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British English vs American English
Poll
 | 5 votes (31.25%) | ||
| | 4 votes (25%) | ||
| | 7 votes (43.75%) |
16 members have voted
| May 12th, 2011 at 4:18:42 PM permalink | |
| pacomartin Member since: Jan 14, 2010 Threads: 547 Posts: 6208 | Sometimes I read things about British English (often in a historical context like WWII) and I wonder if they are still true? I know there are British contributors to this blog. For example, I read that British read the first sentence, like the Americans read the second sentence. An American reads the second sentence that "he" is required to go to school by "them". (1) “They insisted he went to school every day” (2) “They insisted he go to school every day” I think most Americans when they read the first sentence assume that someone has accused "him" of skipping school, and "they" are saying that "he" really did attend. Is that really true? Does the second sentence sound just as natural as the first? Wine loved I deeply, dice dearly -Edgar, betrayed son of Gloucester in King Lear |
| May 12th, 2011 at 4:24:09 PM permalink | |
| gofaster87 Member since: Mar 19, 2011 Threads: 3 Posts: 445 | ..... |
| May 12th, 2011 at 4:36:26 PM permalink | |
| Wizard Administrator Member since: Oct 14, 2009 Threads: 313 Posts: 6783 | I read (1) and (2) differently, because the tense of the verb is different. I would take (1) to be something said in defense of an accusation of skipping school. It's not whether you win or lose; it's whether or not you had a good bet. |
| May 12th, 2011 at 4:42:05 PM permalink | |
| pacomartin Member since: Jan 14, 2010 Threads: 547 Posts: 6208 |
I understand that British read sentence (1) as a requirement to attend school. Wine loved I deeply, dice dearly -Edgar, betrayed son of Gloucester in King Lear |
| May 12th, 2011 at 4:45:24 PM permalink | |
| gofaster87 Member since: Mar 19, 2011 Threads: 3 Posts: 445 | ..... |
| May 12th, 2011 at 4:47:20 PM permalink | |
| Nareed Member since: Nov 11, 2009 Threads: 218 Posts: 7281 |
The Brits speak our language funny :P This space is closed for remodeling |
| May 12th, 2011 at 4:54:15 PM permalink | |
| thecesspit Member since: Apr 19, 2010 Threads: 38 Posts: 3108 |
For sure, I read it as such. :) In would write the other intepretation as : "They insisted he had been to school every day." "Then you can admire the real gambler, who has neither eaten, slept through nor lived, he has so smarted under the scourge of his martingale, so suffered on the rack of his desire, for a coup at trente-et-quarante" - Honore de Balzac, 1829 |
| May 12th, 2011 at 4:55:15 PM permalink | |
| pacomartin Member since: Jan 14, 2010 Threads: 547 Posts: 6208 | From my meetings I learned that the phrase "table the discussion" means the exact opposite in Britain as the United States. Wine loved I deeply, dice dearly -Edgar, betrayed son of Gloucester in King Lear |
| May 12th, 2011 at 4:57:32 PM permalink | |
| thecesspit Member since: Apr 19, 2010 Threads: 38 Posts: 3108 |
What does it mean in the US? Tabling a motion means to put it on the table for discussion and consideration... "Then you can admire the real gambler, who has neither eaten, slept through nor lived, he has so smarted under the scourge of his martingale, so suffered on the rack of his desire, for a coup at trente-et-quarante" - Honore de Balzac, 1829 |
| May 12th, 2011 at 5:02:34 PM permalink | |
| pacomartin Member since: Jan 14, 2010 Threads: 547 Posts: 6208 |
In American English it means to put it off for discussion at a later point. It is one of those fairly rare expressions that are not only differently interpreted, but with exact opposite meanings. Wine loved I deeply, dice dearly -Edgar, betrayed son of Gloucester in King Lear |
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