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jwilliams
Frequent Guest
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
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 Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 7:36 pm Post subject: American English v. British English |
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When I taught English in Moscow seven years ago, there were more than a few times when people declined my teaching services - because they preferred British English over American English (I'm American).
I respect the fact that people are paying for a service, and they should get what they want, whether it be British English or American English. There was one time when speaking American English worked in my favor: a businessman was preparing to go over to San Francisco for a year, and he wanted to be exposed to American English and so I was the right person for the job!
Has anyone else experienced people/schools with a preference for a specific variant of English, or is it not really a factor? Have you seen a general preference for British English over American English or vice versa? |
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krasatulya
VIP
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 571
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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Ugh, that's lame. I would tell them that you could tailor your curriculum to satisfy their needs. If it's British English they want, tell them you'll throw in the "u's" in words like color and favor, as well as encourage the use of the word "bloody" and "bollocks" 
All joking aside, minus the British accent and the ebonics words that have crept into American vernacular, is there a real difference? |
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5_Zvehzda
Moderator
Joined: 08 Oct 2004
Posts: 347
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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Sometimes the negative attitude about American English really cracks me up, although admittingly I also get annoyed about the way some people speak in the U.S at times. But rarely do you hear as many criticisms toward the other dialects like Australian, New Zealander, Canadian, Irish, Scottish, South African or the other British variants. Any of those dialects can be just as incomprehensible to a non-native speaker.  |
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yorbcbud
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 4919
Location: Сорренто, Британская Колумбия, Канада
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| Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 2:23 am Post subject: |
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| 5_Zvehzda wrote: | | Sometimes the negative attitude about American English really cracks me up, although admittingly I also get annoyed about the way some people speak in the U.S at times. But rarely do you hear as many criticisms toward the other dialects like Australian, New Zealander, Canadian, Irish, Scottish, South African or the other British variants. Any of those dialects can be just as incomprehensible to a non-native speaker. |
Other than spelling, Canadian english is the same as yours, we really don't have odd accents, except fer da newfies. I get a kick out of the "y'all" and "reckon" I hear in the southern states, maybe that's the American english they are referring to? |
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5_Zvehzda
Moderator
Joined: 08 Oct 2004
Posts: 347
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 5:38 am Post subject: |
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| yorbcbud wrote: | | 5_Zvehzda wrote: | | Sometimes the negative attitude about American English really cracks me up, although admittingly I also get annoyed about the way some people speak in the U.S at times. But rarely do you hear as many criticisms toward the other dialects like Australian, New Zealander, Canadian, Irish, Scottish, South African or the other British variants. Any of those dialects can be just as incomprehensible to a non-native speaker. |
Other than spelling, Canadian english is the same as yours, we really don't have odd accents, except fer da newfies. I get a kick out of the "y'all" and "reckon" I hear in the southern states, maybe that's the American english they are referring to? |
I believe that's part of it. In any language, slang (like those examples) can cause a lot of confusion with any non-native speaker or learner, and english is loaded with it like any other. But it's the accent that doesn't seem too popular and poked fun at the most. They say when people from the U.S speak, they sound like . . . our mouths are stuffed with cotton, mumble too much or nasal-sounding and loud. And sure enough, I hear it almost everyday personally. My theory is, those kind of speech habits seem to be a turn off for many English language learners. Thus, they want Brit-English influence instead.
But many folks do not speak english like those three descriptions above. For example, when I lived in the UK, I was often mistaken for being Irish or Canadian. But last year this guy from Toronto I hung out with told me he really couldn't place my accent at all. Once some dude from New York City said I sounded like, vaguely put, some "guy from a foreign country". Years ago someone else thought I was from the Netherlands, I think.
I don't sound southern U.S, east-coast (like Sopranos characters) or extreme midwestern (like Fargo) or even that Irish. I just make an effort to speak clearly to help people who are learning english. But honestly, I don't know what the hell my accent resembles.  |
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UsualSuspect
WayToRussified
Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 312
Location: The Land of Oz
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| Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 3:03 pm Post subject: Probably a legacy... |
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jwilliams,
ALL of my wifes text books she had from High School and University were British produced dataing back to 1959 (the text books that is!!) and the main ones were published during the early to mid '60's so you have probably been caught in a real institutional bind. It would appear that Russia has favoured British English since the dim darkies. Remember the last Tsar? George V's cousin.
It could be that whoever had to choose an English educational standard back then decided that the lesser of the two perceived evils got the nod?
Anyway, it's probably all academic
Usualsuspect |
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jo jo 7
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
Posts: 3199
Location: Louisville,Kentucky
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| Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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| yorbcbud wrote: | | 5_Zvehzda wrote: | | Sometimes the negative attitude about American English really cracks me up, although admittingly I also get annoyed about the way some people speak in the U.S at times. But rarely do you hear as many criticisms toward the other dialects like Australian, New Zealander, Canadian, Irish, Scottish, South African or the other British variants. Any of those dialects can be just as incomprehensible to a non-native speaker. |
Other than spelling, Canadian english is the same as yours, we really don't have odd accents, except fer da newfies. I get a kick out of the "y'all" and "reckon" I hear in the southern states, maybe that's the American english they are referring to? |
Every state or every country has their own version of slang, us southerners say "y'all", (meaning---"everybody"), reckon, (meaning---" alright or I guess"). Everyone has their own version of bad language, (meaning----"slang").... 
