The grumpy thread

[Lord Sterling]

Re: Americanisation of the English language.

 

This has become very popular over the last decade or so, but now it has become very much "in ya face" language and mannerisms, echoed on supposed British TV programmes. In fact the whole of England is now starting to mimic America, I'm not sure why.

 

This is just some general views from me and what I have seen.....

 

TV - Almost every British-made TV show mimics that of America, sweet smiles, expensive suits and brash attitudes, not to mention that many actors playing big roles such as Police Chiefs, Bar owners etc... Who are barely into their 20s

 

Many actors also have this empty/posh 'English' accent, there are no more regional accents on TV (That’s for another grump)

 

Buildings - Yes, buildings, those big (formerly) concrete things that stand in towns and so on. These days, buildings, particularly public buildings seem to have to resemble some sort ‘Los Angeles’ City type building, with a huge, cold glass/metal frontages. All of this at the cost of our local, regional, history, just so we can look like America.

 

Terms/names - The kind of terms used in public, like SUV, for people-carrier, or small 4x4 ('4by4' as I've always been told) Sedan for describing a saloon car, and now most popular is "Soccer" for Football. I have heard and read these terms in local/national news programmes and papers. Pants (Trousers) and Trash/Trashy (Bins/chavvy) are also up and coming terms.

 

Adding to that, the use of the term 'Academy' which, is now going to be used nationwide to describe what we know as schools. So in a few years time you won’t be sending your kids to Primary or Secondary 'Schools', they will be attending 'Academies'. Next thing you know, they will have American Football teams."

 

In conclusion, this country, (to me at least) and its unique character seems to slowly be turning into the 51st state of America. Having lived abroad in Europe previously, people used to say to me that they enjoyed visiting England due to its history and character, much of that is being lost and demolished for "progress", turning our towns into mini Cities with huge Supermarkets surrounded by over-priced shoe box flats and glass fronted "Academies" all being built on every available Green field/land.

 

Adding that our language and popular media is now tarnished and turned-over by Americanisms, every important news story is taken over by what happens in America, it seems that a man getting run over by a car in downtown LA is more important than any other story in the news from elsewhere in the world.

 

I don’t blame America for these changes. In fact I quite like some of the stuff that has come out from there. At least what they produce is original. Today’s England just seems to be aiming to be carbon-copy.

 

Right, that’s my grump for today, I'm going for a lie down.

[Milford Cubicle]

 

"Know what ah hate... sweets are called candy, shops are convenience stores, chips are fries, etc."

[Mr H Sceptre]

Re: Americanisation of the English language.

 

This has become very popular over the last decade or so, but now it has became very much "in ya face" language and mannerisms, echoed on supposed British TV programmes. In fact the whole of England is now starting to mimic America, I'm not sure why, I'm not even sure I live in Britian anymore.

 

This is just some general views from me and what I have seen.....

 

TV - Almost every British TV show mimics that of America, seet white smiles, expensive suits and brash attitudes, not to mention that many actors playing big roles such as Police Chiefs, Bar owners etc... are barley into thier 20s

 

Many actors also have this empty/posh 'English' accent, there are no more regional accents on TV (Thats for another grump)

 

Buildings - Yes, buildings, those big (formally) concrete things that stand in towns and so on. These days buildings, particularly public buildings seem to have to resemble some sort Los Angeles City type building, with a huge, cold glass/metal frontages. All of this at the cost of our local, regional, history, just so we can look like America.

 

Terms/names - The kind of terms used in public, like SUV, for people-carrier, or small 4x4 ('4by4' as I've always been told) Sedan for describing a saloon car, and now most popular is "Soccer" for Football. I have heard and read these terms in local/national news programmes and papers. Pants (Trousers) and Trash/Trashy (Bins/chavvy) are also up and coming terms.

