English Words From Other Dialects

[Cynus]

I run the concessions at the arena where I work, and I had a guy come up to me and ask me if we sold "Spits". He was asking for Sunflower Seeds, but I've never heard them called that before. Apparently it's a Canadian word for them, which I'll try to remember next time I write a Canadian character who likes sunflower seeds, but I wonder how many other words we take for granted just because we all speak English.
 

Obviously this is hardly a new subject, but I found it incredibly fascinating when it occurred.

What are some of your experiences with words from a different dialect of your same language?

[Drew Espinosa]

It does not necessarily deal with dialects, but more with accents. My college's baseball team has a player from New Jersey and he and the rest of the team got into an argument on how "tournament" is pronounced. He said it was "Tour-nah-ment" while the others (mostly native Texans) said it was "Turn-ah-ment" and I have no idea if the matter was ever settled

[rec]

One of the better-known dialect phrases is, of course, milk shake, which contains ice cream in all parts of the country except upper New England where you have to order a frappe lest you get just milk with flavoring (presumably shaken).

[Reader1810]

It does not necessarily deal with dialects, but more with accents. My college's baseball team has a player from New Jersey and he and the rest of the team got into an argument on how "tournament" is pronounced. He said it was "Tour-nah-ment" while the others (mostly native Texans) said it was "Turn-ah-ment" and I have no idea if the matter was ever settled

 

I guess Canadians have more in common with Texans than we do with New Jerseyians ( if that's a word ) as we pronounce tournament the same way. I have never heard it pronounced any other way but as "Turn-ah-ment.

[blake_logan]

In the US, 'pissed' means you're angry or upset about something.  In the UK, it means your drunk.

 

'Pissed Off' means the same thing in both places

[Drew Espinosa]

In the US, 'pissed' means you're angry or upset about something.  In the UK, it means your drunk.

 

'Pissed Off' means the same thing in both places

Whoa! I knew "pissed" had different meanings in the US and UK, so I would have thought "pissed off" had to be different also  

[DynoReads]

soft drinks - they are called cokes, soda or pop in various areas. my husband calls them sodie waters, but I think he's making a joke. Add ice cream and it's usually called a float, except in a small area in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, then it's a soda

[Cynus]

soft drinks - they are called cokes, soda or pop in various areas. my husband calls them sodie waters, but I think he's making a joke. Add ice cream and it's usually called a float, except in a small area in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, then it's a soda

I worked at an ice cream parlor/restaurant when I was in high school, and they must have been influenced by that small area in Pennsylvania/Ohio, because they called our floats "sodas" too. It's the only place I'd ever heard it.

[Ashi]

Muffins, sconce.  Very confusing between American and English usage.  And then there is English muffin....

[Carlos Hazday]

soft drinks - they are called cokes, soda or pop in various areas. my husband calls them sodie waters, but I think he's making a joke. Add ice cream and it's usually called a float, except in a small area in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, then it's a soda

 

In many areas of the South it's still a coke no matter what the hell kind of fizzy beverage it may be

 

 

Muffins, sconce.  Very confusing between American and English usage.  And then there is English muffin....

 

Where would a stud muffin fit in?

 

My favorite Brit word differing from what American use is bangers!

[Riley Jericho]

Okay...I'm a Brit. Don't get me started on how our language gets hammered!

 

On another note, writing in English outside your natural culture  (even with a shared language) is a minefield!

 

Riley

[Riley Jericho]

Of course, the classic is that I think I'd get more than a few amused looks if I went to work in my pants! 

[impunity]

Of course, the classic is that I think I'd get more than a few amused looks if I went to work in my pants!

Have you thought about what you'd look like on either side of the pond if you wore pants and a vest?

 

Btw, most obscure UK/US word disparity: flapjack.

Edited August 28, 2015 by impunity

[wildone]

I run the concessions at the arena where I work, and I had a guy come up to me and ask me if we sold "Spits". He was asking for Sunflower Seeds, but I've never heard them called that before. Apparently it's a Canadian word for them, which I'll try to remember next time I write a Canadian character who likes sunflower seeds, but I wonder how many other words we take for granted just because we all speak English.

 

Obviously this is hardly a new subject, but I found it incredibly fascinating when it occurred.

 

What are some of your experiences with words from a different dialect of your same language?

