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Just wondering as they were talking about the film Chicken Run on ITV1 last night and referring to the line 'Get the torch' and Americans maybe thinking something like a burning Olympic torch when Mrs Tweedy meant a flashlight. Can it be confusing if we speak Cockney rhyming slang or come out with a stream of exclusively English words. By the way, with George Bush's middle name being Walker, maybe in the last years of his reign of terror, it's time to start using the English word 'wanker' (a masturbator, a person of dubious morals or a person of dubious social skills, an idiot - this word is not allowed to be used on TV before the 9pm watershed).

2006-11-27 04:13:09 · 9 answers · asked by Uncle Sid 3 in Society & Culture Languages

9 answers

I like you! My two best friends happen to be British, so I'm accustomed to it. I met one of them in a Chaucer class, and I work with the other one. Plus I have an M.A. in British and American Lit., and my favorite shows are Brit-Coms. I did not, however, know about the term "wanker" but will certainly be using it every chance I get. Thanks for the great question!

2006-11-27 04:29:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

It can be very confusing if the Americans aren't at all familiar with those English English words. Cockney rhyming slang is a mystery to most of us - though, I have worked with a number of Brits, including one who was prone to slipping into cockney rhyming slang - I've got to take a Donald Trump - and I am a fan of cockney geezer flicks, so I can sometimes follow along.

2006-11-27 04:25:36 · answer #2 · answered by Dave C 2 · 0 0

It really depends on which English accent you are using. "Queen's English" sounds quite knowledgeable and snobby. The Essex accent sounds childlike and sometimes infantile. There are a lot of terms that are totally different between the British and North American cultures. "Rubbers" are slang for condoms, and to say that someone is "full of spunk" means they are energetic, with no sexual connotations. As for Cockney - well I bought two Tony Blairs (pairs). It really confused me.

2006-11-27 04:50:27 · answer #3 · answered by borscht 6 · 0 0

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2016-11-27 01:43:59 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

Most Americans (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/American) admire the British accent (s). The differences in our terminology is interesting and sometimes very funny. I said "I'm stuffed" after Christmas dinner in London, Grandma dropped her spoon, my friends aunt nearly fainted (this was a few decades ago). The torch, boot and bonnet all cause confusion; as do our American words when we use them to a Brit.

2006-11-27 04:21:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Well, I'm English and I know what a sidewalk, a trashcan, a flashlight, gas station, a highway, bleachers all are. So I presume that some, if not all, Americans are aware of our words for things are.
...I may be wrong, I'll be watchin' this carefully!

2006-11-27 04:20:13 · answer #6 · answered by Moorglademover 6 · 1 0

I am neither British, nor American, so as a foreigner who's learnt English, the England English sounds much much better than with an American accent. (as long as it's not the BBC English!)

2006-12-02 22:03:44 · answer #7 · answered by 13 2 · 0 0

It sounds sexy sometimes. I like watching Doctor Who and Mr. Bean!

2006-11-27 04:17:42 · answer #8 · answered by tofu 5 · 0 0

Whee, I'm used to both.

2006-11-28 03:30:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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