 

Adding to that, this use of the term 'Academy' which is now going to be used, nationwide, to describe schools. So in a few years time you wont be sending your kids to Primary or Secondary 'Schools', they will be attending 'Academies'. Next thing you know, they will have American Football teams, and Cheer-leaders, schools...sorry, "Academies"

 

In conclusion, this country, (to me at least) and its unique character seems to slowly be turning into the 51st state of America. Having lived abroad in Europe previously, people used to say to me that they enjoyed visiting England due to its history and character, much of that is being lost and demolished for "progress", turning our towns into mini Cities with huge Supermarkets surrounded by over-priced shoe box flats and glass fronted "Academies" all being built on every available Green field/land.

 

Adding that our language and popular media is now tarnished and turned-over by Americanisms, every important news story is taken over by what happens in America, it seems that a man getting run over by a car in downtown LA is more important than any other story in the news from elsewhere.

 

I dont blame America for this, in fact I quite like some of the stuff that has come out from there, at least what they produce is original, todays England is just aiming to be carbon-copy.

 

Right, thats my grump for today, I'm going for a lie down.

Couldn't have put it any better myself. Agree with everything you've said there. Thats why I think we should lean more towards Europe. Most Eurpoean countries appear to keep their own identities. Could you imagine France or Germany embracing Americana as eagerly as we do in Blighty?

[Tayne]

.

[mattblack]

Hmm, while I generally agree on the 'Americanisation' thing, if you read Bill Bryson's book 'Made in America', you find that many 'American' words are actually old English ones which died out here but survived in use in the 'colonies'....

[sporty-shite]

Re: Americanisation of the English language.

Pants (Trousers)

[pedant] Pants is the correct term for proper trousers (ie not jeans) where I come from. For example, "What are you wearing to the pub tonight?"

 

"Pants and a shirt, it's a bit of a smart do." [/pedant]

 

However, pants as a word to describe male underwear is a NO-NO. They are underpants, because they go under your pants.

 

I'm also surprised no-one has mentioned "networking" yet. Fucking horrible word to describe that arse-licking, never-away-from-work, I-live-my-job, golf club activity. Part of the "lucky to have a job so it must be more important than the rest of your life" mentality.

 

And breathe.......

[Tayne]

.

[Lord Sterling]

Re: Americanisation of the English language.

Fair enough. My grump was a summing up of how I personally feel about the way things are generally going in society. I'm looking at it from my point of view. Some will agree, others will have differing opinions.

 

American words like - Sedan, SUV, Trash, Candy etc... Are words I'm starting to see and hear being adopted in the British-English language. Many have also been adopted by the British media, certainly when I'm reading the paper or watching Television. I agree that many 'American' words are actually old English ones. But I also feel they have crept back into our language through American popular media, just like convenience-store, Candy etc....

 

Speling and grammar? Fair point, my fault for not looking at how and what I was writing.

[Station]

I don't have a telly for the reason that it's just American remoulds. Channel 4 was terrible for that, everything was American or Big Brother. Awful, awful, awful.

The last job I worked at, everyone was frothing about every single Yank drama and sitcom that they were ordered to watch like Lost and Heroes.

I also hate that horrible UPSPEAK, where twats turn every sentence into a question?

 

I heard someone call PE ... 'gym class'. Also heard 'candy' being used! Yuck

Anyone still call Snickers 'Marathon'.

[Louise2cv]

"Proms" for 11 year olds leaving Primary School. Complete with limos and helicopters. YUK.

[Rocket88]

I also hate that horrible UPSPEAK, where twats turn every sentence into a question?

 

The antipodean inflection. Bloody Australians.............

[Pete-M]

Arghh. Upspeak blows donkey cock.

 

Proms were the least enjoyable part of being a Limo operative, bloody awful few weeks. The limo company owners love it though, they just pluck the most extravagant figure out of the air that they can possibly get away with, and that's what it costs.

 

Normal rate - £95 an hour for a Wednesday evening at 6pm.

Prom rate - £250 an hour, rising if it's a busy one / posh school etc.

 

I've known limo companies charge £950 for an hour on a prom night, and they got it, for two hours. Mental.

