I came across this Facebook meme and thought I would share it here to see if any of you are up to the challenge.
An example:
When the young whippersnapper tried to bamboozle me by telling me the whatchamacallit he had was a doohickey I soon set him straight and told him no, in fact, it was a thingamajig. This left him rather gobsmacked and flabbergasted that I knew just what it was, especially when I told him not to try his shenanigans or codswallop on me so he spun around and promoted to skedaddle back over to whatsit's place.
As an observation of 'persnickety' (one of the words on the list Gramps49 linked to), I find it is only my North American friends who use persnickety, with an 's' in it. In the UK, I've only heard people use it without the 's' - pernickety. The OED has both as separate entries with the same meaning, with 'pernickety' as originally Scottish dialect, and 'persnickety' as North American dialect.
I came across this Facebook meme and thought I would share it here to see if any of you are up to the challenge.
An example:
When the young whippersnapper tried to bamboozle me by telling me the whatchamacallit he had was a doohickey I soon set him straight and told him no, in fact, it was a thingamajig. This left him rather gobsmacked and flabbergasted that I knew just what it was, especially when I told him not to try his shenanigans or codswallop on me so he spun around and promoted to skedaddle back over to whatsit's place.
My 11-year-old step-grandson, whose is half American, calls snot-drips 'boogers'. British children call them 'bogeys'. The difference in terminology could possibly cause misunderstanding and even offence in some quarters.
Yes. Over here a bogey is either a one-over-par shot in golf, or something you're afraid of (somewhat related to the boogie-man, which people talk about when they want to deride their children's fears—afraid the boogie-man is going to get you, are you?).
When I was at Bible School in the north of England, with an international group of students, largely conservative and evangelical, there was a bit of shock/amusement around Americans using 'booger' - as it sounded like 'bugger' in a Northern accent. I remember some Northern locals explaining, and one American telling other Americans in horror that 'Booger means sodomy in England!'
In a couple of American novels I've come across Bryn used by girls. It's a fine Welsh name, but very much male (it was my father's). Why did it change, and how widespread is the feminine form?
Not a fire pit. A metal thing raised off the ground. People make them. A top loading washing machine drum works.
I don't think the space requirements for a fire pit differ appreciably from those for a fire washing machine. In both cases, it needs to be a safe distance from any buildings, and you need to be in a location where it is reasonable to produce smoke.
When I was at Bible School in the north of England, with an international group of students, largely conservative and evangelical, there was a bit of shock/amusement around Americans using 'booger' - as it sounded like 'bugger' in a Northern accent. I remember some Northern locals explaining, and one American telling other Americans in horror that 'Booger means sodomy in England!'
That's interesting. Having only encountered booger in print I'd assumed a long oo as in hoot, not a short oo as in book, or indeed bugger.
When I was at Bible School in the north of England, with an international group of students, largely conservative and evangelical, there was a bit of shock/amusement around Americans using 'booger' - as it sounded like 'bugger' in a Northern accent. I remember some Northern locals explaining, and one American telling other Americans in horror that 'Booger means sodomy in England!'
That's interesting. Having only encountered booger in print I'd assumed a long oo as in hoot, not a short oo as in book, or indeed bugger.
It seems to be either, depending on the accent of the person saying it. Or something a little in between.
Growing up, I was around the kind made out of an oil drum. I think there are instructions online. But, IIRC, it was sliced through on 3 sides--possibly the 4th. If the 4th was sliced (so the drum was in 2 separate pieces), then there would have been hinges. It had angle braces as legs; some kind of handle; and some kind of grill rack inside.
I don't know how safe an oil drum is to use, or whether that one had actually been used for oil first. Even with a brand-new one, I might worry about chemicals in/on the metal that might not be food safe.
FWIW. If you want to try to make one, *please* look online for detailed instructions, and be mindful of safety.
I don't know if this has been mentioned previously, but why do Americans pronounce CARAMEL as CARMEL? Other English speaking countries say CAR-A-MEL. This just doesn't make sense to me.
In a couple of American novels I've come across Bryn used by girls. It's a fine Welsh name, but very much male (it was my father's). Why did it change, and how widespread is the feminine form?
I haven’t encountered it IRL, either for a boy or a girl.
I don't know if this has been mentioned previously, but why do Americans pronounce CARAMEL as CARMEL? Other English speaking countries say CAR-A-MEL. This just doesn't make sense to me.
