Serious word of WARNING to Snuson

[CoderGuy]

Because it's our language dammit! The clue is in the word English ... from England. As soon as you guys admit that you speak USAian and not English is the day I stop trying to correct you.

But the serious answer is that it's actually it's a hangover from the first days that spelling was "standardised" in England in the 1700s ... people then did say COLOUR pronouncing the U as well ... but today we say CULLER - and truthfully if that's how people would have pronounced it in the 1700s then that's how it would be spelt today. I don't know many americans who actually pronounce the word COLOR either - but that was presumably how it was pronounced when the word got frozen in time and that's how it is today for the purposes of spelling.

Personally I like those historical differences - but for all of us .. as spellings get further removed from how people actually say them - the language gets more unwieldy.

There has actually been talk about moving to a more phonetic alphabet in order to promote werld pees, I think it cud werk.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21505114

[Premium Parrots]

There has actually been talk about moving to a more phonetic alphabet in order to promote werld pees, I think it cud werk.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21505114

I think they call it swenglish

[hokiehi82]

I think they call it swenglish

I think my wife asked to try Swenglish a while back. At least I think that's what she said. Do they have clubs for it?

[hokiehi82]

Because it's our language dammit! The clue is in the word English ... from England. As soon as you guys admit that you speak USAian and not English is the day I stop trying to correct you.

But the serious answer is that it's actually it's a hangover from the first days that spelling was "standardised" in England in the 1700s ... people then did say COLOUR pronouncing the U as well ... but today we say CULLER - and truthfully if that's how people would have pronounced it in the 1700s then that's how it would be spelt today. I don't know many americans who actually pronounce the word COLOR either - but that was presumably how it was pronounced when the word got frozen in time and that's how it is today for the purposes of spelling.

Personally I like those historical differences - but for all of us .. as spellings get further removed from how people actually say them - the language gets more unwieldy.

Just think of all those expat American children failing spelling tests in school.

[Premium Parrots]

I think my wife asked to try Swenglish a while back. At least I think that's what she said. Do they have clubs for it?

Its frowned upon to use a club on your wife here in the US. Doesn't mean we don't use them tho.

[phantom]

You were sayen

[halocog]

I also maintain that we in Britain do have a culture of feeling the freedom to be rude (as close to the line of taste as we can manage) in contexts we feel comfortable in - it's a kind of national sport - especially amongst men - to see how close to the line you can come

I love this about you guys. I do phone support for the UK now, and I've found that even with the dry humour, you guys are really some of the friendliest people I have ever talked to. I MUCH prefer helping you guys vs American customers.


About the language differences, it's astounding how much we 'Muricans have altered the language. I'm not sure how that happened, but I'll just say this: comforter has a totally different meaning in the UK.

[Premium Parrots]

I also maintain that we in Britain do have a culture of feeling the freedom to be rude (as close to the line of taste as we can manage) in contexts we feel comfortable in - it's a kind of national sport - especially amongst men - to see how close to the line you can come

I'm French......we are the most rude. Everybody knows that.

[Thunder_Snus]

Just curious, since i have a somewhat similar job i think, do you take calls from all states in the U.S. If so what do you think are the most rude states to take calls from?
I would say
1. New Jersey
2. Connecticut
3. New York
And pretty much so on with any northeastern state that has a decent population (besides PA)
I'd say the state i take calls from where I don't constantly have to argue with people about whether or not they have to make a payment is California. I thought it'd be a lot of self centered A-hole there but seriously they are so nice understanding and just flat out logical. Oh i need to pay you to enjoy the service im asking you to provide? that makes sense.

I love this about you guys. I do phone support for the UK now, and I've found that even with the dry humour, you guys are really some of the friendliest people I have ever talked to. I MUCH prefer helping you guys vs American customers.


About the language differences, it's astounding how much we 'Muricans have altered the language. I'm not sure how that happened, but I'll just say this: comforter has a totally different meaning in the UK.

[Crow]

Just curious, since i have a somewhat similar job i think, do you take calls from all states in the U.S. If so what do you think are the most rude states to take calls from?
I would say
1. New Jersey
2. Connecticut
3. New York
And pretty much so on with any northeastern state that has a decent population (besides PA)
I'd say the state i take calls from where I don't constantly have to argue with people about whether or not they have to make a payment is California. I thought it'd be a lot of self centered A-hole there but seriously they are so nice understanding and just flat out logical. Oh i need to pay you to enjoy the service im asking you to provide? that makes sense.

How does (BC/WA/OR) rank on your list?

[GoVegan]

How does (BC/WA/OR) rank on your list?

They block all incoming calls from those areas.

[Frankie Reloaded]

Because it's our language dammit! The clue is in the word English ... from England.

And France a.k.a Normandy. And Eastern lands of Germany, a.k.a Saxony. Also a bit from Denmark

[Zimobog]

Angle-ish?
I know a bright young woman who speaks those dead languages and once listened to her recite Beowulf in the mother tounge. Suprisingly to me, every third or fourth word came thru my ears with instant recognition.

Most American dialects have roots in the regional accents of our motherland with loan-words and new words all our own.

I have an awesome book at the house called "Seeds of Albion" about the major groups that immigrated, what parts of England they are from based on records, and their customs (naming traditions, marriage styles, furneral styles, education, worship, games, child-rearing, etc) as well as language. It is amazing how close we still are to those original travellers, and at the same time how far apart.

Wtf was this thread about again?

[halocog]

Just curious, since i have a somewhat similar job i think, do you take calls from all states in the U.S. If so what do you think are the most rude states to take calls from?
I would say
1. New Jersey
2. Connecticut
3. New York
And pretty much so on with any northeastern state that has a decent population (besides PA)
I'd say the state i take calls from where I don't constantly have to argue with people about whether or not they have to make a payment is California. I thought it'd be a lot of self centered A-hole there but seriously they are so nice understanding and just flat out logical. Oh i need to pay you to enjoy the service im asking you to provide? that makes sense.

I don't take calls from the States anymore, but I used to. I would say its a toss up between New York and New Jersey. Other than that, I can remember just one exceptional asshole from Arizona lol.

[Thunder_Snus]

How does (BC/WA/OR) rank on your list?

Washington is nice. Problem being that most people are giving you 30% of their attention so when you start a policy with their name spelled wrong you can listen to the recorded call where i clearly spell out their name (a like apple, n like nancy) and they agree. I dont take calls from Oregon, i believe the people there are hard to deal with not because of us but because of state requirement for insurance (much like michigan) that are absolutely ridiculous. We have a special team that services canada and despite everything i hear about how nice canadians are I'm told they are absolute disisaters to talk to on the phone and they GRIPE and complain and swear and don't pronounce u's.