And Another Pair of Words
Jun 21, 2021 16:34:28 #
P-J wrote:
We usually say 'going on holiday' not many here say vacation!
Right -- I put in vacation in place of holiday so the Americans on here wouldn't think it was all about Christmas or Thanksgiving.
Jun 21, 2021 19:46:18 #
Stephan G wrote:
It depends on how these people learn their English... (show quote)
and the one above it is the first floor.
Jun 21, 2021 20:31:42 #
fantom wrote:
and the one above it is the first floor.
What about the one above it is the first floor?
Would that maybe be the second floor?
Jun 21, 2021 21:46:57 #
This has been an interesting discussion and points out how much we are both alike and different. Some things in England are different in word usage while on the other hand, a word is spelled the same but pronounced totally different. In England it is a Solicitor, not an Attorney or Lawyer. It is a Lift, not an elevator etc. Then take Aluminum -- in the US it is pronounced A lu (u pronounced as oo) mi (short i) num while in England it is Al u (long u) minum (pronounced minium (as if there is another i after the n). At least this is how I hear the word as it is spoken in the UK. This may not be the correct pronouncing of the word per the dictionary.
Jun 21, 2021 21:57:30 #
Jun 21, 2021 22:19:08 #
In Europe and parts of Asia the bottom floor is called the ground floor (or lower or bottom floor depending on where you are) and the floor above it is the first floor. The floor above that is the second floor---or what we would call the third floor.
In other words, they do start numbering floors with what we call the second floor.
In other words, they do start numbering floors with what we call the second floor.
Jun 22, 2021 08:02:12 #
fantom wrote:
In Europe and parts of Asia the bottom floor is called the ground floor (or lower or bottom floor depending on where you are) and the floor above it is the first floor. The floor above that is the second floor---or what we would call the third floor.
In other words, they do start numbering floors with what we call the second floor.
In other words, they do start numbering floors with what we call the second floor.
I suppose "ground floor" starts at zero. The floor above it is the first floor above the ground floor.
Perception.
Jun 22, 2021 08:54:02 #
Longshadow wrote:
Who's dictionary?
Who's dictionary?Good question. Maybe a dictionary in England shows the pronunciation one way while one in the US shows it differently!
Jun 22, 2021 08:56:34 #
Bridges wrote:
Good question. Maybe a dictionary in England shows the pronunciation one way while one in the US shows it differently!
Ya think?
Otherwise we'd all be pronouncing things the same way (save location accents).
Jun 22, 2021 17:35:59 #
singleshot
Loc: Georgia
twosummers wrote:
How do American pilots describe their flying altitude? Example - we are cruising at 20,00 FEET
USAF pilots from my era, (1950's-60's) would have referred to 20,000 feet as angels 20.
Jun 22, 2021 18:26:33 #
Bridges wrote:
Good question. Maybe a dictionary in England shows the pronunciation one way while one in the US shows it differently!
True, like luxury yacht.
Jun 22, 2021 18:41:12 #
And to make the issue murkier.
Many towns and cities had built streets up trying to modernize their streets. I have grown up in Chicago and have read histories about such events even in the city itself. There were many reasons for elevating the streets. Instead of digging down to put in water pipes with the sewer lines in the centers, A narrow rut was dug, pipes placed down and additional dirt piled to the right and to the left.. This gave rise to "crown" streets. The centers of the road were raised with the sides sloping off. This provided runoffs for storm waters. It also made it easier to put in buried cables for electricity and phones. However it moved the level of the streets upwards of several feet in relation to the buildings on either side. The buildings ended having the ground floor (first floor) to be lower than the level of the road, becoming basement floors. The 2nd floors became the "first floors". The floors above were adjusted accordingly by subtraction by ones. Traditionally, the skyscrapers had omitted the 13th floor numbers (yeah, superstition). Like everything, convention is determined by the manufacturers and others. The designations depend on the local descriptions.
I remember going through all sorts of books and learning the esoterics of all sort of things. I have spent a lot of time haunting the many libraries around the city. The problem with Google, et al., is that you just about have to organize the question in which the answer becomes obvious.
Many towns and cities had built streets up trying to modernize their streets. I have grown up in Chicago and have read histories about such events even in the city itself. There were many reasons for elevating the streets. Instead of digging down to put in water pipes with the sewer lines in the centers, A narrow rut was dug, pipes placed down and additional dirt piled to the right and to the left.. This gave rise to "crown" streets. The centers of the road were raised with the sides sloping off. This provided runoffs for storm waters. It also made it easier to put in buried cables for electricity and phones. However it moved the level of the streets upwards of several feet in relation to the buildings on either side. The buildings ended having the ground floor (first floor) to be lower than the level of the road, becoming basement floors. The 2nd floors became the "first floors". The floors above were adjusted accordingly by subtraction by ones. Traditionally, the skyscrapers had omitted the 13th floor numbers (yeah, superstition). Like everything, convention is determined by the manufacturers and others. The designations depend on the local descriptions.
I remember going through all sorts of books and learning the esoterics of all sort of things. I have spent a lot of time haunting the many libraries around the city. The problem with Google, et al., is that you just about have to organize the question in which the answer becomes obvious.
Jun 22, 2021 20:23:20 #
Longshadow wrote:
But one in the USA would say "I need a ten foot board." not "I need a ten feet board."
Rarely will anyone say "I need a board that is ten feet long.".
For most people in the USA-
Ground is outside, floor is (a level of) what you walk on inside a building. If it's a deck, they'll say deck.
Ground Floor in a building is the level of the building that is (relatively) the same level as the ground outside.
Rarely will anyone say "I need a board that is ten feet long.".
For most people in the USA-
Ground is outside, floor is (a level of) what you walk on inside a building. If it's a deck, they'll say deck.
Ground Floor in a building is the level of the building that is (relatively) the same level as the ground outside.
Pretty much the same here.
Jun 22, 2021 20:48:54 #
Bridges wrote:
Right -- I put in vacation in place of holiday so the Americans on here wouldn't think it was all about Christmas or Thanksgiving.
I would think that if one was to cross their "I"s and dot their "T"s... (you know what I mean)
"Holiday" would be reserved for Christmas and Easter being holy days.
Having said that, days off work, especially with pay, are universally referred to as holidays down here.
"Vacation" is rarely used by an Australian and is felt to be an "Americanism".
And aving said that too, we are flooded with American TV down here and "Americanisms" are being
adopted by younger people.
Just one example of many I could cite; when I was a boy, if someone asked for a
"flashlight" almost no one would know what you were talking about (circa 1965).
It's a "torch" down here... but today both words, torch AND flashlight are commonly used.
Americanisation of pronunciation of English by the
abomination
of hardening vowels however is not catching on,thank goodness
For example: "New". it's a hideous assault to English, Australian, New Zealand, South African and
other English speakers ears to hear "Noo" instead of Nyou" etc.
But in the end... Pot ate oh, Pot art oh, Tom ate oh Tom art oh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2wkO0DhpEY
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