Nor to me. It’s not all Americans who say “carmel,” it’s a regional thing. Where I am, it’s “car-a-mel.”
In a couple of American novels I've come across Bryn used by girls. It's a fine Welsh name, but very much male (it was my father's). Why did it change, and how widespread is the feminine form?
I haven’t encountered it IRL, either for a boy or a girl.
Sorry, I should have been more clear. @Robert Armin referred to American novels; by “in real life” I meant I have not encountered it as a name used in the US.
I don't know if this has been mentioned previously, but why do Americans pronounce CARAMEL as CARMEL? Other English speaking countries say CAR-A-MEL. This just doesn't make sense to me.
This American pronounces it with three syllables, as does everyone I know. Also, caramelized has four syllables.
There's a church not far from me named Our Lady of Mount Carmel, but I don't think she was named after a confectionery syrup.
I don't know if this has been mentioned previously, but why do Americans pronounce CARAMEL as CARMEL? Other English speaking countries say CAR-A-MEL. This just doesn't make sense to me.
Southern East Coast USA, I say Car-a mel. for the candy but carmel for the sauce and ice cream flavor. I never noticed that until I read your post.
It was definitely carmel (and often misspelled as such) when I lived in north Texas. Also mocha was pronounced moe (to rhyme with toe)-ka, whereas in the UK it is pronounced mokka (short o).
I don't know if this has been mentioned previously, but why do Americans pronounce CARAMEL as CARMEL? Other English speaking countries say CAR-A-MEL. This just doesn't make sense to me.
We say and spell it "carmel". The opposite of what I understand in the UK re "medicine" which is med-i-cine with 3 syllables here.
It was definitely carmel (and often misspelled as such) when I lived in north Texas. Also mocha was pronounced moe (to rhyme with toe)-ka, whereas in the UK it is pronounced mokka (short o).
That's true as regards the 'o', but a lot of us, including me, pronounce the 'ch' like the 'ch' in 'loch'.
I've no idea, by the way, what the 'right' pronunciation is, or even which language it originally comes from. That's just what I've usually heard.
Whereas most people would understand yoe-gǝt, I think 'moe-ka' might get a puzzled stare.
Another Texan oddity I liked was their rendition of 'vehicle', which came across as 'vee-hickle, almost two words. They could also say the word 'shit' in three syllables, 'shi-i-it', which was quite an achievement. (I was driving a Fiat at the time, so was used to hearing both of those words together in a conversation).
I don't know if this has been mentioned previously, but why do Americans pronounce CARAMEL as CARMEL? Other English speaking countries say CAR-A-MEL. This just doesn't make sense to me.
We say and spell it "carmel". The opposite of what I understand in the UK re "medicine" which is med-i-cine with 3 syllables here.
It was definitely carmel (and often misspelled as such) when I lived in north Texas. Also mocha was pronounced moe (to rhyme with toe)-ka, whereas in the UK it is pronounced mokka (short o).
That's true as regards the 'o', but a lot of us, including me, pronounce the 'ch' like the 'ch' in 'loch'.
I've no idea, by the way, what the 'right' pronunciation is, or even which language it originally comes from. That's just what I've usually heard.
Whereas most people would understand yoe-gǝt, I think 'moe-ka' might get a puzzled stare.
When I was in Canada, people said carmel for caramel.
Here in the UK, I find some say medicine with three syllables, some with two, and I'm sure, as with plenty of words, people vary their pronunciation according to context. Julie Andrews certainly sang it with three. But a lot of words get shortened here in regular conversation.
I was once part of an online discussion where Americans were laughing at an ad where Jaguar was pronounced with three syllables instead of two, saying it sounded ridiculous and pretentious and no one pronounces it that way. And Brits were saying 'Well, actually...' and wondering how else it would be pronounced! I had certainly never heard jag-wah before, and thought that sounded daft!
Now I think of it, 'actually' is another word whose syllable number can vary. Ack-chullee. Act-yoo-ully. People often use the second one when being a bit flippant and tongue-in-cheek in their contradiction. Humour and tone can affect how people pronounce things.
