Telling time in U. K. English - Page 28

vans · 10-07-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elizilla

It's not just England. I am in phone support and I talk to English-speaking people from all over the world. Almost every day, someone will ask me if I am from Canada. I have never lived in Canada.

There is something very distinctive in the way that Canadians say words containing "ou" like "out". I am not sure exactly how to describe it. It reminds me just a little of Fargo.

DMB · 10-07-2011, 09:12 AM

But to my ears it sounds to me as though some Americans pronounce it the same way.

HomeInMyShoes · 10-07-2011, 09:16 AM

^Depends where in Canada and the US. The weirdest thing I found is that my wife and I have lived quite a few places. In St. Louis, MO people said she had an accent and that I sounded like I came from there. In St. John's, NL we had the same thing. People thought she had an accent and I didn't.

We were born and raised within twenty kilometers of each other.

That's also odd because the usual joke, well the Terrance and Philip one is that Canadians' say aboot for about.

HarryT · 10-07-2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

That's also odd because the usual joke, well the Terrance and Philip one is that Canadians' say aboot for about.

That's what happens with a Scottish accent, too. I believe that many Canadians have Scottish ancestry, do they not?

HomeInMyShoes · 10-07-2011, 10:26 AM

^Some. It depends on the area again. In Newfoundland, lots of UK accents. Predominantly Irish, but I've been told there are more English dialects in Newfoundland than in the UK. I can only attest that it took three meetings with my electrician before I had any idea what he was staying.

Where I grew up and am living now, Saskatchewan, the predominant accents you would have found would be German, Ukranian and maybe Danish. Although that is shifting and Saskatchewan and much of those accents is blending away. My heritage is Polish and Irish. If you've looked at my blog you know my love of all things Eastern European with my post on the hallowed pyrohy.

Pinecone · 10-09-2011, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

Yes, it's a different meaning to be a solicitor in American versus British English.

Somewhere in this thread someone asked about tea and coffee vending machines. I was at a ferry terminal and noticed that their machine also had minestrone and tomato soups for sale. I have never seen soup in a vending machine before.

You should try Japan. A single vending machine will serve you a hot coffee in a can, or a cold soda. Or food. Hot or cold.

amward · 10-09-2011, 08:07 PM

Yes and it was the best coffee we could find when we were there, not to mention the cheapest. Still wasn't that good, but maybe things have improved, I did notice a Starbucks the last time (about ten years ago) but wasn't able to try it. I have tried Starbucks in Melbourne and it was ok but not wonderful.

Phogg · 10-09-2011, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinecone

You should try Japan. A single vending machine will serve you a hot coffee in a can, or a cold soda. Or food. Hot or cold.

Or Suntory Whiskey.

Pinecone · 10-10-2011, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amward

Yes and it was the best coffee we could find when we were there, not to mention the cheapest. Still wasn't that good, but maybe things have improved, I did notice a Starbucks the last time (about ten years ago) but wasn't able to try it. I have tried Starbucks in Melbourne and it was ok but not wonderful.

Because Starbucks in general is at best OK.

Pinecone · 10-10-2011, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phogg

Or Suntory Whiskey.

I must have missed that one. I would have had to buy some, just to say I had.

augustjen · 07-25-2012, 01:06 AM

Agree with above - usually its 'half past one', 'six-twenty', 'twenty to four'

Whatever happened to 'O´Clock'?

Suspect writers of historical fiction could trip up here.

Found an interesting link:
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/inde...?date=19970102

(Sorry - I am 'new' around here and it looks like I only read the first page of this thread! Didn't realise the thread had moved on.

)

pdurrant · 07-25-2012, 01:10 AM

I would never expect to hear or read "o'clock" for anything except full hours.

murraypaul · 07-25-2012, 04:43 AM

Yup.
Four o'clock, ten past four, quarter past four, half four, quarter to five, five o'clock.

tubemonkey · 07-25-2012, 05:08 AM

25 before four o'clock
34 past three o'clock

but I prefer 25 or 6 to 4

Spoiler:

Witty Username · 07-25-2012, 05:44 AM

Well, as this thread has come back to life -

Any guesses as to what time the Scissor Sisters mean when they sing 'half past quarter to three' ?

07-25-2012, 01:06 AM	#416
augustjen Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 620820 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: UK and Spain Device: Keypad Kindle	Agree with above - usually its 'half past one', 'six-twenty', 'twenty to four' Whatever happened to 'O´Clock'? Suspect writers of historical fiction could trip up here. Found an interesting link: http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/inde...?date=19970102 (Sorry - I am 'new' around here and it looks like I only read the first page of this thread! Didn't realise the thread had moved on. ) Last edited by augustjen; 07-25-2012 at 01:11 AM.

07-25-2012, 05:08 AM	#419
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,477 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	25 before four o'clock 34 past three o'clock but I prefer 25 or 6 to 4 Spoiler:

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10-07-2011, 09:12 AM	#407
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	But to my ears it sounds to me as though some Americans pronounce it the same way.

10-07-2011, 09:16 AM	#408
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	^Depends where in Canada and the US. The weirdest thing I found is that my wife and I have lived quite a few places. In St. Louis, MO people said she had an accent and that I sounded like I came from there. In St. John's, NL we had the same thing. People thought she had an accent and I didn't. We were born and raised within twenty kilometers of each other. That's also odd because the usual joke, well the Terrance and Philip one is that Canadians' say aboot for about.

10-07-2011, 10:26 AM	#410
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	^Some. It depends on the area again. In Newfoundland, lots of UK accents. Predominantly Irish, but I've been told there are more English dialects in Newfoundland than in the UK. I can only attest that it took three meetings with my electrician before I had any idea what he was staying. Where I grew up and am living now, Saskatchewan, the predominant accents you would have found would be German, Ukranian and maybe Danish. Although that is shifting and Saskatchewan and much of those accents is blending away. My heritage is Polish and Irish. If you've looked at my blog you know my love of all things Eastern European with my post on the hallowed pyrohy.

10-09-2011, 08:07 PM	#412
amward Wizard Posts: 1,299 Karma: 2081110 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SW Australia Device: Eco Eclipse, Sony PRS 350 (pink), Ipod Touch, Kindle Touch	Yes and it was the best coffee we could find when we were there, not to mention the cheapest. Still wasn't that good, but maybe things have improved, I did notice a Starbucks the last time (about ten years ago) but wasn't able to try it. I have tried Starbucks in Melbourne and it was ok but not wonderful.

07-25-2012, 01:10 AM	#417
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 71,506 Karma: 306214458 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	I would never expect to hear or read "o'clock" for anything except full hours.

07-25-2012, 04:43 AM	#418
murraypaul Interested Bystander Posts: 3,725 Karma: 19728152 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Note 4, Kobo One	Yup. Four o'clock, ten past four, quarter past four, half four, quarter to five, five o'clock.

07-25-2012, 05:44 AM	#420
Witty Username Addict Posts: 329 Karma: 4702571 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Somerset, England Device: Sony PRS-650, Kobo Touch, Kobo Libra H2O	Well, as this thread has come back to life - Any guesses as to what time the Scissor Sisters mean when they sing 'half past quarter to three' ?