The Americanisation of die Englische Sprache

[TheMawn]

Originally Posted by chalsall

P.S. Just in case my point isn't clear, let me please refer you to Rick Mercer's "Talking to Americians".

Lol @ the little kid who said "Hang on, Canada has Provinces"

[ewmayer]

Originally Posted by Jayder

Maybe this isn't what you're saying, but some do consider both North and South America to be just one continent, and refer to it as America.

That is extremely uncommon, at least since roughly the 17th century - "The Americas" is the general contemporary usage. Especially when the context makes it clear that one is speaking of an english-speaking nation called "America", only a clueless or deliberately obtuse person would respond with a "?"

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by ewmayer

That is extremely uncommon, at least since roughly the 17th century - "The Americas" is the general contemporary usage. Especially when the context makes it clear that one is speaking of an english-speaking nation called "America", only a clueless or deliberately obtuse person would respond with a "?"

Indeed.

Canada, or Barbados, or Jamaica or St. Lucia, for example.

Only an idiot would assume otherwise....

[Batalov]

Originally Posted by retina

...It is not just USA (which I assume you mean when you say American?) ...

The OP never even said "American" or "America".
Most of the ensuing off-tops are about beating up a strawman.

The OP said "Americanisms". This is a straightforward and not an obscure word (: a characteristic feature of American English especially as contrasted with British English).

This seems vaguely relevant:

[retina]

Originally Posted by Batalov

The OP never even said "American" or "America".
Most of the ensuing off-tops are about beating up a strawman.

The OP said "Americanisms". This is a straightforward and not an obscure word (: a characteristic feature of American English especially as contrasted with British English).

Hmm, a strawman? Me thinks not.

[Batalov]

Originally Posted by retina

Hmm, a strawman? Me thinks not.

I knew that you'd bite, heh-heh. Trolling the troll.
Your beef is with Merriam-Webster. Write to them. Report the results.

Don't forget to talk to Wiki, who in turn wrote:

Originally Posted by Wiki

Merriam-Webster, Inc., which was originally the G & C Merriam Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, is an American company that publishes reference books, especially dictionaries that are descendants ... Wikipedia

[ewmayer]

Originally Posted by ewmayer

Especially when the context makes it clear that one is speaking of an english-speaking nation called "America", only a clueless or deliberately obtuse person would respond with a "?"

Originally Posted by chalsall

Canada, or Barbados, or Jamaica or St. Lucia, for example.

I had not realized those entities also called themselves "America", as opposed to being geographically part of "the Americas" - you'd better fire off an angry e-mail to the pompous 'USA-centrists over at Wikipedia, because.they similarly are peddling the rank falsehood that Barbados is part of "the Americas" rather than being a co-America proper. (Ha, next thing you know they'll be telling us that the Queen of England is the Barbadian head of state - how un-American would that be? Or, to use a popular Americanism expressing shock or disbelief, quelle horreur!)

As always, thank you for your wisdom.

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by ewmayer

As always, thank you for your wisdom.

As always, you are welcome.

BTW, have you ever read "The Surgeon of Crowthorne"?

[wblipp]

A mixed report from the National Portrait Gallery today. In the restaurant they asked if we had a reservation. Four years ago if we asked about reservations they sniggered and asked if we wanted a booking.

However, in the exhibit on Vivian Lee we find "Vivian Lee and Sir Laurence Olvier, whilst filming ...

So my second spotting of a whilst.

[TheMawn]

That's the stuff that grinds my gears. Snickering over saying reservation instead of booking. What the hell? Why?

They think they're so much better than you because of the words you use to convey the very same idea. It takes a special kind.

At least your ass hole is thankful it doesn't have a large branch in it.

[ewmayer]

Originally Posted by wblipp

However, in the exhibit on Vivian Lee we find "Vivian Lee and Sir Laurence Olvier, whilst filming ...

You mean famous 1930-50s-era Anglo-Chinese actress Vivian Lee - no relation to famous 1940-2010s-era Anglo-Chinese actor Christopher Lee - or did you mean Sir Laurence's sometime costar and second wife Vivia[e]n Leigh? ;)

Speaking of Sir Laurence and Anglo-Chinese actors named Lee, interesting bit of trivia in form of a question: Christopher Lee is one of only 2 surviving actors from Olivier's Hamlet (1948). Name the other. {Extra credit for doing it without clicking on the bio of every other costar until you hit one who lacks a date of death, though that is betwixt you and your deity/conscience].