Questions for Americans
Discussion
Hi "y'all"
The missus and I are in America at the moment, and after much deliberating would like to present our "Questions for Americans"...
Why "erbs" instead of "herbs"?
Why "shrimp" instead of "prawn"?
Why "value" instead of "discount"?
What exactly is a "turnpike" anyway?
Why is an "aubergine" called an "eggplant"?
Why is it called an "entree" when it's the main course?
Why is your Fanta Orange a different colour to ours?
We may add others when we come across them on the remainder of our travels.
Thank you,
Russ
P.S. $25 to fill up a Mustang is just a joke!
The missus and I are in America at the moment, and after much deliberating would like to present our "Questions for Americans"...
Why "erbs" instead of "herbs"?
Why "shrimp" instead of "prawn"?
Why "value" instead of "discount"?
What exactly is a "turnpike" anyway?
Why is an "aubergine" called an "eggplant"?
Why is it called an "entree" when it's the main course?
Why is your Fanta Orange a different colour to ours?
We may add others when we come across them on the remainder of our travels.
Thank you,
Russ
P.S. $25 to fill up a Mustang is just a joke!
ThunderSpook said:
Hi "y'all"
The missus and I are in America at the moment, and after much deliberating would like to present our "Questions for Americans"...
Why "erbs" instead of "herbs"?
Avoiding any Eddie Izzard references...The missus and I are in America at the moment, and after much deliberating would like to present our "Questions for Americans"...
Why "erbs" instead of "herbs"?
I have a theory about the 'erbs thing. I remember in the early 1980s, some American cooking programme on UK telly with a bloke who claimed to be French. Now I appreciate that his accent had probably become Americanised, but even my attempt at a French accent was better than his. His favourite that for some reason stuck in my mind was Bayzel instead of Basil. I got the impression that the programme had been running some considerable years and was quite influential in American 'cuisine'. It may be that they expect food cannot be "proper" food without an attempt at a French accent. Have you noticed how wealthy (old money) Americans and Australians speak with a manner vaguely similar to how they believe the British upper class speak? I imagine that is a similar thing.
Oh dammit, here's Izzard anyway...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1hJQsvoY6VU
Hi "y'all"
The missus and I are in America at the moment, and after much deliberating would like to present our "Questions for Americans"...
Why "erbs" instead of "herbs"?
'ach' is a very har letter to pronounce
Why "shrimp" instead of "prawn"?
The Japs call em shrimps, and they know all there is to know on fish!
Why "value" instead of "discount"?
Ever heard of Tesco's Value?
What exactly is a "turnpike" anyway?
WTF
Why is an "aubergine" called an "eggplant"?
Cos its a plant that you get eggs from. Duh!
Why is it called an "entree" when it's the main course?
Americans eat all their courses at once, in one mouthfull.
Why is your Fanta Orange a different colour to ours?
It ferments over the long voyage
We may add others when we come across them on the remainder of our travels.
Cool, i'll be here to add cynical answers as and when are needed.
Thank you,
No problem
Russ
Dave
P.S. $25 to fill up a Mustang is just a joke!
P.S. I hate you and everything you stand for (just a joke)
The missus and I are in America at the moment, and after much deliberating would like to present our "Questions for Americans"...
Why "erbs" instead of "herbs"?
'ach' is a very har letter to pronounce
Why "shrimp" instead of "prawn"?
The Japs call em shrimps, and they know all there is to know on fish!
Why "value" instead of "discount"?
Ever heard of Tesco's Value?
What exactly is a "turnpike" anyway?
WTF
Why is an "aubergine" called an "eggplant"?
Cos its a plant that you get eggs from. Duh!
Why is it called an "entree" when it's the main course?
Americans eat all their courses at once, in one mouthfull.
Why is your Fanta Orange a different colour to ours?
It ferments over the long voyage
We may add others when we come across them on the remainder of our travels.
Cool, i'll be here to add cynical answers as and when are needed.
Thank you,
No problem
Russ
Dave
P.S. $25 to fill up a Mustang is just a joke!
P.S. I hate you and everything you stand for (just a joke)
Can any Americans tell me why, in a country where being obese is a national pastime, nowhere sells proper double cream? I spent 15 minutes hunting for it in my local supermarket the other day - eventually I asked where it was and got the reply "huh?". I've since been told that it isn't sold in the US as the fat content is too high (48% - the highest you can get is "heavy whipping cream" with a fat content of 36% unless you go to a specialty store and even then it's unlikely to be above 40%).
Bloody septics and their inferior dairy products...
Bloody septics and their inferior dairy products...
Edited by branflakes on Sunday 21st December 05:36
ThunderSpook said:
What exactly is a "turnpike" anyway?
English history is what it is...http://www.turnpikes.org.uk/The%20Turnpike%20Roads...
The 'mericans just kept on using the olde language.
