Telling time in U. K. English

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by vans

I am the same, but due to the influence of the Disney Channel my young daughter is starting to use Mall.

Speaking of a similar phenomenon, do they re-name the crazed blue puppet the Biscuit Monster over there?

[DMB]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Speaking of a similar phenomenon, do they re-name the crazed blue puppet the Biscuit Monster over there?

I don't think so.

I am learning from this thread so much fascinating stuff about American usage that I didn't know before!

Here is The Mall in London. (Pronounced to rhyme with "shall" rather than "wall".) It's a processional route to Buckingham Palace.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/...mall_360.shtml

There is also a street called Pall Mall.

The name of the street is derived from "pall mall", a mallet-and-ball game that was played there during the 17th century.

[wodin]

Who would have thought I'd stir up such kuhn-trov-er-see by misnaming the Pearlridge Center by calling it "Pearlridge Mall".

[issybird]

Originally Posted by DMB

Here is The Mall in London. (Pronounced to rhyme with "shall" rather than "wall".) It's a processional route to Buckingham Palace.

In the small city in Massachusetts where I work, Mall is pronouced Mal in referring to the grassy area near downtown (heh). But if you're going to shop for shoes, you go to the Mawl.

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by issybird

In the small city in Massachusetts where I work, Mall is pronouced Mal in referring to the grassy area near downtown (heh). But if you're going to shop for shoes, you go to the Mawl.

I'm a MA native, and never heard anyone say "mal" for mall ... then again, I've never heard anyone say "tonic" meaning soda pop either.

I find the expression "moving house" rather redundant; in the States it's just "moving", with the context implied.

I'm assuming we've exported Seinfeld for the delectation of our U. K. friends? I wonder if the humour might be too Noo Yawk though?

[vans]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I'm a MA native, and never heard anyone say "mal" for mall ... then again, I've never heard anyone say "tonic" meaning soda pop either.

I find the expression "moving house" rather redundant; in the States it's just "moving", with the context implied.

I'm assuming we've exported Seinfeld for the delectation of our U. K. friends? I wonder if the humour might be too Noo Yawk though?

Unless I am completely confused tonic is not the same as soda pop (soda water?). Tonic has a slightly bitter taste because of the quinine it contains.

[DMB]

As far as I am concerned "tonic" is just stuff with quinine in it, as drunk by Mr DMB who always asks for a "G&T" (gin & tonic).

[SeaBookGuy]

"Tonic" meaning soda pop* is a Massachusetts thing I understand. I've never heard it, and my 72 year old mother, who was raised there, said that if anyone offered her a glass of "tonic", she'd assume they meant tonic water.

*Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, Fanta, etc. - even the foul Irn Bru! In the midwest, one hears "pop" more often than "soda" (on the coasts).

[vans]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

"Tonic" meaning soda pop* is a Massachusetts thing I understand. I've never heard it, and my 72 year old mother, who was raised there, said that if anyone offered her a glass of "tonic", she'd assume they meant tonic water.

*Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, Fanta, etc. - even the foul Irn Bru! In the midwest, one hears "pop" more often than "soda" (on the coasts).

When I was a boy watching old American films I got very confused when people talked and got excited about Soda or Soda Fountains. The only "soda" I had tasted was soda water and it was horrible. In fact I only understood that it seemed to mean any fizzy soft drink when I visited the European HQ of Microsoft and was told that the soda was free while being pointed towards a wall of soft drinks.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I'm a MA native, and never heard anyone say "mal" for mall ... then again, I've never heard anyone say "tonic" meaning soda pop either.

Soda pop! You are showing those Eastern US roots again!

Lemonade is a drink that is different. It's a carbonated beverage in the UK (sort of like Sprite). A popular drink in England is a shandy which is beer + lemonade, whereas a popular drink in the US is an Arnold Palmer which is iced tea + American lemonade. I have one English friend who refuses to even try iced tea.

We also think of milk and cream differently. My English colleagues have a difficult time with half and half. They cannot believe that it's really milk and cream. You should have seen the looks of horror that I got when I explained about flavored creamers that are popular with coffee here.

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I'm assuming we've exported Seinfeld for the delectation of our U. K. friends? I wonder if the humour might be too Noo Yawk though?

Humor is very different between the US and UK. I find it amusing that when my British colleagues come here they complain about how there are no good shows on tv at night in the hotel. I was also asked once how the American remake of The Office could possibly be funny, and I explained that it is indeed quite funny and very popular. It is also interesting that often at work in England everyone will be talking about the previous night's big program on tv. Like everyone will have watched the same show, and it might be something like an ordinary documentary. That doesn't happen as frequently in the US unless it's something really big and special. Maybe we have more channels here? Another thing I have observed is that English humor is very subtle but everyone gets it. In America we often add "I'm just teasing or joking". They don't feel they need to clarify; it's just understood.

[DMB]

Humour doesn't travel well. This is a short English film made, I think for TV many years ago. I have yet to find an English person who actually finds it funny. However it has become an tradition to watch it on New Year's Eve in Germany and a few surrounding countries, where I am told it's found uproariously funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1v4BYV-YvA

And I love this French film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiioSWljp-0

One of the strains running through it is is the social importance in the pre-revolutionary French court of "l'esprit" = wit. L'esprit is nasty and satirical and aims to hurt its victims. A man who has visited England is asked about English wit and replies that they don't have it; they have something called "humour".

[TGS]

Yes, the New Years Eve film is shown here in Denmark too. My Danish friends were shocked and horrified to learn that the first time I had seen it was here in DK and that, as far as I was aware, it is never shown in the UK. Although the play was written by an English writer, and the actors are English, it was made into a TV programme by a German TV company.

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

A popular drink in England is a shandy which is beer + lemonade, whereas a popular drink in the US is an Arnold Palmer which is iced tea + American lemonade. I have one English friend who refuses to even try iced tea.

I tried a shandy in Britain, and didn't really care for it. In the States, there are some who mix beer and Clamato to make a faux Bloody Mary. My stomach lurches at the thought. I'm not that partial to iced tea myself, except in Bubble Tea: flavored iced tea with black tapioca balls the size of small marbles that sucked up with a large straw and chewed.

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

We also think of milk and cream differently. My English colleagues have a difficult time with half and half. They cannot believe that it's really milk and cream. You should have seen the looks of horror that I got when I explained about flavored creamers that are popular with coffee here.

I'm partial to hazelnut creamer myself, although vanilla will do as well. Anything weaker than whole milk isn't enough in coffee, but I don't need half-and-half; whole milk is fine. Perhaps they are horrified at the thought of flavored creamer in tea? (I dislike milk in tea, especially "chai" - ugh!)

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by DMB

Humour doesn't travel well.

That would explain my loathing of Mr Bean (although I love Blackadder).

[issybird]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

That would explain my loathing of Mr Bean (although I love Blackadder).

With you in regard to Mr. Atkinson's two personae.

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I'm partial to hazelnut creamer myself, although vanilla will do as well. Anything weaker than whole milk isn't enough in coffee, but I don't need half-and-half; whole milk is fine. Perhaps they are horrified at the thought of flavored creamer in tea? (I dislike milk in tea, especially "chai" - ugh!)

Coffee should be drunk black. Puts hair on your chest. Seriously, I don't want to dilute the caffeine with anything. It's all that stands between me and death in the morning. As for tea, even the thought of milk in tea makes my belly roil. Tea needs lemon or nothing.