Different Meanings for Words

[Thipu1]

A bit more on toilets.

Back in the early 1980s, there was a wonderful restaurant in SOHO called Scrambles.  It was literally located next to a boiler factory.  There were several rooms with sinks and toilets available to diners.  You turned the little inside lock and you were fine. 

What was on the door?  'It Doesn't Matter.'

[DavidH]

It is funny how in the US we refer to "Europe" like it's a country when it is, of course, many countries.  I think it's because many of us think how something is categorically different there without thinking of the nuances.  For example, health insurance is different in all of Europe than in the US, but the differences between countries are not thought of as often here.  I'm sure it's actually rather offensive now that I think of it to omit the national identities. 

Do Europeans think of "North America" or "America" to mean the US, Canada, and Mexico or just the US?

[marcel]

It is funny how in the US we refer to "Europe" like it's a country when it is, of course, many countries.  I think it's because many of us think how something is categorically different there without thinking of the nuances.  For example, health insurance is different in all of Europe than in the US, but the differences between countries are not thought of as often here.  I'm sure it's actually rather offensive now that I think of it to omit the national identities. 

Do Europeans think of "North America" or "America" to mean the US, Canada, and Mexico or just the US?

I think it is hard for Americans to realise the fast cultural differences in Europe. The difference between US states, or even between the USA and Canada are much smaller then the differences between European countries.

Normally I do not really mind when a person says European for something that is absolutely not common in Europe, just in one or two countries. The poster who said European instead of Brittish when it came to words went a bit too far in equaling one country with the cotinent in my opinion.

When people say America, they usually mean the US. The difference here is off course is that USians themselves refer to the US as Amerika.

If you say North America, most people I believe think of the US and Canada (In my experience, not many people know that Mexico is part of North America)

After having heard from some South Americans that they do not like that people associate the word America and Americans with the USA and USians, I have started trying to use the words US/USA/USian

Slightly different subject, but I thought it was also here that a person refered to football as European football. It just made me wonder how the South American, African, and (for as far as I know) Asian countries feel about that.

[RainhaDoTexugo]

Actually, Marcel, I think the case of English spellings is a fair use of European vs. American.  In most cases, from what I've seen, Europeans are taught British English.  So, unless they learned their English from tv, a European is more likely to use the British English versions of words, not the American English.

[RainhaDoTexugo]

Actually, Marcel, I think the case of English spellings is a fair use of European vs. American.  In most cases, from what I've seen, Europeans are taught British English.  So, unless they learned their English from tv, a European is more likely to use the British English versions of words, not the American English.

Actually Rainha I disagree with you on this point.  I have a lot of German friends and they are far more exposed to American English than they are to British English.  There are far more American TV programmes/songs exported to Germany than English ones - I know that all of my German friends use the word "pissed" in the American way, to mean that they're annoyed/upset about something, not in the English way.  This might just be my experience but I honestly think that English-speaking Europeans are more likely to be exposed to American English than British English.  Just my two cents

It may be a mix.  I can see picking up American slang, because you'd hear American slang watching American shows, on American websites, etc.  But, to use an example, I was just looking at a Lithuanian tourism website, and in the attractions, they covered the Centre of Europe, not the Center of Europe.  When it comes to spelling, I think British English is more commonly taught.  In Europe, I'd expect to see colour instead of color.  Since the original post was referring to spelling, and Marcel's complaint was in regards to spelling, I think it's a fair use of European (though I agree it's not as specific as using British or English).

[glacio]

Actually, Marcel, I think the case of English spellings is a fair use of European vs. American.  In most cases, from what I've seen, Europeans are taught British English.  So, unless they learned their English from tv, a European is more likely to use the British English versions of words, not the American English.

Actually Rainha I disagree with you on this point.  I have a lot of German friends and they are far more exposed to American English than they are to British English.  There are far more American TV programmes/songs exported to Germany than English ones - I know that all of my German friends use the word "pissed" in the American way, to mean that they're annoyed/upset about something, not in the English way.  This might just be my experience but I honestly think that English-speaking Europeans are more likely to be exposed to American English than British English.  Just my two cents

I believe this started because of my usage of "European English". I have family in both English-speaking European countries with a stronger emphasis on the non-UK country (Ireland). So, yes, I feel comfortable saying European English as in the more than one country in Europe that speaks English as the primary language. I do not have experience with South Africa or Australia so I can't really speak to their spelling.

It may not make sense to anyone else, but in my mind if it only occurs in one country, I'll say that country. If it occurs in more than one European country, I'll just refer to Europe as an informal short hand way of referencing all relevant countries. Same as I'll refer to something as being Southern even though it only occurs in two or three states or South American if it occurs in two or three country. It's the most specific, simple region to reference without having to individually list all relevant parties.

