work if it is released immediately.

Regarding the idiom "I know where you are coming from" in the sense of (roughly) "I understand you/you... See more
here is an example of this term's use in the US: in the building where I live there is a large button that if pressed long enough can open the entrance door, I think it is intended for people with disabilities. The instruction on the button reads "hold down momentarily", meaning that it is necessary to press it for a few seconds, that it does not work if it is released immediately.

Regarding the idiom "I know where you are coming from" in the sense of (roughly) "I understand you/your point of view", I wonder if in the UK the expression would be understood. I just remember my puzzlement when somebody told me that for the first time ▲ Collapse
 
Jack Doughty
Jack Doughty  Identity Verified
Reino Unido
Local time: 22:12
ruso al inglés
+ ...
In Memoriam
I know where you're coming from Sep 9, 2011

We know where you're coming from with this one in the UK, no problem.
Came across a difference yesterday that I didn't know about before. Translated a word literally as "non-payer", and was surprised when a US editor reviewing the text changed this to "deadbeat". In the UK this would just mean some sort of useless idiot in general, but apparently in the USA it means someone who fails to pay debts.
 
JH Trads
JH Trads  Identity Verified
Estados Unidos
Local time: 17:12
Miembro 2007
inglés al francés
+ ...
deadbeat Sep 9, 2011

if your context called for a US familiar register (movie, informal conversation), 'deadbeat' may be suitable. However, on a more neutral register I believe 'bad payor (or 'bad payer') fits better. More formal > 'delinquent payer', 'defaulter'.
 
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British offended by Americanisms






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