I say mocha with a long oh, but I first encountered coffee shop culture in Canada, so that was where I first heard it. I've never heard a Brit say mokka though. But I don't think I've ever been with someone in the UK who's ordered one. People I know tend to order latte, cappuccino, tea or hot chocolate. The OED has both moh-ka and mokka as British pronunciations, and only moh-ka as the US pronunciation.
Now I think of it, 'actually' is another word whose syllable number can vary. Ack-chullee. Act-yoo-ully. People often use the second one when being a bit flippant and tongue-in-cheek in their contradiction. Humour and tone can affect how people pronounce things.
Isn't this odd - as these things so often are? As a Brit, I would have said the two syllables was used for comic effect, as though the speaker were a small child, whereas three is for grown up conversations. Your mileage clearly varies (a phrase I learned on the Ship, and have only ever seen here).
Oh, and returning to an earlier point, for the first time I'm aware of I've found Fall used for Autumn in an English work. The Doctor Dolittle series are as English as they come,and I spotted the usage in his Garden (1927).
Well, I got 100%, from England. Apparently, I’m a true Appalachian.
MMM
Same here.
Which may be a bit odd as I had to guess some, and some of the words actually have different meanings here. A 'buggy' doesn't mean a shopping trolley here, but a folding pushchair.
Me oh my! Congrats y'all, you just did amazing on this quiz! From eating Po'Boys, to using your clicker to scan the channels, you are a true Southerner at heart. You know all the little quirks that make up Appalachian lingo. This probably wasn't even a challenge for you? AMAZING JOB!!
Quite entertaining since I’m English born and raised and my closest contact with the southern USA is four hours in a transit lounge at Orlando.
Many of those were not specifically Appalachian. Some were generally Southern, and others were pretty true across the United States.
Yes, and I was surprised to see that the announcement that I scored 100% was accompanied by a picture of Olivia de Haviland as Melanie Wilkes, neither of whom were from Appalachia.
Speaking of which, that’s another regional marker in the US—whether one says Appa-LAY-sha/Appa-LAY-shun (or cha/chun for the final syllable) or Appa-LATCH-a/Appa-LATCH-an.
Now I think of it, 'actually' is another word whose syllable number can vary. Ack-chullee. Act-yoo-ully. People often use the second one when being a bit flippant and tongue-in-cheek in their contradiction. Humour and tone can affect how people pronounce things.
Isn't this odd - as these things so often are? As a Brit, I would have said the two syllables was used for comic effect, as though the speaker were a small child, whereas three is for grown up conversations. Your mileage clearly varies (a phrase I learned on the Ship, and have only ever seen here).
Ha, no, that one is used for comic effect too. It's often the emphasis that makes the comic effect. A really exaggerated ACK-chully (or ATCH-ully), in a childish, petulant voice, or a really slow, over-pronounced act-yoo-ully (even act-yoo-hully), in a pedantic, snooty voice. I've come across both used humorously in this way, and equally I find both pronunciations, when not exaggerated and simply part of speech, are used interchangeably and quite unobtrusively.
(But to clarify - neither is two syllables. It's three syllables versus four syllables, and I find most people, when speaking casually and quickly, will use three, and the speech sounds used are somewhere in between the two exaggerated versions. People assimilate speech sounds a lot more than they realise.)
Actually... having done a quick search for 'actually's in political speeches, Donimic Raab does get it down to two syllables when speaking very quickly - a kind of 'atch-lee'. But the other two 'actually's in this exchange, which can all be found by doing a search and clicking on the time of the section to go straight to that section of the video, are three syllables. Not an act-yoo-ully to be heard.
Actually... having done a quick search for 'actually's in political speeches, Donimic Raab does get it down to two syllables when speaking very quickly - a kind of 'atch-lee'. But the other two 'actually's in this exchange, which can all be found by doing a search and clicking on the time of the section to go straight to that section of the video, are three syllables. Not an act-yoo-ully to be heard.
Yes, its one of those words that vary a lot according to speed and informality. I think /achlee/ is common. It would be interesting to find an old recording of the queen, as she may have said /ectuli/. I think that has died out. My wife does a hair-raising imitation of her, as she is very posh. She only has to say "phillip" to have me in fits.
Robert Armin, Dr Dolittle's creator, Hugh Lofting, was born in England, but moved to the US in 1919 and lived there for the rest of his life. He no doubt picked up a few Americanisms.
Comments
An example:
Old Mrs Thing-um-e-bob,
Lives at you-know-where,
more here
That and lentils. All local.
