So there really are differences between British and American English

[Cohen, Gerald Leonard]

Dennis (+ ads-l),
The fact remains: The American  gushing socialite told Prince Andrew "You're the best tool we have," completely oblivious of the meaning this would have for the Prince (astonishment) and his body-guards (snickers).  My guess is she was mortified when she learned how her remark was perceived, and I can't imagine a British socialite making that gaffe. At least some trans-Atlantic difference in speech habits must exist to account for the American socialite's faux pas.
 
Gerald

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: American Dialect Society on behalf of Dennis R. Preston 
	Sent: Mon 10/27/2003 8:28 AM 
	To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU 
	Subject: Re: So there really are differences between British and American English
	
	

	Gerald,
	
	Anatomical tool (as you so coyly refer to it) is very well-known on
	this side of the Atlantic; perhaps we travel ( or have traveled) in
	different circles. I would have to be convinced that Brit
	tool-talkers have the edge.
	
	I suspect that the difficulty in your citation is with the bareness
	of the "tool" (if i may). "You're a tool of the (place your
	unfavorite group here)" is, I bet, nonsnickerable on either side of
	the pond. "You're a tool" would get as big a chuckle on either I
	wager.
	
	dInIs
	
	>Dennis (+ ads-l),
	>   Meaning #2.  It's difficult to imagine a gushing British socialite
	>telling Prince Andrew that he's a tool.  So if anantomical "tool"
	>does exist in U.S. speech (and I don't remember ever hearing it), it
	>is spoken and understood much less on this side of the pond than
	>among our British friends.
	>
	>Gerald
	>
	>       -----Original Message-----
	>       From: Dennis R. Preston
	>       Sent: Mon 10/27/2003 6:56 AM
	>       To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
	>       Subject: Re: So there really are differences between British
	>and American English
	>
	>
	>
	>       Gerald,
	>
	>       I don't get it. What do the British have for "tool" that we don't? I
	>       have it (as a noun) as:
	>
	>       1) implement (screwdriver, wrench,...)
	>       2) penis
	>       3) a silly, stupid, ineffective person (pretty clearly derived from 2).
	>
	>       If there's an (n.) tool I don't know about among the Brits, I need to
	>       know. Some of my best .........
	>
	>       dInIs
	>
	
	--
	Dennis R. Preston
	University Distinguished Professor
	Department of Linguistics & Germanic, Slavic,
	      Asian & African Languages
	Michigan State University
	East Lansing, MI 48824-1027
	e-mail: preston at msu.edu
	phone: (517) 432-3099