89 replies to this topic

[Still Waters]

Quote

British children are increasingly using American English in their writing, according to a report based on entries to a BBC short story competition.

Oxford University Press studied around 74,000 entries for Radio 2's 500 Words contest.

Americanisms such as cupcake, garbage truck, trash can, candy, sidewalk and soda were found in many of the entries.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...t-arts-18247748

[Taun]

I had no idea 'cupcake'  and 'candy' weren't in general usage in all English speaking countries... I knew that a 'trash can' is called a 'dust bin' someplaces (though trash can seems more descriptive) - and sidewalk sort of surprised me as well...

[Biff Wellington]

http://m.youtube.com...4uTEEOJlM&gl=GB

[Still Waters]

Taun, on 29 May 2012 - 02:16 PM, said:

I had no idea 'cupcake'  and 'candy' weren't in general usage in all English speaking countries... I knew that a 'trash can' is called a 'dust bin' someplaces (though trash can seems more descriptive) - and sidewalk sort of surprised me as well...

'trash can' is also called a 'rubbish bin' here, and 'candy' is our 'sweets'.

[Taun]

Still Waters, on 29 May 2012 - 02:49 PM, said:

'trash can' is also called a 'rubbish bin' here, and 'candy' is our 'sweets'.

What do you normally call a 'sidewalk'?

[FLOMBIE]

I know. I know! Pavement!

[Kasey2601]

Why on earth would they do that??

[Farmerboy]

Taun, on 29 May 2012 - 02:57 PM, said:

What do you normally call a 'sidewalk'?

A footpath

[FLOMBIE]

Because of American pop culture being too dominant. We are getting more and more anglicisms in the German language as well, from American English.

[FLOMBIE]

Farmerboy, on 29 May 2012 - 03:08 PM, said:

A footpath

It's not 'pavement'?

[Still Waters]

Farmerboy, on 29 May 2012 - 03:08 PM, said:

A footpath

I call a 'sidewalk' a 'pavement' but it can be either.

[Still Waters]

FLOMBIE, on 29 May 2012 - 03:10 PM, said:

It's not 'pavement'?

lol! pavement, or footpath, both the same really

[Eldorado]

Been saying it for years... the tabloid press, Hollywood and the Music Industry have a lot to answer for re the "dumbing-down" of kids.

Edited by Eldorado, 29 May 2012 - 03:46 PM.

[keithisco]

American -- English is just a Lazy persons Oxford English. Probably suits a lot of UK Kids... with their Playstaions, DS, etc...

[Mantis914]

FLOMBIE, on 29 May 2012 - 03:09 PM, said:

Because of American pop culture being too dominant. We are getting more and more anglicisms in the German language as well, from American English.

That's very sad.  When I hear American kids talking these days, I can't relate to most of them and more often than not, have no idea what they are saying or if they are even trying to convey a message. It even looks more pathetic when older generations try to fit in.  I studied German in college and had a bear of a time with the tenses and pronunciations that are not in English.  I would say, try to preserve your native tongue before it gets polluted as there's many Americans that don't appreciate or understand slang and speak the English that we were taught in school.