 

 

As for US TV, I think the Sopranos was the best thing that has been on telly in the last 5 years or so, closely followed by Family Guy. The best the UK has offered has been Life On Mars / Ashes to Ashes - both good, but not really in the same league.

[ashmicro]

My mate Noel gave me his TV such was his disgust at the rubbish that's on.

[Station]

As for US TV, I think the Sopranos was the best thing that has been on telly in the last 5 years or so, closely followed by Family Guy. The best the UK has offered has been Life On Mars / Ashes to Ashes - both good, but not really in the same league.

I think the best thing on telly is Seinfeld. Some people don't like it but I think it's verging on 'comedy genius'.

[Rocket88]

"House" for me....of course, they had to get a Brit to play the lead role....plus they featured a disease I caught 2 years ago!

[Mr H Sceptre]

Can't get on with any of the US dramas myself. Have tried watching the odd one but just end up feeling annoyed. I'll stick with Minder thank you very much.

[barrett]

Erm...what about The Wire??? Probably the best drama series of all time... Sopranos was ace too. Seinfeld and Curb are both fantastic as far as comedy goes... going back a bit, they had Twin Peaks, one of the greatest things EVAH. US TV can be amazing, it's just mostly the dross that they show over here.

[warren t claim]

Lie To Me featuring Tim Roth is pretty good as well.

[Father Ted]

There is FUCK ALL worth watching on telly. End of chat.

 

Besides the pictures are far better on the radio.

[Albert Ross]

Aye. Footy is on....... What a set of ballerinas. Wankers. Fuck the lot of em off. And I even hate sports unless it involves sitting down behind a wheel.

[Station]

I've been told they drew!

Come on England! Haha!

[Cavcraft]

They didn't lose but they were embarrasingly fucking awful.

[Station]

There is FUCK ALL worth watching on telly. End of chat.

 

Besides the pictures are far better on the radio.

Worth a try:

 

http://tvshack.net/

[Guest]

They didn't lose but they were embarrasingly fucking awful.

Why was a zombie playing in place of Rooney? Why the fuck did they play Wright Phillips again when all he does is charge head on into people?

Why was Crouch only let out at the end?

 

Aaaaaarghhhhhhhhhhhhh. That was worse than watching bloody Altrincham play in the rain with piss for vinegar on your chips.

[dollywobbler]

I'm only grumpy about the football because my main motivation for wanting England to progress is that the roads are SOOOOO quiet when they play! It's truly superb.

[Mr H Sceptre]

Erm...what about The Wire??? Probably the best drama series of all time... Sopranos was ace too. Seinfeld and Curb are both fantastic as far as comedy goes... going back a bit, they had Twin Peaks, one of the greatest things EVAH. US TV can be amazing, it's just mostly the dross that they show over here.

Dont like The Wire, never bothered with The Sopranos, although I'm aware its highly rated.

 

The yanks have NEVAH come close to anything like Man About the House, Robin's Nest, Porridge etc etc

[Cavcraft]

They didn't lose but they were embarrasingly fucking awful.

Why was a zombie playing in place of Rooney? Why the fuck did they play Wright Phillips again when all he does is charge head on into people?

Why was Crouch only let out at the end?

 

Aaaaaarghhhhhhhhhhhhh. That was worse than watching bloody Altrincham play in the rain with piss for vinegar on your chips.

Why was Carragher even on the plane? How the merry hell did he or that BELL END Heskey get picked?

How come Gerrard played so well* last game and was crap tonight?

 

I honestly blame Crapello, it seems obvious (to me) they team don't want to play for him.

 

Making me grumpy is the fact my Tomato Clown fish appears to have swum it's last swim.

 

 

 

*Defineatly the first (and probably the last) time I have ever said anything positive about the gargoyle faced, over-rated fucking balloon.

[Minimad5]

ooh shit Football ...

 

Pissed off because i witnessed someone drink drive

Pisses me off no end ..

[Guest]

Dunno what the problem is, I don't tend to witness many people at all when I'm drink driving.

[Minimad5]

Not to cause a war, but drink driving is "silly" (put in a polite manner)