Problem
I read an article and words strike me as unusual, as American. Where do they come from?
Answer
Some of them are just variations, such as:
American - British English
Make a right - Turn right
figure out - guess, conclude, work out, work it out, realise
Others are from American sports such as baseball. However, they soon become part of the English language used worldwide.
American - British English
a level playing field (sports game) - on the same page (of a hymn book)
When I travel to an English speaking country I look for a reasonably priced dictionary published in that country, and an encyclopaedia published in that country.
Am American dictionary is Webster's. When we were driving along the road in the USA I saw a sign to Webster's house, now a museum. I learned that Webster created the dictionary using simplified spelling and simplified the language (grammar) for the benefit of newcomers, immigrants who spoke other languages.
We know far many more words from other languages than we realise. I'll give you a few examples:
Scottish
Auld Lang Syne, sung around the world on New Year's Eve, is Scottish.
The classic song: My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean.
Australian
Waltzing Matilda, about a swagman, is Australian.
Even the names of the writers of books have a local flavour or show the ancestors or international film stars (Americans would say movie stars) of their parent's era.
Welsh
In Wales I bought a book on Welsh names.The author is Geraint Lewis.
You've heard of Winston Churchill? Winston is Welsh. I shall talk about Welsh names in my next post. Winston Churchill?
Tips
Books:
British English
Oxford English Dictionary. (Buy the largest size you can afford and can lift. Look for any dictonary which gives the etymology, or origin, of words.)
American English
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. I teach, speak and write about English and other languages. I and my family have lived in the UK (London, Portsmouth,) Scotland (Aberdeen), Spain (Marbella); the USA (Rockville, Maryland on the outskirts of Washington DC, and Connecticut); and Singapore. I belong to two Toastmasters International speakers' clubs in London, England, and Braddell Heights Advanced Speakers' Club in Singapore. I have several more posts on English, Americanisms and other languages and travel worldwide. Please share links to your favourite posts.
I read an article and words strike me as unusual, as American. Where do they come from?
Answer
Some of them are just variations, such as:
American - British English
Make a right - Turn right
figure out - guess, conclude, work out, work it out, realise
Others are from American sports such as baseball. However, they soon become part of the English language used worldwide.
American - British English
a level playing field (sports game) - on the same page (of a hymn book)
When I travel to an English speaking country I look for a reasonably priced dictionary published in that country, and an encyclopaedia published in that country.
Am American dictionary is Webster's. When we were driving along the road in the USA I saw a sign to Webster's house, now a museum. I learned that Webster created the dictionary using simplified spelling and simplified the language (grammar) for the benefit of newcomers, immigrants who spoke other languages.
We know far many more words from other languages than we realise. I'll give you a few examples:
Scottish
Auld Lang Syne, sung around the world on New Year's Eve, is Scottish.
The classic song: My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean.
Australian
Waltzing Matilda, about a swagman, is Australian.
Even the names of the writers of books have a local flavour or show the ancestors or international film stars (Americans would say movie stars) of their parent's era.
Welsh
In Wales I bought a book on Welsh names.The author is Geraint Lewis.
You've heard of Winston Churchill? Winston is Welsh. I shall talk about Welsh names in my next post. Winston Churchill?
Tips
Books:
British English
Oxford English Dictionary. (Buy the largest size you can afford and can lift. Look for any dictonary which gives the etymology, or origin, of words.)
American English
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. I teach, speak and write about English and other languages. I and my family have lived in the UK (London, Portsmouth,) Scotland (Aberdeen), Spain (Marbella); the USA (Rockville, Maryland on the outskirts of Washington DC, and Connecticut); and Singapore. I belong to two Toastmasters International speakers' clubs in London, England, and Braddell Heights Advanced Speakers' Club in Singapore. I have several more posts on English, Americanisms and other languages and travel worldwide. Please share links to your favourite posts.
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