British and Aussie Words Invading The U.S.

Cool. I wonder what American words have crept into Aussie and Brit language. Perhaps "Get-R-Dun"?

Isn't "bite me" an Aussie expression too? It's one of my favorites. I'm surprised so many people consider it a bad thing.

It's because of the internet.

The internet has resulted a level of meme transmission that just wouldn't have been possible before.

You don't need a show on American TV to get a meme into American public consciousness anymore, all you need is a popular website or youtube channel or whatever.

This goes beyond simple expressions.

It also applies to fads and trends as well.

Could you have imagines that "Gangnam Style" video making it to the U.S. before the internet?

No way!

As for language, though, it's natural that British slang would influence American slang because most Americans just don't learn second languages... The biggest outside influence on the country's language, then, would be a different dialect of the same language they already speak.

Well there's a first; british words are 'trendy'?


Thanks for the share Mal.

You can probably blame it on Mick "Crocodile" Dundee, digger...

"Another shrimp on the barbie mate?" (barbie as in barbeque not the doll - that would be a different picture altogether now wouldn't it?).

Language is always changing. Languages today were built from ancient languages. There is not real consistency.

Copy Nazi, first consider that the world is a mass of free flowing energy. The US has crept into the entire world, the entire world has crept into the US. We aren't separate, we are all interconnected! So it's no wonder you're seeing what you're seeing.

I take it "my bad" is American? That's one I can't stand. And a British one I can't stand is "fella".

"No worries" has been around for decades in the US. If it originated from downunder it came over a long time ago.

At least since Hakuna Matata

Saying Aussie is one thing, getting it into context , relation to correct timing / what its real meaning is may be another thing.

Dude is probably not something that people throw around much / it is a term that can have a negative meaning, ? dude what are you doing ? / you idiot what are you doing.

Americans have it more as buddy or good thing ?

The term rooting in the us is far from the term rooting here in aus, in the states to cheer or support and here your getting laid / having a shag.

Ha,

LOVE IT!

Normally it's always US terms and slang invading Australian language, NOT the other way around.

I think some of the slang terms mentioned above are great, and can add a different angle, but you would only be able to get away with the below with an Australian audience (if you haven't heard any of these before... ENJOY!):

Bloody oath

Meaning: that's the truth
Example: Bloody oath it is.

Bob's yer uncle

Meaning: if you do this (whatever is said first) it will work or be all right.
Example: Just add some extra water and Bob's yer uncle.

Bonzer mate!

Meaning: that's great friend.
Example: That's bonzer mate. I'm happy for you.

Pigs bum

Meaning: that's wrong, or incorrect.
Example: Pigs bum, you're not smarter than me.

Play sillybuggers

Meaning: messing around, wasting time.
Example: Stop playing sillybuggers and finish your homework.And on and on it goes!


I grabbed these from:
Australian Slang and Translations

As long as Americans don't start referring to money as "quid" ...I'll be OK. That is my least favorite word in existence!

British and Aussie words sound cool. For as long as we can understand each other, I think it doesn't matter if we're using British, American or Aussie words. After all, the world is becoming more global. Who knows in the future we might be communicating with just one language.

Aussie's are taking over the world, don't you know. : 0 )

@IFyouKNOWwhatYOU'REworth - just a few more additions to your great start!.

Possum: ( also a marsupial in Australia )
Meaning: Cute or little one
Example: Oh, what is up little possum? ( usually said to children

G'day Mate
( do I really need to say anything )

Croc
Meaning: A load of bullsh*t
Example: What a load of Croc you didn't break that.

Putting in a few lively terms in your writings will surely put some life in it. However, as far as my knowledge about copywriting goes, articles for your client should have a more formal tone to it. However, bloggers will gain a lot out of this idea of introducing new terms in their work.

The Times used it 463 times between 1785 and 1985-for example, in the 1970 headline NO WORRIES FOR CELTIC.

That's the EVIDENCE ? 463 times in about 200 years ?

Only to be backed up by that harbinger of TRUE FACTS, Wikipedia.

I like Wikipedia as much as anyone else ... and I have benefitted greatly from it. (Although some of the BEST articles I've used have since disappeared from it... sigh.) But I'm not sure I would take it as the definitive word on the origins and derivation of slang.

It's authority in some areas is quite impressive -- but when you get into more arcane subjects, "crowd sourcing" expertise seems to fall down. It's AWESOME as a springboard for research, though.

Back to the term at hand, I actually heard "no worries" from a Canadian copywriter I was in a mentoring group with some years back -- and can't recall EVER hearing it from my long-time Aussie client. Although they occasionally come up with headlines I don't understand -- because they use Aussie slang ...

But I suppose when you think about it, the whole english language managed to find its way into America.

I always thought "wicked" was an English thing.

And it does stand out to me when I see an American finish their email with "cheers".

But I quite like it because it means I can write how I speak and have to worry less about the English/American language differences.

But then I guess that depends on the market you're in.

Here you go, you bumbling toffs--Americans are barmy over Britishisms:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/fa...itishisms.html

Hey, my favorite americanism is - pure awesomeness.
Perhaps that will replace COOL even.

OK as for Brits, they like to catch things as in:
Catch a chill
Catch a fright
etc.

"Processed Cheese" is called "American Cheese" in America, although it goes through same process line in Canada, Australia or UK.

This just appeared on the BBC website:

BBC News - 30 of your Britishisms used by Americans

Wow,

If you heard a few American's saying those words, then it MUST be a nationwide trend.

Very keen powers of observation and deductive reasoning.

I can't imagine a better way of throwing off the flow of copy and putting speed bumps on the slippery slope. But hey, if it's written on a website, then who am I to argue?

I like calling the bathroom the loo.

But when it comes to phrases like "no worries," which I think isn't exclusively Aussie, BTW, it is about being down to earth. I like to keep it real. Be real.

People respond well to casual.

Look, I know you can care less about a lot of this mumbo jumbo, so let me cut to the chase.

I personally don't mind this flow of language that goes both ways, but there is one Americanism that really bugs me every time I hear it, and I hear it all the time now.

Cupcakes. They're everywhere here (Northern Ireland). People start businesses up (well for a while anyway) making them and selling them.
Why did these same people never start up a business making and selling buns?
Oh, I know, buns aren't expensive enough, you can't charge £2 for a bun, but you can for a cupcake haha.

I don't suppose it will work the other way, you wouldn't want to put a batch of buttocks in the oven in the USA I suppose

One other thing (not getting at the poster above) but another one to come this way is "I could care less" which actually means the opposite of what people who are saying it usually mean. When I point this out to someone when they say it (and I do becuase I am a "saddo" (person with little else to do (not related to S&M))) they always thank me and buy me a cupcake. D'oh!

Ive noticed this as well, its about bloody time (-: