Americanisms

It always has been?

I got caught out by an American puzzle that used 'silent films' where I would have expected the US term to be 'silent movies'. So I guess films were known as films at some point in the past in the US.

I got caught out by an American puzzle that used 'silent films' where I would have expected the US term to be 'silent movies'. So I guess films were known as films at some point in the past in the US.

Ah that makes sense. Yeah, unfortunately I have practically zero relation to Native Americans. It’s a shame, since they had such an impact to our culture that many of our Midwestern towns are named after native words and names. I’ve never known someone with more than like a quarter Native American blood, and that is a horrifying shame.

No I have no ANT's and if I did I'd seek therapy, I had aunts though, ANT's is Automatic Negative Thinking!

Americans like you always seem to have such interesting ancestry. 

profdanger said:

Not a drop of Italian, despite my mother and I having a bit of a Mediterranean appearance lol

A lot remains to be discovered, so keep hope alive! DNA companies add populations to their databases as research continues.

My ancestry is mostly Irish, with a chunk of English, a small percentage of Viking (probably Danish etc.),  Further back, I share DNA with ancient individuals in Italy, Egypt and Greece.

profdanger said:

I’m guessing it’s due to being N. Irish?

It’s more about concern for the indigenous American population, although the accounts suggest the local population was welcoming. I can find only one written source, but I’m wondering if it is just putting a good slant on the facts.

ArchaeC said:

Handbag and trousers. 

A clean swear phrase!

Another thing I learnt today.

I shall end up a genius.

Ah, I can imagine that. I’m guessing it’s due to being N. Irish?

I’ve never been tested, but both of my parents have. So long as I’m not adopted, it’s likely I’m mostly German with a little Danish and a significant portion of English. Not a drop of Italian, despite my mother and I having a bit of a Mediterranean appearance lol

Handbag and trousers. 

A clean swear phrase!

ArchaeC said:

Purse and pants

?

Oh dear! It’s brilliant to have a written account, but not so great an account for the poor servant.

I had been hoping that 23andMe had made a mistake with my ancestry. I’m not proud of it

He could be the brother or nephew of the person who reached America. It’s difficult to get exact relationships with DNA that far back. 

Nope! They saved him! Otherwise I wouldn’t have had a friend in high school lmao

(if I remember right, they may have considered not saving him over convenience)

profdanger said:

the guy he worked for complained in his journal that this clumsy oaf of a servant went overboard during the journey lol

Doesn't that mean he never reached America so didn't have children? 

Unless he took his children with him.

One of my best friends in high school claimed (and I believe, since he wasn’t a braggart) that during an ancestry dive his family discovered that his ancestor that crossed to America was a servant on the Mayflower.

Apparently he was an indentured servant, and the guy he worked for complained in his journal that this clumsy oaf of a servant went overboard during the journey lol

23andMe recently informed me that my English ancestor was one of the Maryland first colonists. His body, and others in the Catholic cemetery,  were analysed. 

I guess you are referring to him then? Purse and pants to that! 

Here in the States the word that is a huge point of contention regionally is pecan. I DESPISE hearing the word pronounced PEE-CAN. It’s PEH-CAHN. Ughhhhhhhh

Otherwise other Americans are more concerned about whether dark fizzy drinks are pop, soda, or just generic coke (not TM).

Alexa said:

So are all your aunties antis?

Correct! Down with the King! Long let freedom ring!!!

profdanger said:

I bet you pronounce AUNT without it sounding like ANT, too, don’t you? Absolutely ridiculous.

So are all your aunties antis? I'd be tempted to ask anti what? 

We also used to be English-owned, so there is that. We’ve seen the light since then lol

Also your note reminds me of a town I used to live in named Bourbonnais. It’s supposed to be pronounced how you’d expect to say it in French, but after several decades the citizens decided to break away from their French roots by calling it BURR-BONE-UZ. Really dumb Americanization lol. Good news is that when a college popped up there newcomers started referring to it correctly to sound more fancy. Now there’s a cultural crisis (typically pitting younger/older generations against each other) in the area that is due to differences in pronunciation of the city lol.

profdanger said:

I bet you pronounce AUNT without it sounding like ANT, too, don’t you?

Pronunciation varies hugely not just within the countries of the UK but also within the regions of those countries. 

I am from Hampshire and my friend is from Gloucestershire. 

He corrected my pronunciation of almonds until I learnt his version. 

Then I went to a local shop and couldn't buy them because the shop assistant didn't understand what I was saying. 

TheCatWoman said:

Probably around the same time they knew the difference between route and rout and could say thorough, instead of thurrow? lol

I’m deeply offended by such drivel.

I bet you pronounce AUNT without it sounding like ANT, too, don’t you? Absolutely ridiculous.

Probably around the same time they knew the difference between route and rout and could say thorough, instead of thurrow? lol