 

It is a brand of Sunflower Seeds, Spitz. They are a company from a little town a couple of hours south of here.They turned the sunflower seed world on their head when they roasted them and soaked them in flavours like potato chips. They have original, dill pickle,smokey bbq, seasoned (seasoning salt flavoured and my favourite), and black pepper. Very, very, very addicting and not good for you sodium intake

 

Also, you mentioned working in a concession. Recently was reading Graeme's story and he keeps mentioning a concession, as in Tickets prices are $20 for adults, $10 for a concession, and free under 12. Well i thought it was a $10 concession voucher, but it actually means a reduced ticket price for students between 12 and an adult.

 

Who knew?

[Cynus]

It is a brand of Sunflower Seeds, Spitz. They are a company from a little town a couple of hours south of here.They turned the sunflower seed world on their head when they roasted them and soaked them in flavours like potato chips. They have original, dill pickle,smokey bbq, seasoned (seasoning salt flavoured and my favourite), and black pepper. Very, very, very addicting and not good for you sodium intake

 

Also, you mentioned working in a concession. Recently was reading Graeme's story and he keeps mentioning a concession, as in Tickets prices are $20 for adults, $10 for a concession, and free under 12. Well i thought it was a $10 concession voucher, but it actually means a reduced ticket price for students between 12 and an adult.

 

Who knew?

Wow! To think there was one hidden in my own post!

 

Thanks for the information. Knowing that it's actually a brand name makes me feel less awkward about it, haha!

[Ashi]

Also, you mentioned working in a concession. Recently was reading Graeme's story and he keeps mentioning a concession, as in Tickets prices are $20 for adults, $10 for a concession, and free under 12. Well i thought it was a $10 concession voucher, but it actually means a reduced ticket price for students between 12 and an adult.

 

Who knew?

 

Hmm... around here (California), concession means concession stands, like shops that sell hot dogs, popcorn, etc..

[Parker Owens]

USA: restroom

Canada: washroom

UK: the loo

 

USA: he's in the hospital

English speaking Canada: he's in hospital  (also works when you substitute the word 'university' for 'hospital')

 

Most of USA:  Submarine Sandwich

Eastern New England: Bomber, Grinder

Philadelphia: Hoagie

 

 

There are doctoral theses on this kind of thing....

[Defiance19]

Here's one I get corrected for a lot! 

 

Trolley vs shopping cart also a streetcar!! 

[impunity]

In South Africa, traffic lights are called robots.

[Ashi]

Most of USA:  Submarine Sandwich

Eastern New England: Bomber, Grinder

Philadelphia: Hoagie

 

Yeah, most of us call it a sub, but I usually call the bread portion hoagie....  Do (gay) people in New England States go to WaWa for Grinder? 

 

Anyways....  How do you pronounce "caramel?"  Some say "car mall" and some say "ka ra mel."

 

Mayonnaise:  "may yo nays" or "may nays?"

 

Mobile:  "moble" or "mo bile"

 

Mustard or Grey Poupon? 

 

U.S.: Pudding is a gooey dessert, made with rice or tapioca, sometimes custard

British: pudding could be any dessert. e.g., plum pudding

 

U.S.: desserts or savory

Indian English:  sweets (e.g., samosa is a "sweet")

 

Bloke (British), dude (Californian English), dawg (ghetto speak), homie (also ghetto speak)

 

Hot mamma is phat, yo mamma is fat

[Carlos Hazday]

Bloke (British), dude (Californian English), dawg (ghetto speak), homie (also ghetto speak)

 

 

 

Bro - biker or frat boy speak

[Drew Espinosa]

Anyways....  How do you pronounce "caramel?"  Some say "car mall" and some say "ka ra mel."

 

Mayonnaise:  "may yo nays" or "may nays?"

 

Mobile:  "moble" or "mo bile"

The words in red are how I pronounce them, gosh I am such a Texan

 

Oh, for anyone interested, MikeL posted an old thread on a dialect questionnaire it was pretty fun!!!

Edited August 28, 2015 by Drew Espinosa

[J.HunterDunn]

How about subway ?

In UK it means a tunnel that people can walk through under a steet, in US it means an underground railway (which the Brits call the underground).

[impunity]

Have you thought about what you'd look like on either side of the pond if you wore pants and a vest?

 

Btw, most obscure UK/US word disparity: flapjack.

Sorry, should have provided the translations.

 

pants and a vest: in the US, would be trousers and a waistcoat; in the UK, underpants and an undershirt (or tank top).

 

flapjack: in the US, pancake; in the UK, a baked oat square, sort of a cross between a brownie and a granola bar.

[Riley Jericho]

I have to confess, I grit my teeth when lazy pronounciation tries to sell itself as a legitimate word. Caramel is a perfect example!

 

Caramel is a sugar derivative, Carmel is a mountain in Israel!

 

Carmel popcorn? For goodness sake!