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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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19th May 2018, 10:35 pm | #41 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2016
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Re: American Pronounciation
All languages evolve - but some seem to be lazy in terms of diction/pronunciation and grammar.
The Americans often say [and write] "These past several years .... " - sooo, we know that it was more than one anyway .... several means that, and "years" is plural! But - how many years? The English would [probably] say "These past few years ....". Then there's "I wrote him ..." What? To him; for him; on his behalf; dipped his head in ink and dragged him up and down a wall .... !
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19th May 2018, 10:47 pm | #42 | |
Dekatron
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Re: American Pronounciation
Quote:
It's four in the morning, the end of December I'm writing you now just to see if you're better New York is cold, but I like where I'm living There's music on Clinton Street all through the evening.... Lawrence. |
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19th May 2018, 11:33 pm | #43 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
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Re: American Pronounciation
Whoops, forgot.
....And Jane came by with a lock of your hair She said that you gave it to her That night that you planned to go clear Sincerely, L Cohen Lawrence. |
19th May 2018, 11:58 pm | #44 | |
Hexode
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Re: American Pronounciation
Quote:
T
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19th May 2018, 11:59 pm | #45 |
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Re: American Pronounciation
One frequently encounters the American spelling 'soder' too, to the extent that I asked an American aquaintance whether that was the correct US spelling - apparently not, it's just uneducated or lazy.
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20th May 2018, 12:44 am | #46 |
Octode
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 1,654
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Re: American Pronounciation
And, of course, we shouldn't forget "nucular". I have an idea that started with Reagan or one of the Clintons, though I've even heard BBC commentators use it. I can't quite work out whether it's dialect, speech impediment, or good old-fashioned ignorance. Haven't heard "nuculus" yet, but perhaps it will come..
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20th May 2018, 12:57 am | #47 |
Dekatron
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Re: American Pronounciation
Yes rising inflexions desymo-constant surprise! Australia, Victorian America-full of shortened words Yute-Oldies etc. Sociologists call it a restricted code language like the East End. "I went Darn the pub didna"? " I don't know did you?" "Init" has numerous meanings starting with "isn't it?" No need to learn more English words. The worst thing is UK residents, promoted to middle management without enough education, who get the sense and meaning all hopelessly wrong, even with the right word. I once knew an NHS Chief Exec who could only say Hospical
Lawrence, how about- " I lived with them on Montague Street In a basement down the stairs There was music in the cafes at night And revolution in the air" Tangled Up In Blue-B Dylan Dave Last edited by dave walsh; 20th May 2018 at 1:10 am. |
20th May 2018, 1:49 am | #48 | |
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Re: American Pronounciation
Quote:
Straya NOT 'ors-traliah, as the Queen says. There is an excellent book that all you ignorant pohm's ( pohm= prisoner of her majesty) should read. Here is a quick example The following is taken from a publication called STRINE by Afferbeck Lauder. Published by Ure Smith, Sydney. It is reproduced below without permission. The book appears to date from around 1965, and has since been through five reprints and has sold over 15,000 copies. LET STALK STRINE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A lexicon on modern Strine usage. - A - ===== Air Fridge: A mean sum, or quantity; also: ordinary, not extreme. As in: The air fridge person; the air fridge man in the street. Airman: See "Semmitch". Airpsly Fair Billis: Quite pleasant. (See also Naw Shaw.) Airp's Trek: Mon painting in the ark ellery. (See also Contempry.) Aorta: The english language contains many Greek, Latin, French, Italian and other foreign words, e.g. valet, vampire, vaudeville, vox-humana, hippocrepiform, etc. Strine, similarly, is richly studded with words and phrases taken from other, older tongues. Many of these have, with the passage of time, come to possess meanings different from their original ones. Two typical examples are the German words Eiche (Pronounced i-ker; meaning oak-tree) and Ersatz (pronounced air-sats; meaning substitute). Both these are now Strine words, and are used in the following manner: `Eiche nardly bleevit', and `Ersatz are trumps, dear, yegottny? However, it is English which has contributed most to the Strine vocabulary. Strine is full of words which were originally English. Aorta is a typical example. Aorta (pronounced A-orta) is the vessel through which courses the life-blood of Strine public opinion. Aorta is a composite but non-existant Authority which is held responsible for practically everything unpleasant in the Strine way of life; for the punishment of criminals; for the weather; for the Bomb and the Pill; for all public transport; and for all the manifold irritating trivia of everyday living. Aorta comprises the Federal and State legislatures; local government councils; all public services; and even, it is now thought, Parents' and Citizens' Associations and the CSIRO. Aorta is, in fact, the personification of the benevolently paternal welfare State to which all Strines - being fiercly independant and individualistic - appeal for help and comfort in moments of frustration and anguish. The following are typical examples of such appeals. They reveal the innate reasonableness and sense of justice which all Strines possess to such a marked degree: `Aorta build another arber bridge. An aorta stop half of these cars from cummer ninner the city - so a feller can get twirkon time.' `Aorta mica laura genst all these prairlers and sleshers an pervs. Aorta puttem in jile an shootem.' `Aorta stop all these transistors from cummer ninner the country. Look what they doone to the weather. All this rine! Doan tell me it's not all these transistors - an all these hydrigen bombs too. Aorta stoppem!' `Aorta have more buses. An aorta milkem smaller so they don't take up half the road. An aorta put more seats innem so you doan tefter stann all the time. An aorta have more room innem - you carn tardly move innem air so crairded. Aorta do something about it.' Ark Ellery: See "Airp's Trek". Arm Arm: A childs' appeal to its mother for help. As is: `Arm arm, makim stop.' Ashfelt: Asphalt. Assprad: Excessively preoccupied with domestic order and cleanliness. As in: `She's very assprad - she keeps Rome looking lovely.' This is a feminine adjective only; there does not appear to be any exact masculine equivalent, although the noun Hairndiman conveys something of the same meaning. Strine women may be assprad; Strine men may be hairndimen; or `clever with their hens.' (See also Gloria Soame.) - B - ===== Try this for size https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afferbeck_Lauder Cheers Joe |