Los Angeles said:
Yes, even after hundreds of years since the Mayflower touched Plymouth Sound, even after over two hundred as an independent nation, separated by at least 6,000 miles, the old colonial attitude still beats strong and true in an Englishman's heart! ThunderSpook said:
Hi "y'all"
That's "Youse guys", "y'all" is a southern thing.ThunderSpook said:
The missus and I are in America at the moment, and after much deliberating would like to present our "Questions for Americans"...
Ahh, welcome. Disney World for 2 weeks in a rented Villa in Kissimmee or is it a tour of Los Angeles?ThunderSpook said:
Why "erbs" instead of "herbs"?
Because the H is silent silly!ThunderSpook said:
Why "shrimp" instead of "prawn"?
Prawns come from Freshwater, our Shrimp come from the Ocean, in America the Ocean is salty.ThunderSpook said:
Why "value" instead of "discount"?
Clarification? A Discount is a reduction in price, a Value indicates, broadly speaking, the worth of an item.ThunderSpook said:
What exactly is a "turnpike" anyway?
In modern times it's a toll road. New Jersey Turnpike, Ohio Turnpike, Connecticut Turnpike (Ah-HA you say, that's NOT a toll road! Well it used to be, the name stuck), Oklahoma Turnpike, etc. The name comes from Colonial times (You know, when we won the bloody war) when there were turnstile type toll booths.ThunderSpook said:
Why is an "aubergine" called an "eggplant"?
What in the name of all that is right and holy is an Aubergine? I hear that's what those silly people across the Atlantic call Eggplants.ThunderSpook said:
Why is it called an "entree" when it's the main course?
Entree is a French word. French things have been banned. The proper term is now known as "Freedom Dish".ThunderSpook said:
Why is your Fanta Orange a different colour to ours?
Only European tourists drink Fanta here.ThunderSpook said:
We may add others when we come across them on the remainder of our travels.
Thank you,
Russ
Welcome to America! Thank you,
Russ
If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask
Have a Nice day!
Eat some Apple Pie
etc
ThunderSpook said:
P.S. $25 to fill up a Mustang is just a joke!
Only if you drive off without paying Edited by Captain Cadillac on Sunday 21st December 07:15
ThunderSpook said:
Hi "y'all"
The missus and I are in America at the moment, and after much deliberating would like to present our "Questions for Americans"...
Why "erbs" instead of "herbs"?
Silent "h"s are common in English. We have loads of them over here. In the past "herbs" would have been pronounced "erbs" here too.
Why "shrimp" instead of "prawn"?
Why not? Shrimp is an alternative name for the animal and is used in the UK too.
Why "value" instead of "discount"?
Don't we use that word too?
What exactly is a "turnpike" anyway?
An old English word for a toll road. In the old days, anyone enterring such a road had to pay at an entrance gate i.e. the "Turnpike". Since toll roads are much rarer over here, the term went into decline and was not revived when toll roads re-emerged in more recent years.
Why is an "aubergine" called an "eggplant"?
No idea - maybe because it looks a bit like an egg
Why is it called an "entree" when it's the main course?
Is it? - Hadn't come across that before
Why is your Fanta Orange a different colour to ours?
I think the US has tighter controls on additives and colourings compared to the UK and Europe
We may add others when we come across them on the remainder of our travels.
Thank you,
Russ
P.S. $25 to fill up a Mustang is just a joke!
I think the differences in how English is used by other English speaking countries is fascinating. Youi will find differences if you travel to South Africa, Australia, India and Ireland. Even in the UK you will find many different terms and words in use as you travel around the country. It's not just the Yanks.The missus and I are in America at the moment, and after much deliberating would like to present our "Questions for Americans"...
Why "erbs" instead of "herbs"?
Silent "h"s are common in English. We have loads of them over here. In the past "herbs" would have been pronounced "erbs" here too.
Why "shrimp" instead of "prawn"?
Why not? Shrimp is an alternative name for the animal and is used in the UK too.
Why "value" instead of "discount"?
Don't we use that word too?
What exactly is a "turnpike" anyway?
An old English word for a toll road. In the old days, anyone enterring such a road had to pay at an entrance gate i.e. the "Turnpike". Since toll roads are much rarer over here, the term went into decline and was not revived when toll roads re-emerged in more recent years.
Why is an "aubergine" called an "eggplant"?
No idea - maybe because it looks a bit like an egg
Why is it called an "entree" when it's the main course?
Is it? - Hadn't come across that before
Why is your Fanta Orange a different colour to ours?
I think the US has tighter controls on additives and colourings compared to the UK and Europe
We may add others when we come across them on the remainder of our travels.
Thank you,
Russ
P.S. $25 to fill up a Mustang is just a joke!
Steameh said:
Looks like I'm headed back over there again this coming summer to see my brother, another month in the mid west, possily with some driving visits to texas this time.
I found it strange in Kansas they called pronounced El Dorado, El Doraydo.
How the hell did you end up in El Dorado Kansas?I found it strange in Kansas they called pronounced El Dorado, El Doraydo.
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