Not a fire pit. A metal thing raised off the ground. People make them. A top loading washing machine drum works.
Not a use of "promoted" I've ever heard.
I don't think the space requirements for a fire pit differ appreciably from those for a fire washing machine. In both cases, it needs to be a safe distance from any buildings, and you need to be in a location where it is reasonable to produce smoke.
That's interesting. Having only encountered booger in print I'd assumed a long oo as in hoot, not a short oo as in book, or indeed bugger.
It seems to be either, depending on the accent of the person saying it. Or something a little in between.
Same here, out on the left coast.
Growing up, I was around the kind made out of an oil drum. I think there are instructions online. But, IIRC, it was sliced through on 3 sides--possibly the 4th. If the 4th was sliced (so the drum was in 2 separate pieces), then there would have been hinges. It had angle braces as legs; some kind of handle; and some kind of grill rack inside.
I don't know how safe an oil drum is to use, or whether that one had actually been used for oil first. Even with a brand-new one, I might worry about chemicals in/on the metal that might not be food safe.
FWIW. If you want to try to make one, *please* look online for detailed instructions, and be mindful of safety.
Sorry, I should have been more clear. @Robert Armin referred to American novels; by “in real life” I meant I have not encountered it as a name used in the US.
This American pronounces it with three syllables, as does everyone I know. Also, caramelized has four syllables.
There's a church not far from me named Our Lady of Mount Carmel, but I don't think she was named after a confectionery syrup.
We say and spell it "carmel". The opposite of what I understand in the UK re "medicine" which is med-i-cine with 3 syllables here.
I've no idea, by the way, what the 'right' pronunciation is, or even which language it originally comes from. That's just what I've usually heard.
Whereas most people would understand yoe-gǝt, I think 'moe-ka' might get a puzzled stare.
Three here as well.
Arabic.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mocha,_Yemen
I would imagine a guttural consonant is closer to the original than a simple K sound.
Here in the UK, I find some say medicine with three syllables, some with two, and I'm sure, as with plenty of words, people vary their pronunciation according to context. Julie Andrews certainly sang it with three. But a lot of words get shortened here in regular conversation.
I was once part of an online discussion where Americans were laughing at an ad where Jaguar was pronounced with three syllables instead of two, saying it sounded ridiculous and pretentious and no one pronounces it that way. And Brits were saying 'Well, actually...' and wondering how else it would be pronounced! I had certainly never heard jag-wah before, and thought that sounded daft!
Now I think of it, 'actually' is another word whose syllable number can vary. Ack-chullee. Act-yoo-ully. People often use the second one when being a bit flippant and tongue-in-cheek in their contradiction. Humour and tone can affect how people pronounce things.
MMM
Isn't this odd - as these things so often are? As a Brit, I would have said the two syllables was used for comic effect, as though the speaker were a small child, whereas three is for grown up conversations. Your mileage clearly varies (a phrase I learned on the Ship, and have only ever seen here).
Which may be a bit odd as I had to guess some, and some of the words actually have different meanings here. A 'buggy' doesn't mean a shopping trolley here, but a folding pushchair.
Speaking of which, that’s another regional marker in the US—whether one says Appa-LAY-sha/Appa-LAY-shun (or cha/chun for the final syllable) or Appa-LATCH-a/Appa-LATCH-an.
It’s the latter here (North Carolina).
Ha, no, that one is used for comic effect too. It's often the emphasis that makes the comic effect. A really exaggerated ACK-chully (or ATCH-ully), in a childish, petulant voice, or a really slow, over-pronounced act-yoo-ully (even act-yoo-hully), in a pedantic, snooty voice. I've come across both used humorously in this way, and equally I find both pronunciations, when not exaggerated and simply part of speech, are used interchangeably and quite unobtrusively.
(But to clarify - neither is two syllables. It's three syllables versus four syllables, and I find most people, when speaking casually and quickly, will use three, and the speech sounds used are somewhere in between the two exaggerated versions. People assimilate speech sounds a lot more than they realise.)
Yes, its one of those words that vary a lot according to speed and informality. I think /achlee/ is common. It would be interesting to find an old recording of the queen, as she may have said /ectuli/. I think that has died out. My wife does a hair-raising imitation of her, as she is very posh. She only has to say "phillip" to have me in fits.