Americanisms

I’ve noticed a lot of written quizzes now seem to start with”Riddle me this.” It makes no sense. I do remember ‘The Riddler’ in the original Batman series using it, but it now seems to be creeping in to UK use.

lol I don’t hear that often around here except in the context of Batman’s The Riddler. I guess that would be considered an Americanism if it originates from American media, even if it isn’t well-accepted as a social norm in real American culture?

profdanger said:

I guess that would be considered an Americanism if it originates from American media,

Regretfully, I regard any nonsensical phrase as probably American. Like the awful "just sayin'", which makes me shudder.

ArchaeC said:

Children in most European countries used to sing it and also Frère Jacques.

Very interesting as I remember singing both Alouette and Frere Jacques in my infant + junior schools in Hampshire in the late 1960s to early 1970s but had no idea they were so universally sung.

I wonder why 

I believe it is Québécois, although at the time I thought it was French. Children in most European countries used to sing it and also Frère Jacques. 

Pōkarekare Ana is a beautiful song. I was introduced to it through Classic FM and sing only the repeating title when it is played. Hayley Westenra sings it beautifully.

ArchaeC said:

Did you sing the Québécois song ‘Alouette’ at school?

It's Québécois? I always thought it was French!

profdanger said:

It is interesting singing in languages you don’t understand.

It is. I learnt the Maori song Pōkarekare Ana (along with traditional actions) in primary school and can still sing it today. 

ArchaeC said:

Did you sing the Québécois song ‘Alouette’ at school?

It's Québécois? I always thought it was French!

profdanger said:

It is interesting singing in languages you don’t understand.

It is. I learnt the Maori song Pōkarekare Ana (along with traditional actions) in primary school and can still sing it today. 

ArchaeC said:

Children in most European countries used to sing it and also Frère Jacques.

Very interesting as I remember singing both Alouette and Frere Jacques in my infant + junior schools in Hampshire in the late 1960s to early 1970s but had no idea they were so universally sung.

I wonder why 

I believe it is Québécois, although at the time I thought it was French. Children in most European countries used to sing it and also Frère Jacques. 

Pōkarekare Ana is a beautiful song. I was introduced to it through Classic FM and sing only the repeating title when it is played. Hayley Westenra sings it beautifully.