jupitersterrain four

ia28 September 2012 1:49PM

just as I hope we are properly grateful for the immense linguistic riches bequeathed to us by Shakespeare

what like the might of the pen?

but Joyce was an Irishman, and without the Irish (and the Jews and African-Americans) the American slanguage would still be stuck on first base

oh no she got it just chuck in a bit of celtic and bingo bobs your uncle – - – simples – - -

Now of course some Americans have always favoured a bit of British to try and raise the tone of their discourse

what like a young slave girl you mean – - -

No, what’s new is that Mr and Mrs America and all the ships at sea are apparently quite (in the American sense of very, not the British sense of not very much at all) content to be heard referring to the “good bits” in a movie or novel, or a splendid “piece of kit” or even to inquire whether the neighbourhood joint “does food”

indeed why can’t they just get the whole package at home – - -

Frankly, I’m relieved. The whole pretence/pretense that Britain and America are two countries separated by a common language has got me plum tuckered out

groan – - – um like separated by a common language – - – ? you mean common as in pleb?

The language police at our house (by which I mean my British-educated wife and kids) are so quick on the draw that I’ve contemplated taking a vow of silence

what for rejecting your britishims thats a bit steep isn’t it – - – this is what happens with the stupid law delegation well I am ignorant of it sorreee – - -

The British are coming?

you sound dreadfully upset what really is the matter – - – the British are coming where dear – - -

Katyia28 September 2012 1:36PM

The British are coming! The British are coming!

what having an orgasm you mean

we Yanks have been spritzing our two cents plain (“sparkling water” to you) American argot into the limpid, lambent loveliness of the Queen’s English.

eh? those contortions feel pretty clumsy to me – - -

And though I generally try not to be “chippy” about the widely held view that my countrymen and women are bunch of rubes and yahoos ? on display most recently in Downton Abbey, where Shirley MacLaine’s caricature of a rich American finally drove me out of the room with annoyance

chippy – - – are we talking Goodle EArth surveillance here – - – you might be ‘chippy’ about your intimate moments being handed out like smarties on you tube if you have a skin made of leather – - -

Well, that’s the polite version. I mean first of all, when did the British need any help from anyone else with being vulgar? Ever heard of Geoffrey Chaucer?

ever heard of ‘consent’ dear – - – you don’t sound so chippy about it being withheld I might add – - -