english or american?

[jols]

what does that mean?



malleable......describes a substance that is easily changed into another shape

 

[deanimator]

–adjective 1.capable of being extended or shaped by hammering or by pressure from rollers. 2.adaptable or tractable: the malleable mind of a child.
[Origin: 1350&#8211;1400; ME malliable < ML malle&#257;bilis, equiv. to malle(&#257;re) to hammer (deriv. of L malleus hammer) + -&#257;bilis -able

]

&#8212;Related forms: mal·le·a·bly, adverb
mal·le·a·bil·i·ty, mal·le·a·ble·ness, noun

&#8212;Synonyms 2. impressionable, moldable, flexible, pliable.
&#8212;Antonyms 2. refractory, intractable.

Means it´s useful :mrgreen:

 

[Meysha]

Have a look at this for an interesting read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_spelling_differences

I figure, if most people can easily understand what I'm trying to say, then that's english. What's the point in picking over finicky rules that are centuries old. Am I able to say that because my great great grandfather wrote a dictionary in scotland? hehehe

 

[Becky]

I guess the distance between America and the UK might explain a few of the language discrepancies... sure Norn Iron's (that Northern Ireland by the way) only across the pond, I dunno what the hell happened there!!!

 

[Helen B]

Wat fettle the day ma?*

Fortnight. What is it? Many Americans look at me blankly, because I forget that it is not a common word here.

Marmite. Why do we like it so? How come we are allowed to buy it in New York? Shouldn't it be banned by the FDA, like Solpadeine is?

First Christmas here. I was sent to buy two gallons of cider. I could only find tiny little bottles of weak fizzy stuff in the alcohol section, so that's what I came home with. Then I discovered that the commonly available 'cider' is unfermented in the USA. Not the 11% stuff we got mortalious on in Kent.

Why can't you get any decent beer in the whole of North America? Why is it all so unnatural and fizzy? Why don't they sell Tanglefoot?

(Converse: Why do the British drink warm flat beer?)

They sing the Red Flag with different words. When I sing the Red Flag with the words I know they think it's a song I made up (this really happened - I have performed it, albeit in the manner of a Burlesque comedy singer). Oh that I could write such stirring stuff. To begin with I did wonder why they played the Red Flag so much at Christmas.

Speaking of stirring stuff, the USA National Anthem is rather good though. Makes me proud to have been from the very naughty nation responsible for that little disagreement of 1812, and hence the inspiration for such a fine song.

Notes to Americans: Please stop referring to the Royal Army, and please start sending the Red Cross parcels again. Why did you stop?

Best,
Helen

*How are you today, my friend?

 

[Alex_B]

What's the point in picking over finicky rules that are centuries old.

Because it is fun being diverse!

Why do we eat different food all over Europe and drink different beer and why are there so many ways to speak English in the UK and German in Germany ...

Because this makes the world so much more interesting!

 

[Alex_B]

(Converse: Why do the British drink warm flat beer?)

Because it is better! ... keep in mind this comes from a German who should like fizzy Pils like most of his fellows .. but I do not.

 

[Alex_B]

I guess the distance between America and the UK might explain a few of the language discrepancies...

Hmm, and what then explains the differences between the language in Edinburgh and that in Glasgow? Or the language barrier between Essex and the West country?

geographical distance cannot be the cause

 

[Becky]

Hmm good point!! Are there different word usages between these places or is it just accent? Bit of both maybe...

 

[lostprophet]

Hmm, and what then explains the differences between the language in Edinburgh and that in Glasgow? Or the language barrier between Essex and the West country?

geographical distance cannot be the cause

that'll be cos west country folk are all a bit different from the rest of us if you know what I mean ;-)

 

[Hertz van Rental]

Hmm good point!! Are there different word usages between these places or is it just accent? Bit of both maybe...

Words and language are used differently. There are variations in slang and dialect. Most of it is historical. We've had waves of invaders over the centuries and each has brought their influence.
The Britons, Picts, Celts, Angles, Jutes, Saxons, Danes, Normans... And GB has always been quite tribal. Each succesful group has imposed their language on the loser.
For example the word f*** was a commonplace Saxon word. The Normans put their stamp on the country by suppressing Saxon words and so f*** became 'a coarse word used by common people'.
Again, Merdegrave was Saxon for 'a clearing in the forest' but the Norman monks compiling the Domesday book saw only the French meaning of merde. They changed it to 'belle' giving polyglot placenames like Belgrave in Leicester.
It gets even more complex. The common street name ending 'gate' in York comes from the Norse for street. But in non-Viking towns the ending 'gate' comes from the connection with the various gates in the city walls.
Place names in England are always an indication of who founded it.
And this doesn't take account of all the words we acquired from the British Empire.
With all of this history is it any wonder we English play word games and think changing meanings is normal?

 

[Chris of Arabia]

WikiVanRental?

 

[Hertz van Rental]

Second cousin. Nice man. Talks with a limp though.

 

[skieur]

, and please start sending the Red Cross parcels again. Why did you stop?

Best,
Helen

In Canada the tainted blood scandal totally destroyed the reputation of the Red Cross.

skieur

 

[skieur]

If it's from Canada, it must be better.:er:

lol

"Ben wé!" That is French Canadian for "Well, of course!"


skieur