Literature The British English vs American English thread!

[hungryraccoon]

Who remembers Devvo? 'Hello yoons, how ya doons?'

hahaha

 

[sequoia]

I need something cleared up by the lovely VV Brits.

When I watch Doctor Who, a character will sometimes call a female character Ma'am (I think???) but they pronounce it as "mum".

Is that how you pronounce "ma'am", or is it another way of addressing a woman?

 

[Alice-Bee]

Ma'am is how you should address the Queen or a woman of high standing, I believe. Or perhaps just a sign of respect for an elder Lady in the Upper classes. It should be pronounced Maaarm.
Mum, Mam(short as its written) simply are ways to address a Mother.

 

[sequoia]

Ma'am is how you should address the Queen or a woman of high standing, I believe. Or perhaps just a sign of respect for an elder Lady in the Upper classes. It should be pronounced Maaarm.
Mum, Mam(short as its written) simply are ways to address a Mother.

Ok, thank you. Now that I think of it, it does sound more like Maaarm than mum.

 

[Alice-Bee]

I think some people may prounce it Mum...more of a London thing. Cockney accent or something.

I keep seeing things on US shows and think 'Ill ask what that means' but by the time I log on here Ive forgotten!

 

[sequoia]

I'm so glad I somehow dodged the Southern Californian accent. It tends to make one sound rather dumb. I do say "dude" quite a bit, though.

 

[shyvas]

I'm so glad I somehow dodged the Southern Californian accent. It tends to make one sound rather dumb. I do say "dude" quite a bit, though.

I hadn't noticed anything dumb about Californians.

 

[sequoia]

I hadn't noticed anything dumb about Californians.

Oh, I'm not saying we're dumb I'm a Californian, so we're obviously geniuses. But the way a lot of Southern Californians talk makes them sound dumb. Much like how a lot of people perceive those with Southern accents to be dumb, even though they could be quite intelligent.

 

[Calliegirl]

Oh, I'm not saying we're dumb I'm a Californian, so we're obviously geniuses. But the way a lot of Southern Californians talk makes them sound dumb. Much like how a lot of people perceive those with Southern accents to be dumb, even though they could be quite intelligent.

Like I know, right? Like every so often, I like totally, like you know, fall back to valley speak, like where I say like a lot, it's like totally a bummer.

I grew up in the valley in the 70's & 80's.

 

[Joe]

Ma'am is how you should address the Queen or a woman of high standing, I believe. Or perhaps just a sign of respect for an elder Lady in the Upper classes. It should be pronounced Maaarm.
Mum, Mam(short as its written) simply are ways to address a Mother.

According to the instructions given by Helen Bonham Carter in the film The King's English, it's Ma'am rhymes with ham, not Ma'am rhymes with palm.

I'm not sure where Maaarm fits in that dichotomy.

 

[Alice-Bee]

Depends on how you say Ham doesnt it

 

[sequoia]

Like I know, right? Like every so often, I like totally, like you know, fall back to valley speak, like where I say like a lot, it's like totally a bummer.

I grew up in the valley in the 70's & 80's.

Ugh, like, gag me with a spoon.

I find myself throwing likes into places they don't belong at times. Then I slap myself.

 

[Alice-Bee]

Newcastlers (Geordies) use the word 'like' all the time too. But less American style...more at the end of sentences...like ya kna.
I say it without realising most of the time like.

 

[sequoia]

I used to say it all the time and had to make a very conscious effort to stop. It's difficult, since that's what I've grown up hearing.

 

[Alice-Bee]

I know what you mean...Sometimes I feel talking with a Geordie accent makes me appear more common...but its so hard to break the habit like

 

[hungryraccoon]

I used to say like all the time when I was a teenager & would get told off constantly. Chav speak!

Now my teenage Brother is doing it & it sounds horrible.

 

[Joe]

Depends on how you say Ham doesnt it

I had lunch with a British ex-pat today. This topic came up. He said that what Helen Bonham Carter said in the movie was just plain wrong. It should be Ma'am rhymes with palm (or Maaarm), not rhymes with ham. Now, I don't know which is right. But it is puzzling to me why they would put it in the movie if it is wrong.

BTW, I never expect to meet the Queen, so this is all academic to me.

 

[Joe]

This came up at dinner tonight, and did not come from me, because I'd never noticed it.

Imagine a queue of Americans. Then imagine a queue of Britons.

The Americans wait in line; the Brits wait on line.

 

[RabbitLuvr]

...more at the end of sentences...

A lot of people here use "so" at the end of sentences.
I'm not sure if its an American thing, or a regional thing, so.

 

[kazyeeqen]

A lot of people here use "so" at the end of sentences.
I'm not sure if its an American thing, or a regional thing, so.

We definitely don't say that here. I feel like I remember a movie where people did that prominently and I wish I could remember what movie...