Americanisms.

Is it just me or is anyone else fed up of the Americanisms that are creeping into our language? I get totally browned off by constantly hearing "Twenty-four-seven","cool", "sleepover", "you guys", (whether they're guys or not), "The Wow factor", and "it ticks all the boxes".Girls attending school-leaving balls can now buy "Prom Dresses" in Wigan. And why is personnel now "Human Resources"? My mid-day meal has always been, and always will be, my Dinner, but so many Wiganers now say Lunch. It's as if we're losing our identity or are ashamed of it. Before anyone takes this as racist, it is nothing of the sort.We have friends in America and my lovely daughter-in-law is from London. where they DO say Lunch. I just don't want to see us lose our British, (and Lancashire), roots.

As bad as people not pronoucing their 'T's'as a result of watching programmes like Eastenders!

what gets me is when they call a group of people you guys,it used to be ladies and gentlemen.

Americanos.....Blue Jeans and Chinos, Coke Pepsi and Oreos. Americanos.....Movies and heroes in the land of the free You can be what you wanna be.

Same in Ince un awl!

What a lovley day it is, enjoy it folks!

I was in wigan over Christmas and came across a lot of white kids speaking with a pidgin west indian accent but with pasty skin and cold sores,,, aks me wife she saw it too?

Das d sorta accent seen as cool deez days, bro innit!

yo innit

I've lived in America for 34 yrs and I've still got my Wigan accent..I'm not ashamed of where I come from, but I remember when I was younger, we were looked down on as being common for our Wigan accent. Here though, everybody loves my accent.

I'm with you irene, it's sad to lose the Wigan identity.

my grandchildren now live in canada and they're picking up the lingo there now, the saying i hate most of all is " hi grandpa" where it used to be hello grandad,

When they're young, they will pick it up, they want to blend in with their friends, not to be different..

I was in my 30s when I came here, my accent is who I am, where I'm from, it's not changing..though at times when you have to keep repeating yourself, so as to be understood, especially over the phone, it get's a bit annoying..

the other thing about going over there is ordering a sandwich, over here you ask for a ham salad and it comes without any further conversation, but over there, its...
what bread do you want?
what spread do you want?
what kind of ham do you want?
what salad do you want?
what dressing do you want?
do you want it grilled?
do you want it to go ?
then you ask for a tea.and off we go again

what kinda tea?
do you want honey with it?
would you like cream in it?

oh my god just gimme the god damn sandwich

My husband is still broad Lancashire even after almost 30 years in Canada. I'm told mine has mellowed after all this time, and since I do office work and people have to understand me on the phone I do now speak more slowly and sound my aiches! My son, born here, likes to take the micky out of us - he's pretty good! But even here some of the American pronounciation makes me cringe! Special peeve for me is "Labratory" instead of "Laboratory" !!!!! And there's a new hair product called "Tousle" which the actress doing the ad pronounces "Towsel" instead of "Tussel". Infuriating

Anyone see St Tony's Labour Club speech?

Can't find a clip but there's an article here.

My son says Lunch sometimes because if he says dinner his wife, who is from London, thinks he means his tea. My Grand-daughter Edie, 3 next week, is an amusing mixture of London and Wigan, and her London grandparents love to hear her Lancashire accent.Thanks for taking this thread in good part, Jouell and Brenda M... I'd forgotten there were WW members in America and Canada.

The one that irks me most is;

"Can I get?" when ordering something in a bar, shop, cafe etc.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

to this day i have a mixture of american english in my dialect. stems from the time i spent pan-handling around the states. but let me ask irene a question..we have been singing with an american accent for as long as i can remember? would you agree irene???if ya havent noticed, tune in now, every time a limey sings a song.

reason kids talking like they do is the fact they can't spell anymore,told by teachers to spell how it sounds,be a different language in 50 years

Be a different country in 50 years too!

That's perfectly true, Billy, it's the increasing use of American phrases that annoys me. I don't mind Americans saying them, or Southerners saying Lunch, because that's what they call it. But why do we have to copy them?To get back to singing, Billy, do you remember The Turnkey in King Street? (Depends how old you are.) I was in there once in my youth, (many moons ago), and there was a group on, and the lead singer was belting out "Nutbush City Limits" in an Wigan accent broader than a pitman's clog. and it just DIDN'T WORK.....everyone was just falling about! The song was American and needed to be sung with the correct accent. I accept that, but as for "Twenty-four seven" etc., I am merely expressing my opinion, which surely everyone is entitled to. I am not expecting everyone to agree with my views.

