So there really are differences between British and American English

[Dennis R. Preston]

>Gerald,

Surely you jest. One line from one US speaker and imagined Brit
avoidences from you and there "must exist" such a differences? Ima
need a lil more than that.

dInIs

PS: Seems to be some age stuff going on. My quick survey of 6 US
English-speaking colleagues finds all the older ones (50+) firmly in
grasp of the penile meaning of "tool"; the younger ones were
mystified.



>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
>

--
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