I just checked wild edges and Larry is super happy so the simile stands (what a relief) hope your wife's relative resolves the many associated issues without too much grief.
Any reports of a rise in Nellies - other than the politicians of course?
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." Sir Terry Pratchett
I was going to post this on the American Imports thread, but then thought that it might be seen as too curmudgeonly a response to a thread which I'm sure was meant lightheartedly ............. but I need to get if off my chest so here's my bit of Curmudgeonliness for the day ... sorry
Is it just me or is anyone else just slightly uncomfortable about blaming a whole nation .... particularly when it's been us who've gone over there and fetched stuff back here and now moan about it ...
Not wanting to be a killjoy or cast aspersions 'cos I know the thread is meant in jest but I can't help feeling uncomfortable about it
And of course, it's not just the Americans ... some areas have been invaded by parakeets and wallabies, not to mention Chinese Water Deer and muntjac from the far east.
And if we don't want stuff from other lands perhaps we should give back the Koh i noor diamond, Elgin Marbles etc etc etc ...
As for introduced words infiltrating our language .......... why is English (or a version of it) the predominant language spoken in the USA rather than any of the indigenous languages that were there before the English 'invaded'?
All I'm saying is ... I really loathe xenophobia ... there, I've said it now ... I'll shut up
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Why can’t weather forecasters say ‘breezy’. It is usually ‘bereezy.’ On the regional TV station snow is the word that may not be spoken, ‘the white stuff’ is used instead. And why can’t anyone on TV make the bl or gl sound in the middle of a word? It’s always assemberly, Wemberly, burgerlary etc.
Well said Dove! Part of the problem, I suspect, is that we are an island nation and fear being swamped by anybody. And, in fact, many 'American' words are closer to the Old English than our common usage today, like quick for example.
My fear is solely focused on the finger on the trigger, I remember Dr Strangelove and I just hope someone is keeping an eye out.
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." Sir Terry Pratchett
Learn the history of the English language, learn the history of how the USA (not America if we're being pedantic) was formed and suddenly the disparity in how we both pronounce and spell things makes more sense. The only thing that really annoys me is my computer doesn't have one big button that tells it I speak English (UK) not English (US). Must I set that up on every program I use?
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
I don't think it's xenophobic to feel irked by "imports" such as the nasty tackiness which Halloween has become, or folk starting to say " Have a nice day" We have a wonderful culture and history of our own. A friend who used to coach disabled students doing OU courses told me they now get marked down if they use " ise " and not " ize " at the end of words. I don't it's xenophobic to dislike that either. We should most certainly give back the Elgin Marbles. They were stolen.
Cultural appropriation is the latest crime. This may solve the problem of Halloween; have a nice day; happy holidays - to name but the ones beginning with H. Are non-European gentlemen who wear trousers guilty of cultural appropriation? And what about Scotsmen?
Cultural appropriation is the latest crime. This may solve the problem of Halloween; have a nice day; happy holidays - to name but the ones beginning with H. Are non-European gentlemen who wear trousers guilty of cultural appropriation? And what about Scotsmen?
Surely only Scots should wear tartan? ( I know it's not actually Scottish ) and the Chinese/ Japanese should , presumably , stop wearing denim?
I was thinking of kilts. Was it the kilt or the tartan that was a Victorian invention? Thinking about it, trousers would also be an issue for Romans,Greeks and possibly Germans
"Have a nice day" is very European so maybe a good reason for Brexit. I regularly am wished a good morning (matinée), good afternoon, good 'rest of the day', good evening or good day or weekend depending on the time.
American English picked up bits from lots of the Europeans who followed the Mayflower. I can recognise French structures and there must be Dutch, Swedish, German etc too.
Tartan clothing OK, with restraint, but I have seen tartan carpets in ordinary homes and that's just weird.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
Any reports of a rise in Nellies - other than the politicians of course?
Is it just me or is anyone else just slightly uncomfortable about blaming a whole nation .... particularly when it's been us who've gone over there and fetched stuff back here and now moan about it ...
Not wanting to be a killjoy or cast aspersions 'cos I know the thread is meant in jest
And of course, it's not just the Americans ... some areas have been invaded by parakeets and wallabies, not to mention Chinese Water Deer and muntjac from the far east.
And if we don't want stuff from other lands perhaps we should give back the Koh i noor diamond, Elgin Marbles etc etc etc ...
A partial list of introduced species
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduced_species_of_the_British_Isles
As for introduced words infiltrating our language .......... why is English (or a version of it) the predominant language spoken in the USA rather than any of the indigenous languages that were there before the English 'invaded'?
All I'm saying is ... I really loathe xenophobia ... there, I've said it now ... I'll shut up
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My fear is solely focused on the finger on the trigger, I remember Dr Strangelove and I just hope someone is keeping an eye out.
A friend who used to coach disabled students doing OU courses told me they now get marked down if they use " ise " and not " ize " at the end of words.
I don't it's xenophobic to dislike that either.
We should most certainly give back the Elgin Marbles. They were stolen.
This may solve the problem of Halloween; have a nice day; happy holidays - to name but the ones beginning with H.
Are non-European gentlemen who wear trousers guilty of cultural appropriation? And what about Scotsmen?
Thinking about it, trousers would also be an issue for Romans,Greeks and possibly Germans
American English picked up bits from lots of the Europeans who followed the Mayflower. I can recognise French structures and there must be Dutch, Swedish, German etc too.
Tartan clothing OK, with restraint, but I have seen tartan carpets in ordinary homes and that's just weird.