Daily Mail article on Americanisms ruining the English language

Historyenne,

One of many words they are using in the UK is 'guys'. Most American.

I hope they continue to use the term 'lorry' instead of truck. I hear both on the news.

I think 'super' is British?

These are some that come to mind.

I would like them to hang onto their words.

Oh no.  I say brilliant!  You know, I never even thought about it until last week when I was out with (American) friends I hadn't seen much since getting back, and I said it totally without thinking and they all went 'YOU SAID BRILLIANT OMG YOU'RE SOOO BRITISH!'  I dunno, I always think brilliant is one of the minor Britishisms.  Like I've heard Americans say it before, but not often -- it doesn't sound as incongruous to me as an American using the British pronunciation of basil, chamomile, status &c.

I guess because 'brilliant' is a word I was already familiar with, it was very easy for me to incorporate it into my vocabulary, and it was probably one of the first British things I started saying regularly (not on purpose, but unconsciously).

Now, something like 'I can't be arsed' (as discussed earlier in the thread) I've never picked up -- I just can't make it fit with my American accent.  So I say 'I can't be bothered' instead.  Now that's a useful expression

I said before I moved to England that I wouldn't pick up on Britishisms...but alas, I can't be arsed not to.  I've noticed that I have picked up a few British sayings because it's easier than trying to use the American equivalent and getting strange looks...also because a lot of the British terms shorten things (a lot easier to say 'Ta' than 'Thank you very much' to the driver while rushing off a bus when running late).  I also say 'Hiya' instead of 'Hello' or 'Hey' or whatever else...which is something I never thought would happen either.  I think it's inevitable that when you are around people who use certain terms 24/7, you will pick up on that.  I've actually had to consciously think about *not* using British slang when speaking to my American family and friends.

As for the Americanisms coming to Britain, I would assume this is mostly from movies, music, etc??  I pick up on British slang because I live in the UK and I'm surrounded by it constantly but I don't think I would just randomly grab a term I heard off a movie and suddenly have my entire city using it.  Seems to me that Brits who are using Americanisms have made a conscious effort to adapt it into their life (at least for the origination of the term into Britain).

ManderW: Oh my god, don't say brilliant. I cannot imagine, as an American, saying brilliant for anything other than the reasons you mentioned. Do Americans actually come here and say oh, brilliant when handed change or whatever? I don't think so. Then again I'd hardly notice if a Brit said awesome- at least not if he were referring to something impressive in size.

I've been saying right for years and years and plenty of Americans do, I'm sure. Is that even a Britishism?

I used to say Brilliant all the time (before moving or even visiting the UK).  I dated a guy that one day snapped and said... "that is not brilliant, everything is not brilliant, how can you classify everything as brilliant?"  I guess it is a term I have always used, maybe that is why I never notice it being used.

I used to say Brilliant all the time (before moving or even visiting the UK).  I dated a guy that one day snapped and said... "that is not brilliant, everything is not brilliant, how can you classify everything as brilliant?"  I guess it is a term I have always used, maybe that is why I never notice it being used. 

I tend to say 'I reckon' a lot.  I always thought it was an American thing, although perhaps regional(?).  Then awhile back, I heard it's a British thing.  (I said it before I ever moved over here.)  Who knew?!  So confused. 

I tend to say 'I reckon' a lot.  I always thought it was an American thing, although perhaps regional(?).  Then awhile back, I heard it's a British thing.  (I said it before I ever moved over here.)  Who knew?!  So confused. 

It's pretty southern. If I remember correctly, didn't you live in FL for a while (though FL isn't strictly southern IMO. That's a whole other topic! )

It's pretty southern. If I remember correctly, didn't you live in FL for a while (though FL isn't strictly southern IMO. That's a whole other topic! )

Yep, originally from south central Kansas (on that lil' regional corridor that goes straight on down to Oklahoma & then Texas, with the accent gradually getting heavier) - ancestors who moved from Kentucky & then other parts of the Midwest.  Have spent a fair amount of time in Texas, visiting & on vacation.  Last lived in Tampa Bay, which isn't really 'The South' - as you mentioned.  Whilst Tallahassee would be 'The South'.  Florida is a weird state.    But lovely!

Before I lived in the UK, I thought 'reckon' was a Southern expression.

I think it's both.  I wonder if it's us (US) taking after them, or if it's us Americans taking over them (UK).  

It's ruin, I tell you, ruin! 

I think language changes quite rapidly.  I am British but have not lived in Britain since 1991, so I can spot current British usages that (I believe) were NOT generally current prior to 1991.  Here are some random examples;

"Can't be arsed"  (don't know when it was coined, but it is new to me.)
"Hiya" (Australian in origin, I think?)
"Uni" (for university.  Again, Australian, I think.)
"Bin it" (verb for throwing something away.)
"Wheelybin" (an obvious coinage - of course years ago, bins did not usually have wheels.)
"Brilliant" (as an exclamation, as mentioned in previous posts.)

Now, all of the above colloquialisms and new coinages are clearly NOT American.  So I think British English is very dynamic and open to new usages ... American English is only one of the sources. 

"Can't be arsed"  (don't know when it was coined, but it is new to me.)

Just as long as they aren't saying 'can't be asked' instead! 

"Hiya" (Australian in origin, I think?)

I don't know how widely throughout the UK this is used.  I have the impression it's a northern (possibly Yorkshire?) thing.

I tend to say 'I reckon' a lot.  I always thought it was an American thing, although perhaps regional(?).  Then awhile back, I heard it's a British thing.  (I said it before I ever moved over here.)  Who knew?!  So confused. 

My Australian friend says reckon all the time same with my UK friends Told her it's more of a southern expression here.

I think it's both.  I wonder if it's us (US) taking after them, or if it's us Americans taking over them (UK). 

It's ruin, I tell you, ruin! 

I think it may be a Brit phrase we hung on to here in the south. We tended to preserve a lot of older phrases due to the heavy Brit settlement from what I've learned. Supposedly, that's why it was so easy for Vivian Leigh to fake a Southern accent in Gone With the Wind, because the sounds/vowels aren't as different as other regional accents.

I think it may be a Brit phrase we hung on to here in the south. We tended to preserve a lot of older phrases due to the heavy Brit settlement from what I've learned. Supposedly, that's why it was so easy for Vivian Leigh to fake a Southern accent in Gone With the Wind, because the sounds/vowels aren't as different as other regional accents.

I think Gottagettolondon has it.  As I said earlier in the thread (like, pages ago), I think this is fascinating and I'm keeping a list of British expressions my Southern relatives use.  I'd love to do some more research into this someday.

I think Gottagettolondon has it.  As I said earlier in the thread (like, pages ago), I think this is fascinating and I'm keeping a list of British expressions my Southern relatives use.  I'd love to do some more research into this someday.

Yes, I still dream of doing a PhD in linguistics some day! If it weren't so dang expensive to come to the UK with a student visa, I'd do it now! It's fascinating! I've been trying to work out why England (and you can include Scotland and Wales since they are on the same landmass) has such diversity in accents! It's not a huge place, but the differences even within a city are amazing. It's really a cool subject!