Billy's post reminds me of 'Showbiz accents' from 50's and 60's. Lulu, Bob Monkhouse etc.

Hi Irene, I remember the Turnkey when it was a restaurant - had my wedding reception there! It was so neat - done up like an old street with bow-fronted shop windows. I was sad when they turned it into a nightclub!

I think TV has a lot to do with the new terminology - all those imported American programs, a lot of which I don't like. I love the English programs we get here - New Tricks, The Vicar of Dibley, Heartbeat and Midsomer Murders are my favourites!

... and I say Lunch and my husband says Dinner......!

"Billy's post reminds me of 'Showbiz accents' from 50's and 60's. Lulu, Bob Monkhouse etc."

No one worse than Dickie Henderson on the palladium, or that chimney sweep on Mary Poppins.

lulu,phoney cow,started off broad Glaswegian,stole a living,made money and went for elocution lessons,lo and behold on the hustings with thatcher,two morons together

Yon sweep was the other way round. An American doing an attempted cocker-knee accent.

Maori Parpens

I know! Indulge me my funny streak is failing fast.

tomplum, my Dad, whenever he came over here, always said the America is a land of excess..he was right..

Tonight, I wanted to watch the golf from Augusta.
It only came on BBC HDTV at 21.00, but it was on BBC2, via the red button earlier.
I tuned in, & it was the American direct broadcast, with their own presenters.
What niggled me was as well as having to listen to the length of American vowels, was the constant fixed pretty pictures accompanied by sweet syrupy music. This was because the adverts were on...Every few minutes, followed by the TV station signature rattled off quickly.
Glad we don't have that(YET) over here

Well, Im an aussie, my husband and both daughters were born in California, I married my american husband over there in 1970. In those days I could not be understood with my Aussie accent and yes I modified it so I could function on a day to day basis. Now living back in OZ since 1981, I quickly got my old Aussie twang back. One daughter and husband became aussie citizens, one daughter retained her U.S. citizenship and could probably become dual if she wanted. She married an Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Aussie. My grandparents migrated from Wigan, my maternal great grandparents are Scottish on one side and Welsh on another. And one of my grandmothers was Irish. You can imagine what my genealogy research is like.

I feel a bit like the piggie in the middle!

Tolerance, people, tolerance, get out of your little boxes and out of your comfort zones, and try to be more tolerant. "Get a life" maybe??? (Bet you hate THAT one!) lol!

If t was just limited to Americanisms in the language I could go along with it.

But we now have 'Trick or Treat' on Hallowean, when at one time it was kids running home scared out of their minds! They would not venture through the door. Now we have knocks on the door demanding a treat.. or a trick. American!

We now have 'Valentines Day', full of sexy knickers, oils and various vibrating appliances, when once it was just a gesture of love. Commercialism!

We have funny filled balloons on birthdays... when once a simple card would suffice. We have houses lit up like a Belicia beacon over Christmas, we have people telling us not to say bald, but follicley challenged. Oh this is PC for sure, but it all comes from over the Atlantic.

The words I can handle, the culture I cannot.

When I left school we had a dance, we turned up in our best jeans and shirt, the lasses in pretty frocks. Now we have 'A Prom'... dress cost a bloody fortune, the suit cost as bomb.

Irene, you have started me off!

I love the landscapes of America and in general have found Americans warm and helpful folk with a sense of pulling together that we seem to have lost in part but do we just want this country to ape others in everything? Yes of course the most powerful nation in the World will exert an influence on others in every way but let us not ditch our own rich and varied language. Up with dialect I say. I'm with Irene. So as I 'panhandle' around Ince and Abram please let me hear 'nesh, 'powfagged' 'scrikin'''gerragate' etc. Come on you guys, let's have Lanky 24/7 or I'll come and kick your butts.

have you noticed how english is slipping into every day america.
love
fortnight
pub
nicked
ect ect
the world is no longer bigggg, its the size of a pea.
T.V.....PUTES.....LANGUAGE WILL CHANGE AS WILL CULTURES.WELL, SOME CULTURES.

tha'wor?

