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Cool for Brits to speak American - How about the reverse?

post #1 of 113
7/12/10 at 6:11pm
Thread Starter 
American speak has made its way into every facet of British life. Things are now 'cool', people are 'guys', children are 'kids' and really hip people (like me) are 'dudes'. All lovely. This is actually how I speak. In fact, I'm know in these parts of the UK as Lear from the block. So, it got me thinking... does the same happen in reverse? Do American citizens do British speak? I wonder if there are crack dealers in LA saying, "I appear to have not sufficient funds about my person with which to procure said wrap". Are the really cool dudes wooing the girls with British phrases; the educated masses impressing with their use of British spelling? Lear (in the hood)
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post #2 of 113
7/12/10 at 6:16pm
Nope.
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post #3 of 113
7/12/10 at 6:17pm
we say uber a lot ..
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post #4 of 113
7/12/10 at 6:19pm
It is not cool for Americans to speak English.
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post #5 of 113
7/12/10 at 6:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by coldarchon View Post
we say uber a lot ..

No we don't. Stop making us look bad.
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post #6 of 113
7/12/10 at 6:23pm
I like to call girls "birds" and at one point used a lot of drum and bass emcee-speak, but this made me less, not more, cool.
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post #7 of 113
7/12/10 at 6:27pm
For about five months after the first Austin Powers movie, yes.
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post #8 of 113
7/12/10 at 6:30pm
No, but it seems like girls love British accents in general.
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post #9 of 113
7/12/10 at 6:36pm
The "American" words of which you speak are more cultural affectations that originated in America. We don't say Freeway or Sidewalk which are genuine lexicographic divergences, we simply have a youth who conform to and propagate the new linguistic trends. If Americans wear their trousers around their backsides, it doesn't make the use of a belt an English trait.
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post #10 of 113
7/12/10 at 6:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by coldarchon View Post
we say uber a lot ..

You're American!?!
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post #11 of 113
7/12/10 at 6:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lear View Post
American speak has made its way into every facet of British life. Things are now 'cool', people are 'guys', children are 'kids' and really hip people (like me) are 'dudes'. All lovely. This is actually how I speak. In fact, I'm know in these parts of the UK as Lear from the block.

So, it got me thinking... does the same happen in reverse? Do American citizens do British speak? I wonder if there are crack dealers in LA saying, "I appear to have not sufficient funds about my person with which to procure said wrap". Are the really cool dudes wooing the girls with British phrases; the educated masses impressing with their use of British spelling?

Lear (in the hood)

I'm sorely tempted to sig that gem.
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post #12 of 113
7/12/10 at 6:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackhood View Post
The "American" words of which you speak are more cultural affectations that originated in America. We don't say Freeway or Sidewalk which are genuine lexicographic divergences, we simply have a youth who conform to and propagate the new linguistic trends. If Americans wear their trousers around their backsides, it doesn't make the use of a belt an English trait.
Nicely put Bro
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post #13 of 113
7/12/10 at 6:50pm
"Cunt" as a casual swear word, which has been popular in the UK for many years, has recently become more popular in the US. For the longest time it was extraordinarily taboo here. It was tantamount to the n-word and other racial slurs in terms of the most vicious words available in the American lexicon.

These days, unless the word is directed at a woman, it's become pretty widespread. I don't know whether to credit the UK with that influence, but I do imagine it has something to do with all the Guy Ritchie films and whatnot that brought UK swear words over here.
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post #14 of 113
7/12/10 at 7:32pm
The only person in America who actually tries to look or sound British is Jetblast. I think that answers your question.
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post #15 of 113
7/12/10 at 7:35pm
Not sure about the US, but my part of Canada "Cheers" is the go to salutation for "hip/cool" kids.
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Styleforum › Forums › General › General Chat › Cool for Brits to speak American - How about the reverse?