Subtle differences between the US and the UK that baffle me/you/us. - by SubJeff
Eshaktaar on 30/11/2012 at 16:06
I've always been puzzled why in American English the letters 'c' and 'z' are pronounced nearly the same way. Why not go with "zed" as the Brits do and avoid any potential confusion?
N'Al on 30/11/2012 at 16:33
To be fair, 'c' and 'z' are pronounced differently in the US, the difference is just... subtle. :cool:
I do remember the first time me finding out about this was me playing Mechwarrior 2 with a friend. The game asked me to press the 'zee' button, at which point I proceeded to furiously hammer the 'cee' button. Nothing happened. I was disappoint. :erg:
catbarf on 30/11/2012 at 16:38
Quote Posted by Eshaktaar
I've always been puzzled why in American English the letters 'c' and 'z' are pronounced nearly the same way. Why not go with "zed" as the Brits do and avoid any potential confusion?
For most Americans, the difference between c and z is greater than the difference between m and n, d and t, or s and f. We've got a screwed up language in general.
Neb on 30/11/2012 at 16:39
Quote Posted by Eshaktaar
Why not go with "zed" as the Brits do and avoid any potential confusion?
For consistency, 'v' should be pronounced "ved", and 'd' should be "ded."
One thing that always gets me: In the UK, "leisure" rhymes with "pleasure". In the US, it rhymes with "seizure".
SubJeff on 30/11/2012 at 17:22
Quote Posted by demagogue
Another perception might be that Brits are more defensive about what they're doing, like they're very worried to explain themselves, or generally less confident in their speech and actions, which is probably also part of the perception that Brit guys are (or Europe generally is) more effeminate.
This is amusing because we think that Americans are over-confident and self assured even when there is no evident reason for it. And we like to hold things back a little so as to not give our entire game away. Sometimes with Americans it seems like a case of too much information given too freely. As a result asking Brits questions that are slightly too personal (for them) too early in your relationship with them (friendship or romantic) can cause awkwardness. But if you know how to play it its also a very good way to get to know someone quickly, to get under their skin. I wasn't brought up in the UK and I know that people perceive my openness as a little bit foreign (which it is) but it has often been of benefit. It's a fine line to tread here though.
Quote Posted by R Soul
And Moscow is not a cow covered in moss. It's Lord Sebastian Coe covered in moss.
Whilst I agree with the usual British pronunciation I can get behind the US version too because it actually sounds closer to the Russian doesn't it?
Renzatic on 30/11/2012 at 17:26
Quote Posted by Neb
One thing that always gets me: In the UK, "leisure" rhymes with "pleasure". In the US, it rhymes with "seizure".
I think that'd fall under the same thing as -ize and -ise. The English seem to be drifting more toward the pronunciations and stylings of the Romance languages as of late, whereas American English tends to stick more in line with its Germanic roots.
catbarf on 30/11/2012 at 18:08
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
This is amusing because we think that Americans are over-confident and self assured even when there is no evident reason for it. And we like to hold things back a little so as to not give our entire game away. Sometimes with Americans it seems like a case of too much information given too freely. As a result asking Brits questions that are slightly too personal (for them) too early in your relationship with them (friendship or romantic) can cause awkwardness. But if you know how to play it its also a very good way to get to know someone quickly, to get under their skin. I wasn't brought up in the UK and I know that people perceive my openness as a little bit foreign (which it is) but it has often been of benefit. It's a fine line to tread here though.
It seems like two sides of the same coin to me, just because of a culture difference. Americans tend to be more confident and secure in their behavior- Europeans see it as overconfidence, while on the other hand Americans see their European counterparts as comparatively weak. It gets reflected in business, too, in my experience- American groups are much more likely to definitively say yes or no than use euphemisms or stay neutral until a final decision is reached.
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
Whilst I agree with the usual British pronunciation I can get behind the US version too because it actually sounds closer to the Russian doesn't it?
The Russian pronunciation I'm familiar with is basically mahsk-vah. I can't consciously recall the English pronunciation of Moscow, is it musk-ko?
nickie on 30/11/2012 at 18:42
Moss-ko - the first o as in hot and the second as in toe.
Quote Posted by Vasquez
Not sure if this is an actual comparison or just an observation, but I find it funny/weird how many British insert a quiet "r" at the end of or between words. Don't know if they actually do, but that's how it sounds, and for me it seems like somewhat new thing. Or maybe I've only recently happened to notice it...
I've never noticed this but then I'm not entirely sure what you mean.
Renzatic on 30/11/2012 at 18:58
Quote Posted by nickie
I've never noticed this but then I'm not entirely sure what you mean.
I notice it on occasion, specially with "idea", which usually comes out as idear.
nickie on 30/11/2012 at 19:06
Obviously I'm not mixing with people what can't speak proper then.
It's probably Essex or something similar.