Tolerance Sheryl,that's what we Aussies are all about,init!! We like to think we have a unique lifestyle downunder,to a certain extent that is true but it is there is a strong American influence in our society via TV,and I've noticed that English sitcoms we get to be designed for the American market.
By the same token I think Irene is right,we went to school to learn English,among other subjects,and it seems a pity that we have to give way to someone else's interpretation of our language. One of my "pet hates" is the greeting, "Have a nice day" UGGH
Billy,there is an explanation for your "dialect".In an number of states particularly in the south,they spoke a form of old English,so it seems to follow that as you an old Englishman,perhaps a pseudo one at that,would speak with that "dialect".
By the way Billy,I suppose you aware of one of the meanings of "panhandling" is..."accosting people on the street and begging,usually for money",so perhaps that was the reason you were "deported". An other meaning of the word is prospecting in a river close to gold vein,but probably it was more of a Hollywood expression.

Aye, t'Yanks have summut t'be browt to account wi' 'alloween.

It wus me weddin' day

when ya miss a ship...when ya have no means of support..panhandling in the day i recall, was eaking out a few bucks here, a few bucks there. done farming/truck driving/swept bars/and no roy, i wasnt as fortunate as you, you had someone else pick up your tab as i recall??so what the hell would you know about panhandling freeloader.

Thanks everyone for your comments and a very english "Hello" to one and all, with an "ey-up. ar't awreet?" for my old mates Flaggy Delf and Blackstaff. Dustaf, you really made me laugh with Maori Parpens, and art with your Wedding Day quote, and thankyou one and all for your opinions, to which you are all entitled, as I am. I am tempted to put "Have a nice day" as they say in McDonalds, but instead I'll just say the sun is shining and I hope you all have a pleasant weekend... keep your fingers crossed for sunshine tomorrow; it's my Grandson's christening.

Fingers crossed for sunshine tomorrow irene..May the sun shine and God's Blessings be on your grandson all of his life..

Thankyou, Jouell...that's lovely!

Irene, that's how he actually pronounced her name.

I've done some research but couldn't find an example.

However, we should be thankful for small mercies.

I managed to find some rare footage of Dick's earlier efforts at the lingo.

Cocker-knee fest

While we are on the subject, why is it that every war film that ever comes out is about the yanks,
We have our own heroe's and its about time the damn film producers got their arse's in gear and did something about it

i dont know if any of you knew truckerdaves dad Jack but a nicer man never walked this world.

Much appreciated owd dave, Thankyou

Dustaf, I unfortunately don't have sound on my computer, but I've seen the film many times . I thought it really clever of you to put it down as you did.I would have struggled to get it to sound right. You always cheer me up.....thanks!

Cheers Irene

I either read, or heard the M Parpens description somewhere and it stuck in my mind. I thought it was an exaggeration until I next saw the film. It's an exact quote.

The clip I linked to was in German.

Billy,I thought Hans Christian Andersen was Danish,but it seems he had some Liverpool/Irish connections. What I need to ask,is what were you doing in the US in the early to late '50s,was that after your National Service.? With your checkered career,I'm surprised you weren't interviewed by Michael Aspell,it would have made a cracking tale,especially when you were part of the crew shipping coal from the US to Newcastle given that it happened in the 18th century by one Timothy Dexter and after that it was in the 1990s,not bad for someone born in 1930. Billy,I'm not calling you a liar but you are going to to stop reading the likes of Harold Robbins.

I have the opposite prob my American Partner is begining to sound English and not only that give me another couple of years and he will have a better wigan accent than I have well maybe not but he understands it perfectly well and a little bit slips in here and there

Well done, Irene,

Totally agree with you, even though I have lived in Canada for 25 years and worked with many Americans and have lots of respect for them. They have done a tremendous job in building a society that leads the world.....but..... if they speak English they should speak it as the English speak it...that's us, not pass it off as British English or Australian English. There's only one English and that's the Queens English, just like there is just one German, or French, or Italian, etc, language.

I don't know if it's an Americanism or not but all the politicians are saying "Clearly" or "..let's be clear" ;it's taken the place of "basically" and its very annoying.
Those inbreed brother The Millibands are the worst offenders.

The Rugby Clubs have all been 'Americanised' too.

The Warriors (Wigan), The Bulls (Bradford), The Rhinos (Leeds), The Giants (Huddersfield) etc.

And they now have 'Cheerleaders' instead of a brass band!

I'd much rather watch cheerleaders than a brass band

Maybe if they had cheerleaders shaking their tassles to the beat of a brass band, yes.

But, I'm afraid I'd have to leave as soon as they'd finished. I couldn't put up with watching the ball-game!

You must have seen some butch cheer-leaders Tonker.

It's "MAYO" I can't cope with ,nearly every sandwich has to be covered in it,I would prefer the choice of puttin' some on me'self,a definite Americanism.

