British English to US English

[Drover]

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Hubard

'Tomato' has to be pronounced according to your accent IMO - any attempt to cross lines just sounds odd.

The British version of 'Iraq' (short 'ih' rather than long 'aye') does seem much closer to how people from that region of the world pronounce it. There are plenty of examples that go the other way though, such as 'renaissance', the American pronunciation of which, with fairly even emphasis on each syllable, is closer to the French than the British over-egging of the 'aayy' sound.

This is completely speculative, but sometimes the US pronounciation of 'Iraq' can sound almost deliberatively pejorative - a bit like the pejorative 'a-rab' pronunciation of 'Arab' that is occasionally heard. Theres certainly precedent for people subtly maligning members of the 'other side' in international conflicts (older Brits do this towards the Germans even now) - anyone else thing there's anything in this?

Ay-rab
Eye-raq
Eye-ran
Eye-talian

These always make me laugh! Although note that not all Americans pronounce these words in this peculiar way.

[Benjamin Hubard]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Ay-rab
Eye-raq
Eye-ran
Eye-talian

These always make me laugh! Although note that not all Americans pronounce these words in this peculiar way.

Indeed not, and thinking about it, I don't feel that Italian Americans would use the 'eye-talian' pronunciation, perhaps adding weight to my thought that, whether consciously or not, it carries pejorative connotations - Italian Americams being looked down on in some areas by their Anglo counterparts...

[ian6479]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Hubard

'Tomato' has to be pronounced according to your accent IMO - any attempt to cross lines just sounds odd.

The British version of 'Iraq' (short 'ih' rather than long 'aye') does seem much closer to how people from that region of the world pronounce it. There are plenty of examples that go the other way though, such as 'renaissance', the American pronunciation of which, with fairly even emphasis on each syllable, is closer to the French than the British over-egging of the 'aayy' sound.

This is completely speculative, but sometimes the US pronounciation of 'Iraq' can sound almost deliberatively pejorative - a bit like the pejorative 'a-rab' pronunciation of 'Arab' that is occasionally heard. Theres certainly precedent for people subtly maligning members of the 'other side' in international conflicts (older Brits do this towards the Germans even now) - anyone else thing there's anything in this?

I dont think so. There are undoubtedly Americans that might look down on other people's and cultures but I don't think this is reflected in the pronounciation - I think this is how they would pronounce those words regardless of potential feelings towards another culture.

[wikiwikirunner]

If you tell a girl in America that you are going to knock her up tomorrow, you will probably get slapped in the face hard. If you tell a British girl that you'll knock her up tomorrow, she'll say, "what time?"

[swisswife]

Originally Posted by Drover

great sketch !! thank you

[Benjamin Hubard]

Originally Posted by wikiwikirunner

If you tell a girl in America that you are going to knock her up tomorrow, you will probably get slapped in the face hard. If you tell a British girl that you'll knock her up tomorrow, she'll say, "what time?"

I think you would probably get a confused look...

[paull805]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Hubard

I think you would probably get a confused look...

Then the police or the girls dad kicking your door in!