Could someone who's familiar with British Naval History..,?

Question

Could someone who's familiar with British Naval (or any other branch of British military, I guess) history educate me a little. Why do the British call the junior officers "Left-tenants" (this is misspelled, I know, didn't know of any other way to say it in print) and America, the former colony calls our junior officers Lieutenants? Or maybe how did the practice come into being of pronouncing it as "left" instead of "lieu". Also, in the same vein, again since the US was a British colony, shouldn't we be driving on the left as well? I have a ton of respect for the British people, so this question is in no way derogatory, I am just curious. Thanks and Cheers!

A question for Mark J, which state drives on the left?

Answer 1

From history lieutenants roughly tranlated means second in command , we only sound like we saying left a perculiarity of our speech but it is spelt the same as yours , the reason we drive on the left is because of them clever Romans they left us roads that were heaverly humped in the middle , and being that in them days the sword arm was userly the right arm it made sense when driving your horse or cart to keep the right arm free to ward of attack so you drove or rode on the left camber of the road , if you had rode on the right camber it would have left your flank exposed, the same when walking a lady you always stayed on her right so that you could ward of attack and your sword arm would be free and not hamperd by her being in the line of fire or attack

Answer 2

I would guess it probably has more to do with French, and the subsequent anglicisation of that name or title. It could also refelct animosity in the UK for things French.. so the rank may have existed but was adapted to have a defiantley non french sound.

At one time French was the interantional language, and much to the disgust and embarrasment of the French is no longer

The British pronunciation is LEFTtenant, the US one LOOTenant.. to a Brit's ears that could make US holders of that rank people who rent a toilet... LOO being a euphamism for toilet.

There were a lot of French Influences on the formation of the US, after all it was agitation and support form France that created the drive for revolution. it was the wars with France that led to the taxes, it was supply of arms & munitions and in some cases men & material that helpedthe Colonies secede from the UK. Indeed the dispossed Ffrench moved to Canada & and what became Lousiana.

After the war of succession/indepandance it wouldnt surprise me if those French influences (either direct or because some opinion formers were french or were French educated/refugees) that some of the British behaviours were dropped to show that America was independant.

Incidentally not all US states drive on the wrong side of the road... there is at least one that drives on the correct sode of the road.

Answer 3

The British have a particular fondness for mangling French pronunciation, hence leff-tenant instead of loo-tenant, which is a bit nearer the real French pronunciation. We do it just to annoy the French.

Driving on the right was a French revolutionary innovation and I suppose the Americans, being more closely allied to the French than to the UK at that time, adopted that innovation. Driving on the right is more or less confined to countries that were ruled by Napoleon or that have come under heavy French influence at some time. Most ex-UK colonies etc. still drive on the left.

Answer 4

It's Class and it is only done in the British Army and Royal Air Force. The Army used to sell commissions and the upper classes began to call Lieutenants of the of the Guards regiments
as lieutenants and the lower regiments and company armies as "left" tenants. It's derogatory.

The Royal Navy didn't do this because as a midshipman it didn't matter of you were rich or poor you were all treated the same and you couldn't buy a commission in the promotion in the RN.
I hope that answers your question. Cherri O

Answer 5

I believe that the correct pronunciation is "left" the" loo" is an americanisation of the word. As with all languages words change with use and dialect. Even in England some words have different meanings between different areas. For instance in the US you refer to the Hood and Trunk of a car, we refer to the Bonnet and Boot.

As to driving on the left I've always understood (although I could be mistaken) that the reason is in the days of horses and coaches one needed ones sword hand free to defend oneself against thieves and vagabonds and as most people are right handed it made sense to travel on the left of the road. This has some substance as if you view the British Parliament in session you will see two lines in front of the opposing benches, they are two arm and sword lengths apart, in case the MP's got a little angry with each other!!! (As if they would!!!!)

Answer 6

It comes from the german where it it pronoiunced to rhyme with loit as in Loiter. Loit en ant.
Mericans pronounce it Loo Tenant while to Brits the Loo is the Lavatory, a ordinary seaman could hardly address a junior officer as someone who rents a Lavatory could he? hence the traditional mis pronounciation of the term as Left Tenant.

Answer 7

A simple answer to your question is that its just down to the English language, the American versions of many words are spelt differently and many that are spelt the same are said differently. and i guess the driving thing is down to preference, America became independent long before cars existed, i once heard something about the right side of the brain being better for driving, therefore driving on the left is supposed to be safer, but i didn't give that much credit to it.

Answer 8

I read somewhere that in the US they drove on the left before the First World War but not being American I have no first hand knowledge.
The US ceased to be a British colony long before there were any motor vehicles.
The "lieu" pronunciation is correct as it is a French word but why we mis pronounce it I do not know.

Answer 9

I have no idea, I think it's just come from our British accents and mispronunciation of things. Possibly as its origin is French, it became mispronounced. I'd love to come out with some story that they all stand on the left side etc. but that would just be made up.
The US voted as to which language would be its main language and English won by a whisker, you could have all been speaking German, and they drive on the same side as you.

Answer 10

i don't know why it is pronounced like it is but is much softer than you said more like lef-tenant