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20th May 2018, 2:39 am | #49 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK
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Re: American Pronounciation
It certainly doesn't help that English writing bears no relationship to its spoken variety. The 'ou' combination can be pronounced:
-through (as in Zoo) -thorough (short, 'schwa' sound) -although (as in Go) -couch ( as in Now) -ought (as in Door) -cough ( as in Off) ...and they're just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Then there's the problem of long vowel sounds, as in: ship versus sheep, or can versus can't. 12 'straight' vowel sounds and 8 dipthongs are a lot to master! I've been teaching twenty years and I still feel sorry for the students who come from a linguistic background like Spanish, where virtually all words are spelt and pronounced the same way and where there are only 5 vowel sounds! This tends to make the US-UK divide seem insignificant in comparison. In any case, most differences are lexical rather than grammatical. Grammar tends to change far more slowly while words fly into and out of the lexicon much faster. That said, I think it is a cop out to just say that 'language evolves' and thus terminate any discussion. Some changes are good, such as those which increase vocabulary. Other things are not, especially in semantic change where there is already a perfectly good word that is lost in favour of a clumsier equivalent, or people just sounding plain ignorant with bad grammar. Lots of North Americans, at least in speech, don't seem to know how to use the conditional, saying things like ' If I would (sic) have a million dollars...' Anyway, rant over!
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20th May 2018, 6:03 am | #50 |
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Re: American Pronounciation
English is a mish-mash of bits stolen from other languages, no planning, it just happened.
It seems like dumbing-down now the correct plurals are being dumped: Antennas Forums For consistency why hasn't, say, glitterati been replaced by glitteratos? Yuk! David
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20th May 2018, 7:18 am | #51 | |
Dekatron
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Re: American Pronounciation
Quote:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...y-2341650.html In spite of the fact that they still exist, such as Turweston Aerodrome, marked in large letters on OS maps and on road signs. Craig |
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20th May 2018, 7:36 am | #52 |
Rest in Peace
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Re: American Pronounciation
I could have included words such as 'Theater' and 'Program' in my earlier comment. It seems illogical to me that, in England we spell 'Theatre' the French way, yet pronounce it as if it ended 'er' not 're'. Likewise, to me, the last 'me' in 'Program(me) is irrelevant.
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20th May 2018, 8:32 am | #53 | |
Dekatron
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Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK.
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Re: American Pronounciation
Quote:
Program is what computers run from, perhaps kept on a disc (I still say disc, and not disk).
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20th May 2018, 8:39 am | #54 |
Nonode
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Re: American Pronounciation
Thank goodness the topic isn't about those zip bags that fit around the waist !!!
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20th May 2018, 8:48 am | #55 |
Heptode
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Location: Heysham, Lancashire, UK.
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Re: American Pronounciation
There was a young lady from Slough
Who last year developed a cough She wasn’t to know It would last until now Let’s hope the poor girl will pull through Stuart |
20th May 2018, 9:09 am | #56 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Re: American Pronounciation
Even local laziness in pronunciation can be a challenge.
I was born & bred in EDMONTON Nth London but we spoke it thus : "emn" ("e" - "m" - "un") but spoken thus: The "e" from the back of the throat, the "m" by expulsion of air from the throat & the quick closing of the lips and the "n" as if one had a bad blockage on the nose. As the area became gentrified we could tell the indigenous from the incomers !
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20th May 2018, 9:28 am | #57 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Gloucestershire, UK.
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Re: American Pronounciation
I think my pet peeve has to be the coy "bathroom" meaning toilet. If a room does not contain a bath, then it cannot possibly be a bathroom. However, that is the repressed yanks for you... terrified of an unfettered nip, yet see nothing awry with horrific violence toward wildlife.
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20th May 2018, 9:35 am | #58 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Re: American Pronounciation
Which gives house descriptions as including “two and a half baths”
Can’t remember seeing half baths in B&Q! From the airline cabin crew, the rather scary “we will take off momentarily”. Or my favourite “we will deplane momentarily” Stuart |
20th May 2018, 9:47 am | #59 |
Banned
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Re: American Pronounciation
Is that anything to do with the "final approach" announcement? Frightens the hell out of some.
Its in the same vein as "in the event of a water landing" Euphemism for a crash. |
20th May 2018, 9:56 am | #60 | |
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Re: American Pronunciation
Quote:
"Toilet is also a coy word for lavatory. Toilet is having a wash as in toiletries".
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