BLC

I once saw these lads share a venue with The Craven Flagcrackers.

I've not been reet since.

Not for the faint-hearted dustaf, they do a mean dambusters.

I'll stick with my flagcrackers for now.

roy...for an x salesman to be calling me a liar, is just staggeringly rich.by the way, ya facts need bringing up to date lad...i wuz born jan 1929.born liverpool three days after arriving from the old country with my parents(that makes me english by birthright)i left school at 14 years, sailed outa fleetwood grimsby and hull(trawlers)went into the navy fer two years.(bad carreer move)then went in the brit merchant navy.i objected to the food in some ships, and was the original fletcher christian when it came to speaking my mind to skippers. jumping ship was my way of saying f***you, and away i went to sample how the other half were living.
yes roy, i have had a colourfull life. you havent, so the politics of envy creep in.the diary you keep about me, bring it up to date lad, ya make a patsy outa yourself with the errors.
i turned 81 last jan...i walk the lurcher every early morn. just before you make your regular visits to your quacks.i am according to a lot of people, nothing like my years?i try to keep up with my gran kids and do the press ups(i can feel your hurt roy)i reckon i have another 40 years in me yet, and unlike you, i have no intention of spending them in unhygenic places like hospitals and waiting rooms.if ya lived closer to me roy, i could get you back in shape(were yo ever in shape??)so for now, get back to your free mags in the quacks parlour.

Billy,I wasn't calling you a liar,it is just that at times you tend to embellish your stories,and anyway my comments and responses are based on what you post yourself. To suggest that because I was a salesman I am less than honest,how ridiculous,I had a family to support so it wasn't worth the risk for me to lie,and those did soon came unstuck.
Maybe my life hasn't been as colourful as you claim yours to have been but I suppose it comes down to choice or even perception and apart from a few bumps along the way,it has been satisfactory.
As for my physical wellbeing there is nothing you can do to improve it,I've said once before if you knew the full story you wouldn't make the comments that you do. By the way,do you think the world is ready for another 40 years of Billy Gardner? And anyway you are always banging on about being a "spirit" wishing exit a cumbersome earthly shell,so why would you need an extension?

oh...there, there...such an upset...I got over americanisms (if there is such a thing) after spending 9 years in the USA. You have to consider that after the Pilgrim Fathers landed in this country the population immediatley diversified and the populus became "Americans" with their own culture and ways. The people over here will tell you they speak "American" not English, I quickly adapted over here and am now bi-lingual to be understood, I gave up trying to convince the Americans that they don't speak English (with the vast collection of different accents across the UK which particular dielect would you like the Americans to adopt??)
This americanism discussion has been going on for years and I imagine will continue, my opinion...get over it! (another "americanism")

When did things start getting 'ramped up' or 'ratcheted up'?

Journos never used to have socket sets.

Okay you lot...saddle up and move out!

Two more meaningless yank sayings:

Do the math

Back in the day..

What about Aluuuuuminum? foil

Erin lives in an aluuuuuuuuuuuuminum town.

Massena NY

More Here

How do they make a pan of Foyers?

They use a skillet.

Ahhh! I'll straighten me suspenders then now.

Reet am off for recess catch you later!

And don't forget to get some cotton batting for that lot.

dont fergit "MARSHALL AIDE"

Wasn't he in Tombstone or Dodge City.?
Or am I confusing him with a dictator from South America?

pill royyy, pillll. ya knowledge is limited and ya make that quite clear to everyone reading ya posts. if i could live my life over again, i would change nowt as they say here in proud wigan.
you tend to think because your life has been sooo constricted, that anyone thats had some excitement must have read it in the beano???its guys like me roy that make the stories in the beano, and not the other way round.
ps...watch that bloody snake slithering towards ya picnic basket.

I am beginning to wish I hadn't put this thread on and apologise to all those who posted polite replies, whether they agreed with my views or not.But a certain someone has obviously got a big chip on his shoulder, and I object to the unnecessary use of the f-word, even if the other letters are asterisked out. There is no need for all this nastiness, and as for proud Wigan...this behaviour almost makes you feel ashamed, rather than proud.You tell us you are 81, so would you please act your age instead of your shoe-size?

yousay tomatoes @isay tomatoes .

Mentioned above is the "Queen's English". I've never heard the Queen say "Eee by gum, luv, ow'art today?"

I don't think it really matters how it's said, as long as you can understand it...

ya got another ally roy...howd ya do it???she aint ya sister is she??????

