LL-L "Idiomatica" 2007.10.01 (10) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L  -  01 October 2007 - Volume 10
Song Contest: lowlands-l.net/contest/ (- 31 Dec. 2007)
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Idiomatica

Folks,

Tonight I was reminded of another idiomatic difference between American
English and non-American English.

"The children are pressurised to abandon their parents' language and
culture."

In American English this would be pressured.

Am I right in assuming that to American ears "pressurized" sounds like
literally put under pressure or receiving additional pressure, such as air
or gas pumped into them?

On the other hand, in non-American English you say "The house got burgled,
and the burglar is still at large," while "to burgle" doesn't exist in
American English and you say "The house got burglarized, and the burglar is
still at large."

Another one: "Good night from all the team!"

In American this would be "Good night from the whole team!"

The way I see it, in American English a team or a similar body of people is
a singular unit, while in non-American English the members are the focus.
Similarly non-American "they" vs American "it" for nouns like "team" or
"government."

American English rarely uses "all the" in case of singulars, and then
perhaps only because of archaic idiomatic expressions. For example, you can
say "for all the world to see," but "for the whole world to see" sounds
right too.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

•

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