h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I know that I've been away from England for sometime now, but more and more people are now saying Yah (Yes) WHY? Even on HooToo!

My kids used to what Dora the Explorer on TV and she, the little animated girl, used to say Yay, all the time.

Or am I being too anal or something?

I agree, I notice that 'guys' have now replaced blokes. My son lives in America and he never says hello, even when you walk into a room it's Hey, what's up? I don't think its being anal I just think it is very noticable that maybe we are all becoming transatlantic verbally.

Perhaps some our American friends can tell us if some English words and phrases are now part of the US language! I'm sure that it works both ways. Or is the USA the dominant language and culture.

Remember the Yuppies? They never used to say, Yes but Ja (Yah).

Is Shmuck an Englisch word?

The word Schmuck is used a lot in the US, but I think it originates from the German/Yiddish which means good-looking (also jewellery).

Oh. I thought it was an insult.

It is ...

Look what I found:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061127071830AA9kcEM

Of course the more we travel the more language we pick up which is good. I don't think the Americans get swamped with the amount of Britishisms as we get from the other side of the pond. How many of us now say 'garbage' or 'sofa'? when it used to be rubbish and settee. I notice I use 'I guess' a lot, mind you I did live in New York for 8 years.

Iworkded in a bakery and they had to teach me to 'talk english'.

That's what they say to me when I return home -- Don't you talk funny!

And I thought that I talk proper BBC World Service English!! I didn't realise that Sofa was USism?

No Way! The Americans call sofas 'Chesterfields' don't they? (A bit ironic in this context,) Sofa is kinda neat English, no problem. Have a nice day.

They used to call them sofas in New York but that was New York. I was thinking too we never seem to say 'stop smoking' anymore it is usually 'quit smoking'.

Cookie has Robyn changed her name and why? Is it a Pagan/Wicca thing?

>> Remember the Yuppies? They never used to say, Yes but Ja (Yah). <<

No, that was Sloane Rangers - a type of people invented by Peter Yorke*. they would say "OK, ya" to just about anything.

RF

* And where is he, now?

The jazz beats used to say 'Reet', for right, which made us Geordies a bit smug as we'd been saying it for years.

I thought smug was an article of clothing.

Nope, you've lost me there partner, yes sirree.

>>The Americans call sofas 'Chesterfields' don't they?<<

nope... we call them sofas or couches a two seater is a loveseat.

in the olden, golden days the back of a loveseat was S shaped... with a place to sitt inside each curve... so the two sittees would be facing each other...

Well hot diggetty dog, sofa so good.

Reet on there.

I say "Yay" meaning hooray. And sometimes say "Yah" meaning yes.