tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170913783015287649.post3331919208914105673..comments2024-03-26T08:09:33.829+00:00Comments on The Plastic Mancunian: American EnglishPlastic Mancunianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01864213919913476168noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170913783015287649.post-47749097938869554832008-12-17T07:46:00.000+00:002008-12-17T07:46:00.000+00:00Hi Virgomonkey,Your comments about Japan are also ...Hi Virgomonkey,<BR/><BR/>Your comments about Japan are also true of the UK itself. Regional dialects in England can be so strong that people from London strugle to understand people from Newcastle for example - and tey use different words. What's more if you go further north to Scotland, you have a whole new vocabulary and accent. <BR/><BR/>Of course, English is spoken throughout the world and places like Australia and South Africa mutate it further. <BR/><BR/>You're right - it is stimulating.<BR/><BR/>Cheers<BR/><BR/>PMPlastic Mancunianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01864213919913476168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170913783015287649.post-47380443823829260782008-12-17T00:31:00.000+00:002008-12-17T00:31:00.000+00:00Very interesting. The same thing happens in Japan....Very interesting. <BR/><BR/>The same thing happens in Japan. There are different words and dialect spoken throughout the country, and some of my friends told me that when they travel as far North as Yamagata, they get to the point where they have a lot of trouble understanding what the same Japanese are saying. And this is within the mainland. If you travel to Okinawa, the language is entirely different (off the mainland). <BR/><BR/>Mexicans are often berated by other Hispanics for their butchering of the Spanish language. <BR/><BR/>And then the French Canadians are ALSO mocked for not speaking proper French by the REAL French, themselves. <BR/><BR/>And if that's not enough, language is always evolving. When I came back from Japan after having lived there for over 6 years, there were a lot of new slang terms out that I was completely lost sometimes when the youth spoke. <BR/><BR/>Language is very curious. The differences are mentally stimulating for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170913783015287649.post-4244755516294188232008-12-11T08:45:00.000+00:002008-12-11T08:45:00.000+00:00Hi Bingkee, I once heard that English was one of t...Hi Bingkee, <BR/><BR/>I once heard that English was one of the most difficult languages to speak because of the way certain words are pronounced and spelt. It is also true in Britain that a lot of peole struggle to spell words correctly. I know a guy who is as clever as a room full of professors but his spelling is absolutely dreadful.<BR/><BR/>Cheers<BR/><BR/>PMPlastic Mancunianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01864213919913476168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170913783015287649.post-73578306704844052492008-12-11T02:03:00.000+00:002008-12-11T02:03:00.000+00:00It's true that most Americans cannot spell. Why? B...It's true that most Americans cannot spell. Why? Because phonetics vary from one word to another. It is not consistent. Unlike other languages, phonics remain consistent in all words. Tagalog, our national language and all our other languages have the same phonics---when you say a, every word that has the "a" is read as "a". English does not follow that way. "A" can be "ey" --the "a" in apple is different from the "a" in the word "bank" . The "e" can be read as "i" or "i". So, it's really confusing to them to spell the word because certain phonics do not have the same sounds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170913783015287649.post-30011166976973352022008-12-06T09:42:00.000+00:002008-12-06T09:42:00.000+00:00:-)Yes, it was tempting to mention the word "fanny...:-)<BR/><BR/>Yes, it was tempting to mention the word "fanny". The meaning in Britain is, shall we say, rather different from the American meaning. <BR/><BR/>Discretion is advised.<BR/><BR/>:-)<BR/><BR/>Cheers<BR/><BR/>PMPlastic Mancunianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01864213919913476168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170913783015287649.post-69020891531535984482008-12-06T00:06:00.000+00:002008-12-06T00:06:00.000+00:00Howdy partner...my two cents worth? Your British/A...Howdy partner...my two cents worth? Your British/American conversion table is invaluable! Thanks buddy.<BR/><BR/>I was on vacation in downtown London England once and tried to buy a <I>fanny pack</I> in a drugstore. Yada-yada-yada..., I thought the "old bill" was going to "nick me". So can y'all add that to the list to save your US brothers further embarrassment? Laters dude.<BR/><BR/>L from Toledo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170913783015287649.post-61946321513739318662008-12-05T12:36:00.000+00:002008-12-05T12:36:00.000+00:00Ah - I see. Many thanks Holly, I shall correct tha...Ah - I see. Many thanks Holly, I shall correct that.<BR/><BR/>Cheers<BR/><BR/>PMPlastic Mancunianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01864213919913476168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170913783015287649.post-54077023553854785892008-12-04T23:27:00.000+00:002008-12-04T23:27:00.000+00:00Holy cow, I think my "p.s." was confusing...I mean...Holy cow, I think my "p.s." was confusing...I meant "I think you meant to switch maths and math <EM>in your British & American columns</EM>!" Take a look... :o)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170913783015287649.post-33109240887557744852008-12-04T17:19:00.000+00:002008-12-04T17:19:00.000+00:00I can't bring myself to say "math" or "aluminum" -...I can't bring myself to say "math" or "aluminum" - they just don't sound right to me. <BR/><BR/>I tell you what, Holly, why don't you start calling men "blokes"? It has caused much amusement in the States whenever I have visited.<BR/><BR/>:-)<BR/><BR/>Cheers<BR/><BR/>PMPlastic Mancunianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01864213919913476168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170913783015287649.post-6334085823739782892008-12-04T16:11:00.000+00:002008-12-04T16:11:00.000+00:00Well now this is very helpful so thank you! I some...Well now this is very helpful so thank you! I sometimes wondered about a few of these, but usually figured them out..example: "boot" and "trunk." Personally, I might start using "ice lolly"...I like that!<BR/><BR/>p.s. PM, I think you meant to switch (or is it exchange?) maths and math! :o)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com