Is there any humor in American English?

Question

I recently listened to a discussion about American English on British talk radio. The conclusion drawn was, that American English just doesn't have any humor. There are no funny American expressions, etc.

The only positive thing that could be said for it was the fact that it's very functional. Someone once said that American is a 'language that rolls up its sleeves, spits in its hands, and does its job'.

Now, I must say I tend to agree with this, but maybe you know of funny words and expressions that are American English.

Ten points for the best quantity/quality ratio!

Richard S: according to serious linguists American English is mostly a form of English that was spoken in England around the year 1900. Even the word soccer is a relic of those days. According to them it is the English in places like the UK, and Australasia that has evolved. This is something I knew without listening to this talk radio show.

Bonitakale, good point. The funniest they could come up with on the radio, or so they thought, was the "dog's bollocks", or "the mutt's nuts", which is means that something is really good. You could indeed argue that that isn't that funny at all.

I'm also willing to accept that American English is not as archaic as some say it is. I am not the expert here, and always willing to admit I'm wrong.

Still, the fact that American English is far more functional and to the point as the English spoken in other places is a good thing, and the reason why I prefer using it myself. Any other opinions on that?

I have been convinced that there is indeed enough humor in American English.

Also, an apology may be due here. I have earned over 500 points in as little as three weeks in Yahoo Answers, but I did so the easy way: in the soccer section. When I posted this question I used the same tone of writing as I do there.

I don't mean to disrespect the soccer section, but people here do give a completely different kind of answers, which next time I post a question here, will be reflected in the language I use.

I will choose a best answer on Wednesday, just after 8 AM ET.

Answer 1

ALL forms of English evolve - they just evolve differently. American English did not stop evolving when the pilgrim fathers landed (or when great numbers of British immigrants came to the states) - it just evolved differently than British English did. (The same is true for Australian English, South African English, and all other forms of English spoken today.)

Some words/grammatical structures survived in AE that didn't in BE, and vice-versa. But neither is "more evolved" than the other!

Further, all languages (and that includes all forms of English) have humor - because languages are made by human beings, and a sense of humor is a deeply ingrained human quality. (Though some individuals have it more than others.)

However, a specific sense of what's funny can vary somewhat with culture, so maybe that's why the radio person thought AE didn't have any humorous expressions. Or maybe their research was sloppy and they didn't really investigate where specific expressions originated. At any rate, any conclusion of the type "language X doesn't have any Y" is usually either completely wrong or a broad overgeneralization.

Answer 2

When I was in primary school I often wouldn't be paying attention, and my teacher would always try to call on me when she knew I was daydreaming. . .she was trying to break me of the habit by embarassing me. So once she called on me. I had no idea what the question was or what was even being discussed. I said, "I don't know!" Then she called on another kid, who gave the right answer. Then I raised my hand. The teacher said, Yes?? I said, ". . .that's what I was going to say." And this proves what a goose I was--because I was honestly surprised that the whole class burst out laughing.

So anyway, I was going to say re Ms S, "That's what I was going to say!"
Plus, run any example of American humor past a British person and they probably wouldn't laugh. . .and vice-versa. Most of us consider ourselves much funnier than the other guy. . . . What are these so-called prime examples of excellent humor?
Speaking of "no-nonsense"--once I had a German roommate, a pretty unfunny guy (but I am sure he considered himself hilarious). One day we were talking about filling out the tax returns and he said that he HATED the fact that we had a form called "EZ." Yeah, it means "easy," like it's the simplest tax form we have, I said. "I know," he said, "it's so stupid, I hate stuff like that!" So here is an example of no-nonsense American English being construed as pure silliness. . .so it's all in the eye or ear of the beholder. . .do ears behold things?

Answer 3

Snail mail: Letters sent through the post office; mail that is carried, as opposed to e-mail.

Fat cat: A person who has great wealth and power; a tycoon.

Not my cup of tea: Something not to your liking; something you don't like to do.

Rug rat: A young child; a toddler

Go bananas: To be irrational and wild; to lose control.

A zillionaire: A very, very rich person.

An arm and a leg: A large amount of money; very expensive or costly.

Ants in your pants: To be nervous or anxious or jumpy; to be unable to sit still.

La la land: An unreal place; a fantastic dreamworld.

Tightie Whitie: Men's underwear; bikini-like underwear that clings to the body.

Veg out: To spend time relaxing, doing nothing at all.

Smell a rat: convinced that something is definitely wrong.

Gone to the dogs: become run-down and in serious need of repair.

Fishy: strange and suspicious.

Take the bull by the horns: acted decisively to correct the situation.

For the birds: totally uninteresting and meaningless.

Straight from the horse's mouth: from a very reliable source


http://www.englishdaily626.com/idioms.php

Answer 4

American English is certainly not "a form of English that was spoken in England around the year 1900." It's much older than that. We have some forms--regarded, to be sure, as "hillbilly" or rustic--surviving from Elizabethan times--look at the phonetic spellings of "vittles" or "britches"!

As for humor--well, that's a matter of personal taste and not worth arguing about.

Answer 5

I am not responding for the best answer; I am responding for a sensible answer. It is ironic that an English radio host would say that there is no humor in American English when AE has evolved and keeps evolving each year. The Queen's English is stagnant and is resistant to change because of a standard they have imposed on themselves. This does not hold true in America. You be the judge! Which would you consider has more humor and flexibility, one that is antiquated or one that has broken off from an old system and has embellished with the times? A few years back, a friend of mine from Boston told me that his British professors were alluding to the fact that AE has advanced whereas the QE was at a standstill. Since when has British T.V. been comical? It is very dry humor at best!! I have been there and was totally turned off. It is expected that Britons would boast on the superiority of the Queen's English. In all actuality, that is the very reason it is limited because it is the Queen's English. It is not allowed to advance for fear of losing its originality.

Have you ever had a jealous friend? A jealous friend is obsessed with competing with you for reasons unknown to you. He has an innate insecurity. You, however, do not feel the need to compete. You know who you are, and you are certainly not threaten by him. Equally, most Britons are fixated on AE and its alledged shortcomings. They are always talking it down. They have a national insecurity because Americans do not waste their time talking about the QE and how it needs to improve.

The USA has advanced as a nation since its inception. Great Britain is outdated and is trying hard to hold on to some resemblance of excellent. If computers software does not change with the time, it will eventually become outdated. The QE is outdated software in need of upgrading.

Answer 6

One purpose is also the BBC. They don't seem to be looking to promote some thing so our comedians can test greater than US comedians on industrial channels who dare no longer disillusioned their audiences. Some of our comedy is utter garbage, however does no longer get to the US, and no longer beyond the primary few suggests. But the BBC throws cash at attempting them out, and so our industrial channels have got to too, to stay competetive. Some US comedy could be very well, however additionally it is extra highly-priced and not more offensive, having tremendous groups of writers looking to get it proper and earn cash with out provoking someone who could watch and might probably purchase the product.

Answer 7

One thing I've noticed is that Brits sometimes find it amusing that Americans have different words and different spellings for some things. I don't get that at all.

Answer 8

So, give us some examples of these funny British expressions.

Answer 9

Oedipus schmoedipus!"
It's raining cats and dogs out here

Answer 10

I don't know