[BabylonSister]

Actually, Marcel, I think the case of English spellings is a fair use of European vs. American.  In most cases, from what I've seen, Europeans are taught British English.  So, unless they learned their English from tv, a European is more likely to use the British English versions of words, not the American English.

Actually Rainha I disagree with you on this point.  I have a lot of German friends and they are far more exposed to American English than they are to British English.  There are far more American TV programmes/songs exported to Germany than English ones - I know that all of my German friends use the word "pissed" in the American way, to mean that they're annoyed/upset about something, not in the English way.  This might just be my experience but I honestly think that English-speaking Europeans are more likely to be exposed to American English than British English.  Just my two cents

I don't know about Germany but in French schools we were taught British English. Once we reached high school, we had enough knowledge of English to read a whole text and then we did study American authors (I remember reading Art Buchwald). Our default was still British English. We did get a lot of American programs on TV but they were dubbed (yeah, Magnum P.I., The Cosby Show or Green Acres in French) so that didn't bring much exposure.

Re: gray vs. grey, I use this trick:

grAy is used in America
grEy is used in England.

(never mind Australia )

[RainhaDoTexugo]

Re: gray vs. grey, I use this trick:

grAy is used in America
grEy is used in England.

(never mind Australia )

That's so obvious, and yet so brilliant.

[Judah]

Re: gray vs. grey, I use this trick:

grAy is used in America
grEy is used in England.

(never mind Australia )

Thank you so much for this!  I'll never forget it again. 

[marcel]

Actually, Marcel, I think the case of English spellings is a fair use of European vs. American.  In most cases, from what I've seen, Europeans are taught British English.  So, unless they learned their English from tv, a European is more likely to use the British English versions of words, not the American English.

I do believe that most (all?) European countries teach British English in school, but English is learned as much outside of school as in school, and outside school American English is more prevalent.

I mostly write Brittish myself, and mostly I don't care whether I write in Brittish or American English, or a combination of the two.

I believe this started because of my usage of "European English". I have family in both English-speaking European countries with a stronger emphasis on the non-UK country (Ireland). So, yes, I feel comfortable saying European English as in the more than one country in Europe that speaks English as the primary language. I do not have experience with South Africa or Australia so I can't really speak to their spelling.

Actually it was your use of "European spelling", without the word English added that made me post my earlier post, As I said there, both color and colour are correct spelling in Europe, the former being Spanish, and the latter Brittish.

[baglady]

It sounds plausible that someone who is a non-native speaker of English would learn to write it British (as the print media, textbooks and teachers they encounter are more likely to use British English), but speak it American ... at least use the American colloquialisms they'd been exposed to from TV, movies and music.

I have an acquaintance who is from New York state but spent her high-school years in the Southern U.S. She speaks French with a U.S. Southern accent ... because that's the way her high-school French teachers spoke. She has no Southern accent at all when she speaks English.

[MsMarjorie]

What is an American Pick-up truck?  In Australia a pick-up truck is used for towing other vehicles.

[jalutaja]

Actually, Marcel, I think the case of English spellings is a fair use of European vs. American.  In most cases, from what I've seen, Europeans are taught British English.  So, unless they learned their English from tv, a European is more likely to use the British English versions of words, not the American English.

But! The European children who live in subtitles-lands (all smaller countries) DO learn their English from TV.

I was SO confused to read about TV making children illiterate - after all, to follow TV one had to read FAST to be able to follow the subtitles! 

[kherbert05]

What is an American Pick-up truck?  In Australia a pick-up truck is used for towing other vehicles.

Cab up front, with a cargo area in the back
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benchilada/4098324596/
My BIL's pick up has more passenger room than my sister's 4 door car.

[bigozzy]

Actually, Marcel, I think the case of English spellings is a fair use of European vs. American.  In most cases, from what I've seen, Europeans are taught British English.  So, unless they learned their English from tv, a European is more likely to use the British English versions of words, not the American English.

Actually Rainha I disagree with you on this point.  I have a lot of German friends and they are far more exposed to American English than they are to British English.  There are far more American TV programmes/songs exported to Germany than English ones - I know that all of my German friends use the word "pissed" in the American way, to mean that they're annoyed/upset about something, not in the English way.  This might just be my experience but I honestly think that English-speaking Europeans are more likely to be exposed to American English than British English.  Just my two cents

I don't know about Germany but in French schools we were taught British English. Once we reached high school, we had enough knowledge of English to read a whole text and then we did study American authors (I remember reading Art Buchwald). Our default was still British English. We did get a lot of American programs on TV but they were dubbed (yeah, Magnum P.I., The Cosby Show or Green Acres in French) so that didn't bring much exposure.

Re: gray vs. grey, I use this trick:

grAy is used in America
grEy is used in England.

(never mind Australia )

Nevermind, the spelling of grey is in a bit of a gray area.