Billy, what happened to "Mr. Nice Guy"? I have to agree with Irene.

i am the victim here....but who the hell cares anyway. life aint long enough to be dwelling on negatives and especialy negative posters.
byeeee.

irene,you all have a nice day now, and come back agin, ya hear.

Billy, please explain how you are being victimised.

I was standing behind a small child at a zoo in America when the child suddenly shouted out loudly "mummy,come and look at the bears fanny".Takes you aback.

Billy,I would be more inclined to link you with the "Dandy" and the cartoon character Desparate Dan,probably your role model.Or maybe the other Dan from the Eagle,the comic that is,but then again Dan Dare was more involved with blue men rather than green or grey ones.
Ah!,now I know what you are referring to,must have been the "E" at the end of Aid that threw me.
Billy,if you are a victim,it is of your own circumstances.
By the way what is your shoe size.?

dave marsh, that brought back memories for me...It was my parents first visit over here.( US).we were all sat in my in laws house, when my father in law told my brother in law to get up off of his " fanny " and get to work...

The look on my parents face was priceless..

do you want american, or english size???

irene....what an outburst??tell me, did hubby leave the cap offa the tooth paste this morn??
i find it hard to give you credibility of my posts, when you yourself get all personal and in ya face???if ya think you can get a ride on roys back to attack humble me, ya mistaken. your out as of now.
ps you take care now, ya hear.

Billy, you have never been a "victim".....any remarks that you didn't like you have brought on yourself and you know it. You have a chip on you shoulder as big as a oak tree and I actually feel sorry for you as you are your own worst enemy. There are some lovely people on this site who welcome an exchange of views.....we don't necessarily have to agree with each other.....but you are determined to be a Martyr. I have never "attacked" anyone in my life, humble or not; I was born under Libra, which means I am peace-loving, and even my name means Peace. I wish you could find peace too, Billy, instead of being so angry all the time.'Bye now, take care.

i have never ever, since being a member on this fantastic site,had any fall outs with its female members. i judge them all as being ladies cos thats the way they conduct themselves.i am sorry you felt you had to defend the indefensible roy. we go way back. the first time he came into my space, was the time he made a derogatory reference about myself, and my wife??un called for, but the justing between him and myself continued from that episode.
you would be well advised not to pick up the glove on roys behalf, he dont need you gal, apart from the fact you apparently havent got control over your temper.
but i have put a post up "notice". it says the party is over between chorley and myself. i mean, wheres it all going, especialy when its dragging two of the fairer sex into the arena???naah...its history, theres more fish to be caught and gutted.tatti bye.and know the peace that abounds around me.

is this it dostaf?

No!

But many thanks for looking.

Have you checked your 'Topics started by me' list?

Near where it says 'create new topic'.

yes i have but i will have another look are you sure it was by me i have just put one up on wigan world

It could have been someone else, but the rum style of it makes me think it was you.

Take that as a compliment, not an insult.

When I go to My Nephews in Florida they all say what a funny accent, My answer is well You guys talk funny you drive on the wrong side of the road you don't use a knife n fork,you have supper at tea time,have a nice day.oh another couple Jaguar is Jagwar in the US,also Nissan is Neesan, "yaal come back now".

Where does all this 100% cum frum everybody is sayin it?

if we all spoke wigan trixie, who the hell would understand the speke????

I think the 100% thing is from Essex.I can't abide hearing it.

ya gonna hear it 24/7 trix.

100%.ye.

Wow you guys, who resurected this post from April 2010?

Rbilly, looking for another thread.

Awesome!

Behave yourself

I remember Irene telling of her late aunty who always sounded her aitches where there are none when talking to someone she thought of as posh. eg.the vicar

I don't know whether Irene started the thread or contributed to it. It was a few months ago. Perhaps she will remind us.

This one, Nokomis: adiose amegose

Thats the one Jo anne. You are a genius! Thank you

I will enjoy having another read of that thread

Not really a genius, Nokomis.

It's all thanks to you and what you remembered - I just searched WW for 'Rbilly vicar'.

HEGG BUTTIES!

That's the one. Cheer's Jo Anne.

Irene, not Rbilly. (Both rum uns)

Sorted

Like, ya know, WHATEVA

Looks like The Dude (Jeff Bridges) off The Big Lebowski

Never seen it...Good film?

Very. John Goodman plays a Vietnam veteran and Steve Buscemi.......... I highly recommend it.