Where is everyone from... and where did you end up?

[sheepii-bear]

I`m still living in Lancaster , Pennsylvania. But In 2 years I hope to visit the UK and stay with a close friend for a while. She lives in Chandlers Ford , or something rather.... British addresses are confusing to me....

[myfavbrit]

Born & Raised in America (Currently live in Oregon), but a year ago met a brit from London. And since have another friend from Wales. I never realized how differently we speak, even though we're supposed to both be speaking 'English'! So I speak American, and they speak English!

[davec]

Welcome aboard.

How differently do those two speak? Coming from different countries themselves, as it is.

[myfavbrit]

Welcome aboard.

Thank you!

How differently do those two speak? Coming from different countries themselves, as it is.

Well, what I meant to say is that I speak differently than they do! One is living in London and crosses between his 'natural' (how he grew up speaking) dialect (cockney) and 'proper' Londonese. The other lives here in the states(originally from Wales) and although he sounds like the one living in London, it isn't quite as strong...the word issue though is still the same. I never realised that even though we are saying words that are spelled the same, they can have TOTALLY different meanings !! That was very surprising to me, and now that I've adjusted a bit more, I find that learning what different words mean has become a bit more of a priority.

[PeterSF]

Already mentioned in another post by me, but when in the U.K. never refer to a belt bag as a "fanny pack" or you'll get odd looks.
And when in the U.S., refer to the red thing at the end of a pencil as an "eraser", not a "rubber". Additionally, the "S" in "eraser" is pronounced as an "S", not a "Z" - and as most know, this letter is called a "Zee" rather then "Zed", and so it goes on.

In England, after a few pints you might get pissed, but in the U.S. that (being pissed) usually happens when someone annoys you. You have to add "off" to achieve the same meaning in England. On the other hand, "off" never needs the additional preposition "of" in front of whatever thing you are coming off or subtracting from.

I think I learnt ("learned" in the U.S.) most of this stuff in the first year of my expatriation.
Way too much to fit in one post. Chris has a pretty comprehensive coverage in the main area of The Septic's Companion, but you really have to live in both cultures a while to get the best grasp of all the major differences and subtle nuances.
And of course each state has its own variations, just as different areas of Britain do; leaving aside whole languages such as Welsh, which I believe Septic Tone is quite happy to do in any case .

[SepticTone]

Don't get me started on the Welsh!

However, Rob Brydon is now ubiquitous on the TV, and is Welsh.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/profiles/rob_brydon.shtml

Very sad. & a tragedy for facial complexion-fixing cream manufacturers.

My wife says he's very funny.

[PeterSF]

However, Rob Brydon is now ubiquitous on the TV, and is Welsh.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/profiles/rob_brydon.shtml
My wife says he's very funny.

Having only recently discovered Rob Brydon, I have to agree with "Mrs. Septic Tone". The not too recent series wherein he and Steve Coogan tour the more picturesque areas of the English countryside is a masterpiece of English (and, I suppose, Welsh) humour -- let's call it "British" to avoid further controversy. Understated, not saccharine or "feel good", as they are constantly carping on each other's foibles and mannerisms. The best parts, in my opinion, are when they try to outdo each other in impressions of famous people, and analyse why why their impression is superior to the other's. Michael Caine springs to mind. Both are good at Sean Connery, admittedly not the hardest, but I was impressed by their Roger Moore and the skinny Irish guy whose name I forget who also played James Bond. -- Oh, Pierce Brosnan, now I remember.

I think Rob Brydon is better at absolute mimicry overall, whereas Steve Coogan is a better all round comedian. Although I admit Coogan really nails "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!' (Michael Caine, from "The Italian Job").

Links:
The Trip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFIQIpC5_wY
The Italian Job: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g_GeQR8fJo

[davec]

I agree on Coogan's Caine imitation comments--a bi' mo' nighzzl' is just th' ticke'.

Love the banter, too... not all polished and scripted like a lot of similar Yank productions would be. Very refreshing. Wish I had a bit more time to watch this kind of stuff.