So, who cares...nobody's perfect!!!!!! |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3436
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| Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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| jo jo 7 wrote: |
Every state or every country has their own version of slang, us southerners say "y'all", (meaning---"everybody"), reckon, (meaning---" alright or I guess"). Everyone has their own version of bad language, (meaning----"slang")....
So, who cares...nobody's perfect!!!!!! |
Most reasonable people are really annoyed by all those southerners saying "y'all", etc. That stuff and ghetto ebonics is something this country does not need. As a chairman of the Greater New York Anti-Rednack Council, I am working in cooperation with the local official to eliminate that ridiculous slang and make this world a better place. |
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yorbcbud
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 4919
Location: Сорренто, Британская Колумбия, Канада
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:12 am Post subject: |
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| MrSpice wrote: | | jo jo 7 wrote: |
Every state or every country has their own version of slang, us southerners say "y'all", (meaning---"everybody"), reckon, (meaning---" alright or I guess"). Everyone has their own version of bad language, (meaning----"slang")....
So, who cares...nobody's perfect!!!!!! |
Most reasonable people are really annoyed by all those southerners saying "y'all", etc. That stuff and ghetto ebonics is something this country does not need. As a chairman of the Greater New York Anti-Rednack Council, I am working in cooperation with the local official to eliminate that ridiculous slang and make this world a better place. |
I didn't know it was slang. I just thought they all talked that way. Although I think it gives an outsider the impression that they are uneducated. I had a visit yesterday with a guy from Kentucky, actually he said he lived 20 miles from Louisville, and he had hardly any accent at all. I wonder if it's just the hillbillies that talk that way.
Jo jo do you say y'all, and reckon? |
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yorbcbud
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 4919
Location: Сорренто, Британская Колумбия, Канада
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:15 am Post subject: |
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| jo jo 7 wrote: |
Every state or every country has their own version of slang, us southerners say "y'all", (meaning---"everybody"), reckon, (meaning---" alright or I guess"). Everyone has their own version of bad language, (meaning----"slang")....
So, who cares...nobody's perfect!!!!!! |
It's fine to speak it in the south, but as an international version of English, it just wouldn't pass. No place except America, will you hear those words. It's just not proper english. That's all I was trying to say. I actually enjoy listening to a southern girl talk. |
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jo jo 7
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
Posts: 3199
Location: Louisville,Kentucky
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:32 am Post subject: |
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| MrSpice wrote: | | jo jo 7 wrote: |
Every state or every country has their own version of slang, us southerners say "y'all", (meaning---"everybody"), reckon, (meaning---" alright or I guess"). Everyone has their own version of bad language, (meaning----"slang")....
So, who cares...nobody's perfect!!!!!! |
Most reasonable people are really annoyed by all those southerners saying "y'all", etc. That stuff and ghetto ebonics is something this country does not need. As a chairman of the Greater New York Anti-Rednack Council, I am working in cooperation with the local official to eliminate that ridiculous slang and make this world a better place. |
You are so dramatic....  |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6996
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:24 am Post subject: |
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| Well I have to say...people from across the USA talk differently...go to Louisiana...or to Wisconsin...Boston...New York...Philidelphia...Chicago...Georgia...Kentucky...there are a lot of accents...and it is good...it makes America a even more interesting place. |
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StephenB.
VIP
Joined: 18 Aug 2007
Posts: 810
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:15 am Post subject: |
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| surfguy wrote: | | Well I have to say...people from across the USA talk differently...go to Louisiana...or to Wisconsin...Boston...New York...Philidelphia...Chicago...Georgia...Kentucky...there are a lot of accents...and it is good...it makes America a even more interesting place. |
Reckon is used by the Irish all the time. I live in an Irish enclave in the Bronx and they are constantly saying, "I reckon...." The Scot-Irish who immigrated to the Ozarks left their imprint of their language in those parts of the United States. Therefore Jo Jo you are right for saying, reckon..and English people around the globe would understand you okay..expect the Canadians, the stepchildren of the English. |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6996
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:44 am Post subject: |
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| And the aussies use it to..."what do ya reckon" Very common over there. Oh and Jojo is Scotch Irish...yes a true Kentuckyan. And she does have the accent...I know a couple of us here can attest to that. Fire G and I are typical Californians (both Scotch-Irish too) But...no accents...Media shark speaks english with the Brittish Accent. And well who else...hmmm... |
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yorbcbud
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 4919
Location: Сорренто, Британская Колумбия, Канада
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| Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 10:46 am Post subject: |
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| StephenB. wrote: | | surfguy wrote: | | Well I have to say...people from across the USA talk differently...go to Louisiana...or to Wisconsin...Boston...New York...Philidelphia...Chicago...Georgia...Kentucky...there are a lot of accents...and it is good...it makes America a even more interesting place. |
Reckon is used by the Irish all the time. I live in an Irish enclave in the Bronx and they are constantly saying, "I reckon...." The Scot-Irish who immigrated to the Ozarks left their imprint of their language in those parts of the United States. Therefore Jo Jo you are right for saying, reckon..and English people around the globe would understand you okay..expect the Canadians, the stepchildren of the English. |
Yeah, what Russian wouldn't want to learn to say Reckon, an Y'all, and maybe cook up some grits 'n' hog jowls on the griddle. That'll really help them on the streets of London, or Hong Kong, on a business trip. |
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